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Artouz عرطوز | |
|---|---|
  Artouz Location in Syria | |
| Coordinates:33°25′17″N36°8′39″E / 33.42139°N 36.14417°E /33.42139; 36.14417 | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Rif Dimashq Governorate |
| District | Qatana District |
| Nahiyah | Qatana |
| Population (2004 census)[1] | |
• Total | 16,199 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (EEST) |
Artouz (Arabic:عَرْطُوْز,romanized: ʻArṭūz, [ʕar'tˤuːz];Syriac: ܥܰܪܛܽܘܙ;Hebrew: עַרטוּז) is a town situated 15 km (9.3 mi) to the southwest ofDamascus,Syria. According to theSyria Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of 16,199 in the 2004 census.[1]
The name of the town is of uncertain etymology.
The prevalent presumption traces the meaning ofʻArṭūz back toSyriac (ܥܰܪܛܽܘܙ), loosely translating intobeing aside orthe one out of the way, which is a reference to the town's original, secluded location on a nearby mountain away from the usual routes back then. Furthermore, the two,Arabicquadriliteral roots ofʻ-r-ṭ-z andʻ-r-ṭ-s both meanto evade, which supports the presumption that the town was named after its remote position.
A less popular translation assumes thatʻArṭūz means the scent of apple, and that the nearby mountain it was once situated on was called the mountain of apples.
Evidence of the town's history is scarce. Throughout time, the region that cradles modern-day Artouz has been under the rule of a plethora of peoples, e.g.,ancient Middle Eastern civilisations, theNeo-Assyrian Empire, theByzantine Empire, theUmayyad Caliphate, theAbbasid Caliphate, theMamluk Sultanate, theOttoman Empire, and more.
There are historical references to a town in approximately the same location as Artouz during the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
A system of canals constructed at the time of the Roman reign is still in use to this day to irrigate the fields in the northwestern part of Artouz.
Artouz is believed to be the location of theNew Testament event known as theConversion of Saint Paul the Apostle. On his road to Damascus in pursuit of persecutingearly Christians,Saul (later christenedPaul) was interrupted by theascended Jesus in the whereabouts of today's Artouz, a place called Tal Kokab (Levantine Arabic: تَل كوكَب,/'tal koː'kab/). The location where Jesus Christ appeared is now commemorated by anabbey namedthe Vision of Saint Paul the Apostle Patriarchal Monastery, which was visited byPope John Paul II during his pilgrimage to Syria in May, 2001.
Originally, and during the Ottoman Empire's rule, Artouz was located on a nearby mountain 2000 metres to the northwest of its present place. However, the destructiveNear East earthquakes of 1759 reduced the little town to ruins. The inhabitants who survived and chose not to migrate elsewhere became displaced, and later descended from the mountains and occupied the region that is known today as Artouz. The region was an ideal choice because the people depended on water for theiragriculture, and theAwaj river ran there after the earthquakes had altered its course.
In 1838,Eli Smith noted Artouz as a predominantlySunni Muslim village.[2]
Artouz al-Kharaab (Levantine Arabic: عَرْطُوْز الخَرَاب,romanized:ʻArṭūz al-ḵarāb,/ʕar'tˤuːz elxa'raːb/) is a term used by the present inhabitants to refer to the remaining shambles of the old Artouz that used to exist on the nearby mountain. It meansArtouz the Ruins, and the remnants still stand to this day.
Most of the farms were owned by few rich families fromDamascus during the Ottoman andFrench periods, then the land was redistributed during the presidency ofGamal Abdel Nasser.
Artouz is 15 km (9.3 mi) south west of Damascus, 6 km (3.7 mi) east ofQatana. It lies on the main road between Damascus and theGolan Heights. TheAwaj river passes through the town and splits into three branches.
Artouze has a twin town only 2 km (1.2 mi) north calledJdeidat Artouz. Expansion of the two towns has erased the green spaces between them.
Artouz has great military importance, with many army detachments nearby.
Until the 1980s, the economy of Artouz depended largely on agriculture.Olives,wheat andgarlic were the main agricultural products. However, with the expansion of Damascus, Artouz developed a fast-growing construction and service economy, which is now the main source of employment for its population.
Artouz has no industrial region. Light industry located in and near the town is mainly limited to some dairy and poultry facilities.
Trade is a source of income of many people, with the town serving as a commerce centre for several surrounding small villages.
There is only a small health centre, for day cases. The centre is not officially working as many of the public health centres in Syria. The nearest hospital is 3 km (1.9 mi) from the town centre: a private hospital in the nearby town of Jdeidat Artouz (Al kamal). Most patients go to Damascus for hospital care.
Artouz has a central water and sewage system. However, the water shortage is a serious problem affecting the whole region. There is no recycling centre.
Artouz is well connected by roads to all neighbouring villages. A highway connecting Damascus toAl Quneitra (Golan) passes through the town.
There is also a train station servicing a rail line built by the French between Damascus and the city of Qatana. However, the train has stopped running decades ago.
Public transport is now limited to buses and mini buses, which serve to connect Artouz to Damascus. Residents also use the small mini cabs as taxis for short trips within the town.
The main historical ethnic group areArabs, and the town is predominantlySunni Muslims. However, the nearby town of Jdeidat Artouz hosts a mix ofOrthodox Christians,Roman Catholics,Druze andAlawites.[3]
There have been no sectarian issues in Artouz, but since 1967 many refugees (mainlyBedouin) have come to live in Artouz, and the newcomers (callednazheen (نازحين)) have clashed with the long-term residents. Some of these clashes have resulted in casualties. Also, a fewIraqis have moved to Artouz following theAmerican invasion of Iraq.
Artouze has severalmosques. Churches of other faiths are located only in nearby Jdeidat Artouz.
Secularism flourished in the town in the 1970s, but the last two decades have witnessed growing religious fervour among the population.
Schools are mixed in the town, with boys and girls attending the same schools.
There are two secondary schools, one of which has been set up to serve the refugee community exclusively.
Artouz has good percentage of educated people in its population. English is the second language for most of the educated people, but the knowledge of it is also limited and not enough to communicate efficiently. French is also understood with limitation, especially between old educated Artouzians.
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