Al-Hawash, Homs Governorate

Al-Hawash (Arabic: الحواش‎ / ALA-LC: al-Ḥwāsh) is a Greek Orthodox Christian town in northwestern Syria close to the Lebanese border and administratively belonging to the Homs Governorate. Nearby towns include al-Husn and Marmarita to the west, Shin to the east and Talkalakh to the southwest. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) Hawash had a population of 4,067 in 2004.[1] The entire population is Christian, much like most of the villages in the area.

Al-Hawash

الحواش
Town
Al-Hawash skyline
Al-Hawash
Location in Syria
Coordinates: 34°45′53″N 36°19′8″E
Country Syria
GovernorateHoms
DistrictTalkalakh
SubdistrictHawash
Population
 (2004)
 • Total4,067

Its location in the midst of a coniferous mountain makes it a popular and favored summer destination. Hawash is the largest village in Wadi al-Nasarah ("Valley of Christians") region.[2] It is an important historic site and used to be a popular tourist attraction before the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.

Etymology

The name Hawash is derived from Hoshe which is Arabic for "Corsage" or place of flowers.[3] It has been also suggested that Wash is a word form an old Syriac language which mean 'the good soil'.

History

Al-Hawash is said to date to the 18th-century. Along with many other villages in the area, the earliest inhabitants of Hawash had immigrated from Lebanon and the southern Hauran plain. It has buildings built as early as the late 17th century, and it is also known that the village was part of the Phoenicia territory.[4]

In 1838, the villagers were noted as being Greek Orthodox Christians.[5]

References
  1. General Census of Population and Housing 2004. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Homs Governorate. (in Arabic)
  2. http://www.alhwash.org Archived 2009-07-17 at the Wayback Machine Alhwash Team
  3. 'Hwash My Love' Book
  4. Ancient Civilasation History (part 2)
  5. Smith, in Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 181

Bibliography
  • Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
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