Rashaya al-Foukhar

Rashaya al-Foukhar
راشيا الفخار
Municipality
Rashaya al-Foukhar, in the 1880s:[1]
Rashaya al-Foukhar, in the 1880s:[1]
Map showing the location of Rashaya al-Foukhar within Lebanon
Map showing the location of Rashaya al-Foukhar within Lebanon
Rashaya al-Foukhar
Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 33°21′12″N 35°40′02″E / 33.35333°N 35.66722°E / 33.35333; 35.66722
Grid position148/157 L
Country Lebanon
GovernorateNabatieh Governorate
DistrictHasbaya District
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code+961

Rashaya al-Foukhar, (Arabic: راشيا الفخار) is a municipality in the district of Hasbaya in the Nabatiye Governorate in southern Lebanon. It is located on the western slopes of Mount Hermon at an altitude starting at 750 m with the highest summit being at 1,250 m. The population is Greek Orthodox.

History

In 1838, during the Ottoman era, Eli Smith noted the population of Rashaya al-Foukhar as being "Greek" Christians.[2]

In 1852 Edward Robinson noted: "The village is celebrated for its pottery; for the manufacture of which it is one of the chief seats. There are many large dome-shaped furnaces for burning of ware; and many specimens were standing outside of the houses [..], tall jars, and the like. This pottery is sent around to all the fairs of the country, and far into the Hauran; as also to Hums and Hamah."[3]

In 1875, Victor Guérin found here a town with 700 inhabitants, mostly "Schismatic Greek". He also noted the pottery production, and that there was a small Protestant mission in the place.[4]

In 1990, U.S missionary William Robinson was killed here by masked gunmen.[5]

Demographics

In 2014 Christians made up 97.81% of registered voters in Rashaya al-Foukhar. 49.31% of the voters were Greek Orthodox, 24.95% were Greek Catholics and 12.66% were Maronite Catholics.[6]

References

  1. ^ Wilson, ca 1881, vol 2, p 125: "This place, as the name implies, is famous for its potters´s clay. Its furnaces are dome-shaped and capable of burning enormous jars. The potter; mounted on a high seat, sets the wheel in motion with his foot and shapes the clay with his hand. The man beyond is adding handles to the jars."
  2. ^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 138
  3. ^ Robinson and Smith, 1856, pp. 415-416
  4. ^ Guérin, 1880, pp. 284-5
  5. ^ U.S. Missionary Shot to Death At Home in South Lebanon, Ihsan A. Hijazi, March 29, 1990, The New York Times
  6. ^ https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/النبطية/حاصبيا/راشيا-الفخار/المذاهب/

Bibliography

  • Guérin, V. (1880). Description Géographique Historique et Archéologique de la Palestine (in French). Vol. 3: Galilee, pt. 2. Paris: L'Imprimerie Nationale.
  • Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Vol. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
  • Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1856). Later Biblical Researches in Palestine and adjacent regions: A Journal of Travels in the year 1852. London: John Murray.
  • Wilson, C.W., ed. (c. 1881). Picturesque Palestine, Sinai and Egypt. Vol. 2. New York: D. Appleton.