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Basufan باصوفان
Village
Basufan
Coordinates: 36°20′23″N 36°52′30″E / 36.33972°N 36.87500°E / 36.33972; 36.87500
Country	Syria
Governorate	Aleppo Governorate
District	Afrin District
Nahiyah	Afrin Subdistrict
Population
• Total	901
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

Basufan (Arabic: باصوفان; Kurdish: Basûfan) (sometimes spelled Bassoûfâne, Bassoufane, Bosoufane, Bāşūfān) is an ancient village located in northwestern Syria. The village is populated by Yezidi Kurds and had a population of 901 in the 2004 census according to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), and had a population of 2059 according to the civil registry records at the end of 2005.

The village is notable for being the site of a former fifth-century church dedicated to Saint Phocas.

Location

The village of Basufan is located in Aleppo Governorate, about 30 kilometers northwest of the city of Aleppo. It is built at an altitude of 632 meters, and is located to the east of Mount Simeon.

Description

The village hosts several vestiges of the Byzantine-era settlement which are dated between the fifth and the seventh centuries. Howard Crosby Butler, in 1905, at the head of an archaeological expedition from the American University of Princeton, mentioned a large Islamic cemetery located around the ancient church. He also mentioned having found the remains of another church, older and completely destroyed. The church dedicated to Saint Phocas was probably part of a monastic complex. The same year, Gertrude Bell crossed Basufan and found the village mainly inhabited by Kurds, who rented their houses during the hot summer months to Christians and Jews of Aleppo who had come on vacation.

Church of St. Phocas

St. Phocas Church, now in ruins, was a basilica with three naves separated by columns. According to an inscription on the south wall, the building was dedicated to Saint Phocas and erected in 491-492.

The nave was 24 meters long and 15.4 wide. The arches of the nave rested on columns, while the outer walls were reinforced by pilasters. To the east, the chevet was composed of two rectangular apses framing a semicircular central apse. The two rectangular apses connected to the lateral aisles, and the south room was also open to the central apse, serving as a martyrium. The building bore a resemblance to the church of Qal'at Sem'an which could result from an imitation of the architecture of the latter. Access to the nave was through a door in the middle of the south façade, and a second access was on the west gable.

Photographs by Gertrude Bell

• Kurdish girl standing in doorway.
• Kurdish man in front of the church apse. Twisted column, Corinthian capital.
• Inscription in Syriac.

References

1. ^ General Census of Population and Housing 2004. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Aleppo Governorate. (in Arabic)
2. ^ علي, د. محمد عبدو. جبال الكرد: دراسة جغرافية شاملة (in Arabic) (1 ed.). Afrin. p. 171.
3. Basufan, Syria Page. Fallingrain.com
4. Howard Crosby Butler: Syria. Publications of the Princeton University Archaeological Expeditions to Syria in 1904–5 and 1909. Division I: Geography and Itinerary. E. J. Brill, Leiden 1930, p. 73, En ligne sur Archive.org
5. Gertrude Bell, Am Ende des Lavastromes. Durch die Wüsten und Kulturstätten Syriens. Gabriele Habinger (Hrsg.), Promedia, Wien 1991, p. 254. Édition originale : The Desert and the Sown, 1908
6. Jean-Pierre Sodini, Jean-Luc Biscop, Qal'at Sem'an et les chevets à colonnes de Syrie du Nord, Syria, 1984, Volume 61, pp. 267-330, p.282, JSTOR
7. Michel Kaplan, Le sacré et son inscription dans l'espace à Byzance et en Occident, Publications de la Sorbonne, 2001 - 318 pages, p.251 lire en ligne
8. Howard Crosby Butler: Early Churches in Syria. Fourth to Seventh Centuries. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1929, p. 67, 69 (Plan), 70

