Turmanin (Arabic: ترمانين) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located north of Idlib. Nearby localities include al-Dana and Sarmada to the southwest, Darat Izza to the northeast and Atarib to the south. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Turmanin had a population of 10,394 in the 2004 census.[1]

Turmanin
ترمانين
Town
Sketch of the Church of Turmānīn, c. 480 A.D.
Sketch of the Church of Turmānīn, c. 480 A.D.
Turmanin is located in Syria
Turmanin
Turmanin
Coordinates: 36°14′N 36°49′E / 36.233°N 36.817°E / 36.233; 36.817
Country Syria
GovernorateIdlib
DistrictHarem
Subdistrictal-Dana
Control Turkey
Syrian opposition Syrian Interim Government
Elevation
428 m (1,404 ft)
Population
 (2004 census)[1]
 • Total
10,394
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

The town is notable for the ruins of an ancient basilica in its vicinity. The Basilica, built around 480 AD, was an important influence on later church architecture,[2] and operated as a monastery and a hospice that was noted for its care for the dying.[3] Recently, the town came under the control of the Syrian National Army.

Climate

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In Turmanin, the climate is warm and temperate. In winter there is much more rainfall in Turmanin than in summer. According to Köppen and Geiger climate is classified as Csa. The average annual temperature in Turmanin is 16.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 459 mm. The driest month is July with 0 mm. Most precipitation falls in January, with an average of 90 mm. The warmest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 27.7 °C. In January, the average temperature is 6.0 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.

Climate data for Turmanin
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 9.0
(48.2)
11.2
(52.2)
15.2
(59.4)
20.5
(68.9)
26.3
(79.3)
31.0
(87.8)
33.2
(91.8)
32.7
(90.9)
31.4
(88.5)
25.3
(77.5)
17.2
(63.0)
10.8
(51.4)
22.0
(71.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2.1
(35.8)
2.6
(36.7)
5.1
(41.2)
8.8
(47.8)
12.8
(55.0)
17.4
(63.3)
20.2
(68.4)
20.7
(69.3)
17.6
(63.7)
12.2
(54.0)
6.7
(44.1)
3.3
(37.9)
10.8
(51.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 90
(3.5)
79
(3.1)
61
(2.4)
43
(1.7)
20
(0.8)
4
(0.2)
0
(0)
0
(0)
4
(0.2)
28
(1.1)
46
(1.8)
84
(3.3)
459
(18.1)
Average snowy days 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4
Source: Weather Online, Weather Base, BBC Weather and My Weather 2, Climate data

Deir Turmanin: the Byzantine monastery

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Remains of the church at Deir Turmanin. Photo by Frank Kidner

The ruins of the Byzantine monastery of Deir Turmanin (deir meaning 'monastery' in Arabic) are located northeast of the modern village. The monastery buildings stood around a paved courtyard containing two cisterns, a sarcophagus and several tombs. The ruins include a building that housed the monks' dormitories, and the large 5th-century basilica. The twin-towered facade of the church had a colonnade above the portal. The towers were three stories high and were roofed with gables.[4] The church was probably donated by wealthy patrons. Evidence at the site suggests that the monks were involved in agricultural activity and kept livestock.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b General Census of Population and Housing 2004 Archived 2012-12-20 at archive.today. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Idlib Governorate. (in Arabic)
  2. ^ "The Architecture of San Agustin". 26 December 2007. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  3. ^ Otto, Randall (Spring 2001). "Care For The Dying: The Church and Hospice". Quodlibet. 3 (2). Scott David Foutz. ISSN 1526-6575.
  4. ^ Baedeker (1876), p. 555.
  5. ^ Brenk, Beat (2004). Bowden, William; Lavan, Luke; Machado, Carlos (eds.). Monasteries as rural settlements: patron-dependence or self-sufficiency?. Late Antique Archaeology. Vol. 2. BRILL. pp. 447-477 (see 463-64). ISBN 90-04-13607-X. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

Bibliography

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