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Harran al-'Awamid حران العواميد
Town
The basaltic Roman-era columns from which Harran al-Awamid receives its name, 1903
Harran al-'Awamid
Coordinates: 33°26′50″N 36°33′33″E / 33.44722°N 36.55917°E / 33.44722; 36.55917
Country	Syria
Governorate	Rif Dimashq
District	Douma
Subdistrict	Harran al-Awamid
Population
• Total	12,117
Time zone	UTC+3 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (EEST)

Harran al-'Awamid (Arabic: حران العواميد) is a town in southern Syria, administratively part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate, located southeast of Damascus. It is situated on a plain that stretches to the marshes of Bahrat al-Qibliyah ("South Lake," the source of the Barada River) along the boundary of the fertile Ghouta region to the west, to the north of the Hauran. Nearby localities include al-Kafrayn and Judaydat al-Khas to the south, al-Atibeh to the northeast, al-Abadah and al-Qisa to the north, al-Ahmadiyah to the northwest, Sakka to the west and Ghasulah and al-Ghizlaniyah to the southwest.

According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Harran al-'Awamid had a population of 12,117 in the 2004 census. It is the administrative center and the most populous locality of the Harran al-'Awamid nahiyah ("subdistrict") which consisted of four localities with a collective population of 22,853 in 2004. The town was well known for its mudbrick architecture and three basalt columns of an ancient Roman temple, hence the name Harran al-'Awamid ("Harran of the Columns.") The columns themselves shoot out of the roof of a mudbrick building, which, along with many of the town's houses, have occupied the ruins of the temple.

History

Under Ottoman rule in the late 19th century, Harran al-Awamid was visited by archaeologist William McLure Thomson, who asserted that it was the Haran mentioned in the Bible. He noted that the plantation of Bahrat al-Qibliyah could be seen from the roof of the village's mosque. The area was inhabited by Bedouins (nomads) and semi-nomadic Arabs.

Roman temple

Because the ruins of the Roman temple, which likely dates to the reign of Emperor Philip the Arab (244-49 CE), have become entangled with Harran al-Awamid's mudbrick houses, the plan of the temple could not be ascertained. However, it has been determined that the structure was built on a high podium as indicated by the columns' elevation and location which also suggests that they marked the temple's northwestern corner. The columns have a height of roughly twelve feet and a width of six feet. They are constructed in the Ionic style from black basalt stone with ornately carved capitals, although one of the column's capitals had fallen off. The columns consisted of either six or seven parts that are cracked and worn out. The style of the capitals is similar to that of the columns of ancient Roman temples in the Hauran region, being based upon the acanthus. However, those at Harran al-Awamid were "more boldly drawn and are wrought in more massive style, a little coarser, perhaps..."

References

1. ^ General Census of Population and Housing 2004. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Rif Dimashq Governorate. (in Arabic)
2. ^ Saliou, Catherine (1998). "Une Épitaphe De Harran El 'Awamid" (PDF). Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (in French) (122): 102–104.
3. Butler, 1903, p. 398.
4. Thomson, pp. 414-415.
5. ^ Butler, 1998, p. 399.
6. ^ Thompson, p. 416.

Bibliography

• Butler, H.C. (1903). Architecture and other arts. Vol. 2. The Century Co.
• Thomson, W.M. (1886). The land and the Book: or, Biblical illustrations drawn from the manners and customs, the scenes and scenery, of the Holy Land, by William M. Thomson. Harper.