v t e Aleppo Governorate
Capital: Aleppo
Mount Simeon District Mount Simeon Subdistrict Aleppo Abtin Assan Ayn al-Kabira Azzan Duwayr al-Zaytun Haddadin Hayyan Hilan Hreibel Kafr Saghir Khan Tuman Maghayer Khan Tuman Maratat al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah al-Shamaliyah Qarras Rasm Assan Saqlaya Siefat Tell Shair Samaan Tell Shughayb al-Dhahabiyah al-Wadihi Tell ad-Daman‎ Subdistrict Tell al-Daman Abu Rweil Ameriyeh Arjel Atshana Sharqiya Atshana Gharbiya Ballas Ballas al-Jadida Batranah Burda Buwaida Saghira Deir Saliba Hmeidi Hober Jubb Aleis Kafr Obeid al-Mintar Mreiqes Oweinat Kabira Rasm al-Mofakker Tabara al-Khusheir Um al-Karamel Haritan Subdistrict Haritan Anadan Babis Bashkoy Hayyan Fah Kafr Bssin Kafr Hamrah Maarat al-Artiq Naqqarin Shaykh Najjar Shaykh Zayat Shamer Yaqed al-Adas Darat Izza Subdistrict Darat Izza Bshantara Basrtun Bishqatin Kafrantin al-Hoteh Hur Injarah Irhab Qabtan al-Jabal al-Sakhriyah Taqad al-Hadher Subdistrict al-Hadher al-Eiss Dalamah Jmeimeh Maryamin Samaan Tell Dadin al-Zirbah Subdistrict al-Zirbah Abad Arada Banes Barnah Barqum Bawabiyah Humayrah Huweir al-Eiss Jazraya Jubb Kas Kassibeh Othmaniya Kabira Rasm al-Eiss Talafeh Tell Allush Tell Hidyah Zitan Ziyara Samaan Zammar Subdistrict Zammar
Azaz District Azaz Subdistrict Azaz al-Fayruziyah Jarez Kafr Kalbin Kafr Khasher Kaljibrin Al-Krum Ma'arin al-Malikiyah Maraanaz Menagh Nayarah Naddah al-Salameh Shamarikh Shamarin Sijaraz Tatiyah Tulayl ash-Sham Yahmul Akhtarin Subdistrict Akhtarin Ablah Aq Burhan Arshaf Bahwartah Baruza Dabiq Dudyan Duweidan Ghaytun Ghurur Ka'ibah Kadrish Qabtan Qar Kalbin Taanah Tal'ar Gharbi Tal'ar Sharqi Tall Battal Tall Tanah Tat Hims Turkman Bareh Ziadiyah Tell Rifaat Subdistrict Tell Rifaat Ahras Deir Jamal Kafr Naseh Kafr Naya Shaykh Issa Tell Jabin Mare' Subdistrict Mare' Fafin Herbel Ma'arat Umm Hawsh Sunbul Talalin Tell Qarah Nubl Subdistrict Nubl Bayanoun Mayer Ratyan al-Zahraa Sawran Subdistrict Sawran Baraghida Bel Duwaybiq Hawar Kilis Ihtaimlat al-Judaydah Kafra Kafr Burayshah Kafr Shoush Murayghil Rael Shuwayrin al-Yaarubiyah al-Yamamah Az-Zahiriyah Zayzafun
Afrin District Afrin Subdistrict Afrin Ain Dara Awlad al-Arab Barad Baselhaya Basuta Basufan Beit Adin Burj Abdullah Inab Kafr Nabu Kalota Kimar Maryamin Oqayba Qibar Bulbul Subdistrict Bulbul Burj Haider Darmashkanli Deir Ballut Fafertin Jalbul Karzahayel Jandairis Subdistrict Jindires Jalamah Kafr Safra Maabatli Subdistrict Maabatli Rajo Subdistrict Rajo Meidan Ekbis Sharran Subdistrict Sharran Qatma Shaykh al-Hadid Subdistrict Shaykh al-Hadid
Atarib District Atarib Subdistrict Atarib al-Abzamo Batibo al-Jinah Ibbin Samaan Subdistrict Ibbin Samaan Kafr Halab Kafr Karmin Kafr Naha Kafr Nasih al-Atarib Kafr Nuran Maarat Atarib Awayjil al-Sahharah al-Shaykh Ali Urum al-Kubra Subdistrict Urum al-Kubra Urum al-Sughra
Ayn al-Arab District Ayn al-Arab Subdistrict Ayn al-Arab al-Farazdaq al-Haqel Jaadat al-Samaawat al-Jalbiyah Subdistrict al-Jalbiyah Jubb Faraj Kabir Mil Qibbah Qinayah Ramilah Ras al-Ayn Qibli Sarrin Subdistrict Sarrin Shuyukh Fawqani Shuyukh Tahtani Subdistrict Shuyukh Tahtani Tell Abyad Tahtani
Al-Bab District Al-Bab Subdistrict al-Bab Abu Jabbar Abu Taltal Ameriyeh Arima Subdistrict Arima Arran Barlahin Bizaah al-Burj Deir Qaq Haddabat Haji Kusa Hezwan Kherbet Kiyar Maran Oweishiyeh Qabbasin Al-Rai Subdistrict Al-Rai Sosyan Tadef Subdistrict Tadef Tell Rahal al-Waqf
Dayr Hafir District Dayr Hafir Subdistrict Dayr Hafir Humaymah Kabirah al-Jabbul Umm el-Marra Kuweires Sharqi Subdistrict Kuweires Sharqi Mazburah al-Raa'i Rasm al-Abed Rasm Harmil al-Imam Subdistrict Rasm Harmil al-Imam Shaykh Ahmad Tell Ayoub
Jarabulus District Jarabulus Subdistrict Jarabulus al-Bir Fawqani al-Bir Tahtani al-Hajaliah al-Haluwaniyah al-Jamel Amarnah Ayn al-Bayda Balaban Dabis Haymar Jarabulus Tahtani Marma al-Hajar Mazaalah Qandariyah Qirata Qirq Maghar Umm Rutha Tahtani Yusuf Bayk Zugharah Ghandoura Subdistrict Ghandoura Al-Kuliya Al-Shahid Al-Qadi Arab Azzah Belis Fursan Jubb al-Dam Lilawa Nabghah Tell Aghbar‎ Tell Hajar Qubbat at-Turkuman al-Suwaydah
Manbij District Manbij Subdistrict Manbij Abu Kahf Subdistrict Abu Kahf Abu Qilqil Subdistrict Abu Qilqil Arab Hassan Kabir Awsajli Kabir Dakhirah Dandaniya Hamir Labidah Hayyah Kabirah Jubb Hamza Al-Khafsah Subdistrict Al-Khafsah Khan al-Humr al-Maamurah al-Mahsanah Khafsah Maskanah Subdistrict Maskanah Mallah Mujammaa Huttin al-Nasiriyah Fawqani Qashlat Yusef Basha Ras al-Ayn al-Bumane' Saan al-Ghazal al-Tadamon Talhuthan Tell Aswad Tell Akhdar Tishrin al-Zahirah Zunqul
As-Safira District As-Safira Subdistrict as-Safira Abu Jurayn al-Safirah Aqrabah Banan Subdistrict Banan al-Hajib Subdistrict al-Hajib Hawwaz Khanasir Subdistrict Khanasir Qulayaa Rasm Al-Nafl al-Samiriyah Tat Tell Aran Subdistrict Tell Aran Tell Hasil Zira'ah

