Al-Zaytun (also spelled Zeitoun or Harat az-Zaytoun; ar, الزيتون; Arabic translation: "the Quarter of Olive trees") is the southwestern and largest quarter of
Gaza's Old City.
[Sharon, 2009, p]
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/ref> Prior to the demolition of the Old City's walls, it was one of the three walled quarters of Gaza's Old City, the other two being al-Tuffah
Tuffah ( ar, حي التفاح, translation: "the Apple") is a district of Gaza City, located northeast of the Old City and is divided into eastern and western halves. Prior to its expansion and the demolition of the Old City's walls, Tuffah was ...
in the northeast and al-Daraj
Al-Daraj or Haraat al-Daraj ( ar, حارة الدرج) is the densely populated northwestern quarter of Gaza City, Gaza's Old City. Its name translates as "Quarter of the Steps." Situated on an oblong hill about above sea level and higher than any ...
in the northwest. Omar Mukhtar Street, Gaza City's main thoroughfare, separates al-Zaytun from al-Daraj.[Sharon, 2009, p]
30
/ref>
History
The northwestern part of al-Zaytun was known as "Dar al-Khudar" ("the Vegetable House"), which was a small subdivision that contained the open-air vegetable market known as "Suq al-Khudar". In 1525, Dar al-Khudar contained 43 households,[Cohen and Lewis, 1978, p. 117] and Nasara, close to the Church of Saint Porphyrius
The Church of Saint Porphyrius or St. Porphyrius Church ( el, Εκκλησία του Αγίου Πορφυρίου, ar, كنيسة القديس برفيريوس) is a Greek Orthodox Christian church in Gaza City, State of Palestine, a ...
, had 82 households.[Cohen and Lewis, 1978, p. 119]
The Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
and Jewish neighborhoods of Gaza were also a part of al-Zaytun. The 5th century Saint Porphryrius Church
The Church of Saint Porphyrius or St. Porphyrius Church ( el, Εκκλησία του Αγίου Πορφυρίου, ar, كنيسة القديس برفيريوس) is a Greek Orthodox Christian church in Gaza City, State of Palestine, a ...
, belonging to the Greek Orthodox
The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek language, Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the Eastern Orthodox Church, entire body of Orthodox (Chalced ...
denomination, is located in al-Zaytun and stands alongside the 14th century Kateb al-Welaya Mosque
Katib al-Wilaya Mosque or Welayat Mosque ( ar, جامع الولايات) is a small historic mosque located along Omar Mukhtar Street in Gaza City in the Zaytun Quarter of the Old City. The mosque was built by the Burji Mamluks in 1432, however, ...
, with only two meters of space in between the former's bell tower and the latter's minaret
A minaret (; ar, منارة, translit=manāra, or ar, مِئْذَنة, translit=miʾḏana, links=no; tr, minare; fa, گلدسته, translit=goldaste) is a type of tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques. Minarets are generall ...
. Adjacent to the church is the old Christian graveyard.[Sharon, 2009, p]
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References
Bibliography
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External links
*Survey of Western Palestine, Map 19
IAAWikimedia commons
Neighborhoods of Gaza City
{{Palestine-geo-stub