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

v t e Rif Dimashq Governorate
Markaz Rif Dimashq District Kiswah Subdistrict Al-Kiswah Al-Adiliyah Arkis Deir Ali Deir Khabiyah Ayn al-Bayda Ayn al-Souda Al-Horjelah Jeb as-Safa Khan Dannun Khirbet al-Shiyab Khiyarat Dannun Marana Matahriyeh Morjana Muqaylibah Qara Saada Shaqhab al-Taybah Um al-Awamid Zakiyah Zureiqiya Babbila Subdistrict Babbila Aqraba al-Bahdaliyah Beit Sahem Buwayda Hujayrah Hawsh Sahiya Khirbet al-Ward Maalaqa Najha Al-Sitt Al-Sabinah Yalda Jaramana Subdistrict Jaramana Malihah Subdistrict Al-Malihah Ahdaf Deir al-Asafir Hawsh al-Sultan Hutaytet al-Turkman Shabaa Zabdin Sahba Kafr Batna Subdistrict Kafr Batna Beit Sawa Aftris Hamouriyah Hizzah Jisrin Saqba Arbin Subdistrict Arbin Ein Tarma Zamalka
Douma District Douma Subdistrict Douma Adra Batihat al-Wafidin Hawsh al-Dawahira Hawsh al-Farah Hawsh Nasri Hufayr al-Tahta Maydaa al-Rihan al-Shafuniyah Tal al-Swan Harasta Subdistrict Harasta Dahiyat Harasta Mesraba Madira Sabe Biyar Subdistrict Sabaa Biyar Dumayr Subdistrict Al-Dumayr Nashabiyeh Subdistrict Al-Nashabiyah Al-Ahmadiyah Al-Bahariyah Al-Bilaliyah Beit Nayim Bzeineh Deir Salman Al-Damen Harasta al-Qantarah Al-Jarba Al-Khamisiyah Al-Mansoura Marj al-Sultan Nawla Al-Abadah Autaya Otaybah Al-Qasimiyah Al-Qisa Al-Salihiyah Wadyan al-Rabi Al-Zamaniyah Ghazlaniyeh Subdistrict Al-Ghizlaniyah Bayad Al-Bitariyah Deir al-Hajar Dalbeh Ghasulah Al-Haijaneh Qarahta Qarmashiyeh Sakka Tall Maskan Harran al-Awamid Subdistrict Harran al-Awamid Judaydat al-Khas Al-Kafrayn Mabarkah
Al-Qutayfah District Qutayfah Subdistrict Al-Qutayfah Helleh Muadamiyat al-Qalamoun Jayrud Subdistrict Jayrud Al-Atnah Al-Mansoura Al-Naseriyah Maloula Subdistrict Maaloula Ain al-Tinah Jubb'adin al-Tawani Raheiba Subdistrict Al-Ruhaybah
Al-Tall District Al-Tall Subdistrict Al-Tall al-Dreij Halboun Maarounah Maaraba Manin Talfita Sednaya Subdistrict Saidnaya Badda Maarat Saidnaya Akoubar Hafeir al-Fouqa Rankous Subdistrict Rankous al-Fayadiyah Hosh Arab al-Jarniyah al-Mahabah Ayn Dara al-Nour Sabnah
Yabroud District Yabroud Subdistrict Yabroud Ras al-Ayn Ras al-Maara Rima Al-Sarkha (Bakhah) Assal al-Ward Subdistrict Assal al-Ward al-Jebbah
An-Nabek District An-Nabek Subdistrict Al-Nabek Mashrafet Flita Qaldoun al-Marah Al-Qastal al-Sahel Deir Atiyeh Subdistrict Deir Atiyah Al-Humayra al-Jarajir Qara Subdistrict Qara
Al-Zabadani District Al-Zabadani Subdistrict Al-Zabadani Barheliya Bloudan Hosh Bajed Kafr al-Awamid Al-Rawdah (al-Batrounah) Souq Wadi Barada Madaya Subdistrict Madaya Baqin Hurayra Serghaya Subdistrict Serghaya Ain Hawr
Qatana District Qatana Subdistrict Qatana Ambiya al-Aamrat Arnah Artouz al-Bejaa Beqaasem Drousha Jdeidat Artouz Kafr Qouq Kawkab Khan al-Shih Manshiyat Khan al-Shih Mazraat Deir al-Ashayer Qalaat al-Jandal Rakhlah Ras al-Ayn Rima al-Sabboura Yaafour Beit Jann Subdistrict Beit Jinn Darbal Ain al-Shaara Harfa Hinah Khirbet al-Sawda Maghar al-Mir al-Maqrousa Mazraat Beit Jinn Sa'sa Subdistrict Sa'sa' Abou Qawouq al-Adnaniyah Beit Saber Beitima Deir Maker Denaji Dourin Hamrit al-Hubariyah Hosh al-Nufour Jisr al-Safra Kafr Hawr Kanaker Maas al-Nufour al-Qleiaah Rasem al-Tahin al-Shawkatliyah
Darayya District Darayya Subdistrict Darayya Muadamiyat al-Sham Sahnaya Subdistrict Sahnaya Ashrafiyat Sahnaya Hajar al-Aswad Subdistrict al-Hajar al-Aswad
Qudsaya District Qudsaya Subdistrict Qudsaya Ashrafiyat al-Wadi Basimah al-Hamah Jamraya Jdeidat al-Wadi Dahiyat Qudsaya ad-Dimas Subdistrict al-Dimas Jdeidat Yabous Kfeir Yabous Maadar Qura al-Sham Yabous Ein al-Fijeh Subdistrict Ain al-Fijah Efra Deir Muqaran Deir Qanun al-Husseiniyah Kfeir al-Zayt

• Populated places in Douma District
• Roman sites in Syria
• Towns in Syria