v t e Cities and towns of Syria
Governorate centres	Aleppo Damascus Daraa Deir ez-Zor Hama al-Hasakah Homs Idlib Latakia Quneitra Raqqa Rif Dimashq Suwayda Tartus
District centres	Abu Kamal Afrin Ariha Atarib Ayn al-Arab Azaz al-Bab Baniyas Darayya Dayr Hafir Douma Duraykish Fiq al-Haffah Harem Izra' Jableh Jarabulus Jisr ash-Shughur Maarat al-Numaan al-Malikiyah Manbij Masyaf Mayadin Mhardeh al-Mukharram al-Foqani an-Nabk Palmyra Qamishli Qardaha Qatana Qudsaya al-Qusayr al-Qutayfah Ra's al-'Ayn al-Rastan as-Safira Safita Salamiyah Salkhad al-Sanamayn Shahba ash-Shaykh Badr al-Suqaylabiyah Talkalakh al-Tall Tell Abyad al-Thawrah Yabroud Zabadani
Sub-district centres	Abu Qilqil Abu al-Thuhur Akhtarin Amuda Arbeen Arima al-Ariqah al-Arishah Armanaz Arwad al-Asharah Assal al-Ward Awj Ayn al-Fijah Ayn Halaqim Ayn Issa Ayn al-Nasr Babbila Banan Barri Sharqi Beit Jinn Binnish Bir al-Helou Bosra Bulbul Busayrah Da'el al-Dana Darat Izza Darkush al-Darbasiyah Deir Atiyah al-Dimas al-Dumayr Furqlus Ghabaghib Ghandoura al-Ghariyah al-Ghizlaniyah al-Hader Hadidah al-Hajar al-Aswad al-Hajib Hajin al-Hamidiyah al-Hamraa Harasta Harbnafsah Harran al-Awamid al-Hirak Hish Hisyah al-Hawl Huraytan al-Huwash Ibbin Samaan Ihsim Jayrud al-Jalaa al-Janudiyah Jaramana al-Jarniyah Jasim al-Jawadiyah Jubb al-Jarrah Jubb Ramlah Jindires al-Jiza al-Qabu Kafr Batna Kafr Nabl Kafr Takharim Kafr Zita al-Karamah al-Kasrah Kessab al-Khafsah Khan Shaykhun Khasham Kirnaz Kuwayris Sharqi Khanaser Khirbet Ghazaleh Khirbet al-Tin Mahmoud al-Kiswah Ma'arrat Misrin Maabatli Maadan Maaloula Madaya Mahin Malah al-Malihah al-Mansurah Mare' Markada Mashta al-Helu Maskanah al-Masmiyah al-Mazraa Muhambal Muhasan al-Musayfirah al-Mushannaf Muzayrib al-Nashabiyah al-Nasirah Nawa Nubl al-Qadmus al-Qahtaniyah Qalaat al-Madiq Qarah al-Qaryatayn al-Qurayya Qurqania Rajo Rankus Rasm Harmil al-Imam al-Rai al-Riqama al-Ruhaybah al-Saan Saasaa Sabburah al-Sabe' Biyar al-Sabkhah Sadad Sahnaya Saidnaya Salqin Saraqib Sarmin Sarrin Sawran Sebei al-Shaddadah al-Shajara Shaqqa Sharran Shathah Shaykh al-Hadid al-Shaykh Maskin Shayukh Tahtani Shin Sinjar Sirghaya Slinfah Suluk al-Surah al-Saghirah al-Suwar Suran al-Susah al-Sukhnah al-Tabni Talbiseh Taldou al-Tamanah Tasil Tell al-Daman Tell Hamis Tell Rifaat Tell Salhab Tell Tamer Tedef Thiban Uqayribat Urum al-Kubra Wadi al-Oyun al-Yaarubiyah al-Zirbah az-Ziyarah

• Kurdish settlements in Aleppo Governorate
• Populated places in Afrin District
• Towns in Aleppo Governorate
• Dead Cities