Syrian Times 27 May, 2004
Houran, in the south of Syria, is a vast area of land famed for its elevations. People differ on the origin of its name. Some historians believe that the word Houran is derived from the Aramaic word Hourem which means The Land Of Caves or The Land Of Black Stone
The Assyrians called it Hourano and the Romans and the Greeks called it زOrantesس.
Archaeological finds and antiquities show that Houran was one of man’s settlements in Syria since the beginning of the modern stone age. The caves of Daraa, Bosra and Al- Tibeh still present evidence that they were dwellings of man.
The Old Arabs settled in Houran. The Amorites, the Canaanites and the Arameans lived in Houran and left behind several civilizational relics.
Some historians believe that many of Houran’s antiquities and archaeological sites are still buried underground.
Several archaeological mounts are still waiting excavation campaigns. Among these mounts are: Tel Um Houran, Tel Al- Baiah and Tel Al- Jabieh which was the Ghassanides settlement and from which the second upright caliph Omar Bin Al- Khattab moved to Jerusalem. It was the place where Al- Jabieh conference was held under the leadership of Marwan Bin Al- Hakam. The southern gate of Damascus Bab Al- Jabieh took its name from Al- Jabieh conference. There is also Tel Al- Jumou where the Moslems armies gathered together in preparation of Al- Yarmuk the well- known battle against the Roman armies...
In Houran. It was the base from where Saladdin led his armies to Hittin in 1187 A.D. when he liberated Jerusalem. |