El Mansourieh ( ar, المنصورية
translit. al-Manṣūriyyah) is a village in the
Matn District
Matn ( ar, قضاء المتن, '), sometimes spelled Metn (or preceded by the article El, as in El Matn), is a district (''qadaa'') in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon, east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut. The district capital is Jd ...
of the
Mount Lebanon Governorate french: Gouvernorat du Mont-Liban
, native_name_lang =
, image_map = Administrative divisions of Lebanon 2017-08 (Numbered).png
, map_caption = The governorates of Lebanon, including Mount Lebanon (in pink, label ...
,
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
. It is historically important because of the archaeological remains of a
Roman aqueduct
The Romans constructed aqueducts throughout their Republic and later Empire, to bring water from outside sources into cities and towns. Aqueduct water supplied public baths, latrines, fountains, and private households; it also supported mining o ...
.
Overview
About 10 km east of
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
, on a hilltop overseeing the capital, lies Mansourieh the gateway to
Northern Matn.
Etymology
The name originates from the ar, منصور (
translit. Manṣūr) meaning victorious, presumably dating back to a battle between the Crusaders and the Arabs in which the latter emerged victorious.
Geography
Mansourieh consists of the village, seated on top of a ridge, bordered to the south and southwest by a river, the
Beirut River
Beirut River ( ar, نهر بيروت, ''Nahr Bayrūt'') is a river in Lebanon. The river runs east to west, then curves north, separating the city of Beirut from its eastern suburbs, primarily Bourj Hammoud and Sin el Fil. According to popular le ...
and to the north by the
Mar Roukouz
Mar Roukouz or Mar Roukoz ( ar, مار روكز translit. Mar Roukouz) is a village in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebano ...
(St. Roches) ravine.
Upwards to the east Mansourieh merges with
Ain Saadeh
Ain Saadeh ( ar, عين سعادة, also spelled Ain Saadée and Ain Saade) is a suburb located northeast of the capital Beirut in Lebanon.
Demography
Ain Saade is a traditional Christian village located in the mountains of Lebanon overlooking t ...
and
Monte Verde
Monte Verde is an archaeological site in the Llanquihue Province in southern Chile, located near Puerto Montt, Southern Chile, which has been dated to as early as 18,500 cal BP (16,500 BC). Previously, the widely accepted date for early occup ...
, and slopes downhill westwards to
Mkalles
Mkalles ( ar, المكلس translit. al-Mkalles) is a town in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republ ...
and
Sin el-Fil.
Across the river to the southwest lies the
Hazmieh
Hazmieh (also Romanized as Hazmiyé, Hazmie, Hasmiyeh, Al Ḩāzimīyah, and El Hâzmîyé) is a town in Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon, and a suburb of Beirut, part of Greater Beirut.
Geography
Hazmieh covers an area of 2.73 square kilom ...
town, part of the
Baabda district
Baabda District ( ar, قضاء بعبدا, transliteration: ''Qada' Baabda''), sometimes spelled ''B'abda'', is a district (''qadaa'') of Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon, to the south and east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut. The region is als ...
.
Daychounieh
Daychounieh ( ar, الديشونية translit. al-Dayšūniyat) (also Al-Daychounieh) is a village in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon. Daychounieh is administered by Mansourieh municipality.
Overview
Daychouni ...
covers the southeastern side, facing
Baabda
Baabda ( ar, بعبدا) is the capital city of Baabda District as well as the capital of Mount Lebanon Governorate, western Lebanon. Baabda was the capital city of the autonomous Ottoman Mount Lebanon. Baabda is known for the Ottoman Castle (t ...
and
Louaize
.
Mansourieh is 16 km to the Capital (
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
), 16 km to the Province Administrative Center (
Baabda
Baabda ( ar, بعبدا) is the capital city of Baabda District as well as the capital of Mount Lebanon Governorate, western Lebanon. Baabda was the capital city of the autonomous Ottoman Mount Lebanon. Baabda is known for the Ottoman Castle (t ...
