Borj Ech Chemali

Borj Ech Chemali (Arabic: برج الشمالي) is a town in the Tyre District in South Lebanon, located just east of Tyre.

Borj Ech Chemali
برج الشمالي
Town
Borj Ech Chemali is located in Lebanon
Borj Ech Chemali
Borj Ech Chemali
Coordinates: 33°15′45″N 35°14′20″E
Grid position172/296 PAL
Country Lebanon
GovernorateSouth Governorate
DistrictTyre
Elevation
203 ft (62 m)
Population
 (2015)
 • Total36,308
 [1]
Time zoneGMT +3

Name

According to E. H. Palmer in 1881, the name Burj esh Shemâly means "the northern tower".[2]

History

In 1875, Victor Guérin found the village to be inhabited by 150 Métualis. The old fort was divided into several private dwellings.[3]

In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it as: "A large village built of stone, containing about 300 Metawileh, placed on a low ridge, with figs, olives, and arable land around. There are two good springs nearby.[4]

They further noted that it was "a village with a similar tower of drafted masonry (as that of Borj Rahal). The hill is crowned by a stronghold, the vaults of which, slightly ogival, do not appear older than the Crusaders, but it was constructed of older blocks, some in drafted masonry while others are completely smoothed. About a mile to the south-west of this hill is a subterranean series of tombs, each containing several ranges of loculi, which was explored by Renan."[5]

References
  1. city-facts.com
  2. Palmer, 1881, p. 4
  3. Guérin, 1880, p. 202
  4. Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 48
  5. Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 58

Bibliography
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