Ariqah عريقة | |
|---|---|
 Shrine of Ammar bin Yasser in Ariqah | |
  Ariqah Location in Syria | |
| Coordinates:32°53′20″N36°29′00″E / 32.88889°N 36.48333°E /32.88889; 36.48333 | |
| Grid position | 288/255 |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Suwayda |
| District | Shahba |
| Subdistrict | Ariqah |
| Elevation | 800 m (2,600 ft) |
| Population (2004 census) | |
• Total | 3,798 |
| • Density | 386/km2 (1,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | +3 |
Ariqah (Arabic:عريقة,romanized: ʿArīqa), formerly known asAhira, is a town in southernSyria with a population of about 3,798, according to theSyria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in the 2004 census.[1] It is located in the heart of the rockyvolcanic plateau ofLajat. Administratively Ariqah is situated in theShahba District ofSuwayda Governorate.Ariqah is known for its volcaniccave which is located in a 10 meters deep hollow in the centre of the village. This cave is known as Ariqa Cave which extends from 2 to 3 kilometers in the old lava streams, it is the biggest known cave in southern Syria. Its inhabitants are predominantlyDruze, with aSunni Muslim Bedouin minority.[2]
Historically ‘Arīqah was considered the centre of the inaccessible Lajat, many houses from theByzantine epoch were found in the town and they are still inhabited by locals, there is also an old ruined Byzantinemonastery in the town known as "Deir Ariqa".[citation needed]
In 1596 Al-Ariqah appeared in theOttomantax registers as 'Ahiri and was part of thenahiya of Bani Abdullah in theHauran Sanjak. It had an entirelyMuslim population consisting of 18 households and 3 bachelors. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 25% onwheat,barley, summer crops, goats and/or beehives and a water mill; a total of 6,500akçe.[3]
In 1838, it was noted asAhiry, a Druze and Catholic village, situated "in theLejah, south ofDama".[4]
32°53′10″N36°28′50″E / 32.88611°N 36.48056°E /32.88611; 36.48056
Capital:Suwayda | |||||||||||||||
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