) and 12 km to the Caza Administrative Center (
Jdeideh
Jdeideh ( ar, جديدة المتن translit. al-Judaydat), also Jdayde, Jdaideh and Jdeidet el-Matn, is a coastal municipality and the administrative capital of the Matn District in the Mount Lebanon Governorate.
Jdeideh has an area of approxim ...
).
Mansourieh slopes upwards from an elevation of approx. 200m to reach its highest at around 350m.
Until the early nineties of the last century, Mansourieh was mostly a rural area. Plains along the banks of the
Beirut River
Beirut River ( ar, نهر بيروت, ''Nahr Bayrūt'') is a river in Lebanon. The river runs east to west, then curves north, separating the city of Beirut from its eastern suburbs, primarily Bourj Hammoud and Sin el Fil. According to popular le ...
were cultivated with citrus orchards. Olive groves were traditionally grown in more arid areas.
Pine forests covered the southeastern slopes. Vineyards and fig trees, along with other Mediterranean cultivars, completed the landscape.
Due to intensive urbanization since the second half of the last century, many green areas have been replaced by residential and commercial buildings.
Few green areas remain, mainly along the river bank.
Mansourieh lies on the main road running from
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
through
Sin el-Fil and
Mkalles
Mkalles ( ar, المكلس translit. al-Mkalles) is a town in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republ ...
, winding up the mountain to reach
Baabdat
Baabdat ( ar, بعبدات) is a town located in the Matn District of Mount Lebanon, 22 km from Beirut at an altitude ranging between 600 and 1100 meters above sea level. The lush pine forests that surround the town make it a very popular su ...
,
Bikfaya
Bikfaya ( ar, بكفيا, also spelled Bickfaya, Beckfayya, or Bekfaya) is a town in the Matn District region of Mount Lebanon. Its stone houses with red-tiled roofs resting amidst pine and oak forests make Bikfaya one of the most sought-after sub ...
and Upper Matn.
The '
Ras el-Matn
Ras el-Matn or (Ras el-Metn) or (Ra's al-Matn) ( ar, رأس المتن) is a Lebanon, Lebanese town and municipality in the Baabda District of Mount Lebanon Governorate stretching over 1300 hectares (13 km² - 5 mi²). The town has a pop ...
' road connects
Northern Matn to
Southern Matn villages, starting from
Monte Verde
Monte Verde is an archaeological site in the Llanquihue Province in southern Chile, located near Puerto Montt, Southern Chile, which has been dated to as early as 18,500 cal BP (16,500 BC). Previously, the widely accepted date for early occup ...
.
Mansourieh also has a great number of shops, restaurants and supermarkets. These are located namely in the old road (shops and bakeries) and the Mansourieh highway (food chains, retail shops and outlets). The highway is thus region with high mobility traffic. The old road on the other hand, offers a great view on Beirut along with trees and nice houses and buildings.
Beirut River
Beirut River ( ar, نهر بيروت, ''Nahr Bayrūt'') is a river in Lebanon. The river runs east to west, then curves north, separating the city of Beirut from its eastern suburbs, primarily Bourj Hammoud and Sin el Fil. According to popular le ...
flows east to west from Lebanon's mountains passing south of Mansourieh to the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
.
The River is crossed by a dam locally called 'Jisr es-Sid' (Bridge of the Dam) built during the French mandate.
With the dam, part of the river water is diverted to irrigate the
Hadath
Al-Ḥadath al-Ḥamrā' (Arabic for "Hadath the Red") or Adata ( el, ) was a town and fortress near the Taurus Mountains (modern southeastern Turkey), which played an important role in the Byzantine–Arab Wars.
Location
The town was located ...
and
Kfarshima
Kfarshima ( ar, كفرشيما), also spelled Kfarchima, is a town in the Baabda District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, southeast of Beirut and is part of Greater Beirut.
The town is populated by Lebanese Christians: mainly Melkite Greek ...
coastal planes.
A bridge on top of the dam links Mansourieh to
Hazmieh
Hazmieh (also Romanized as Hazmiyé, Hazmie, Hasmiyeh, Al Ḩāzimīyah, and El Hâzmîyé) is a town in Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon, and a suburb of Beirut, part of Greater Beirut.
Geography
Hazmieh covers an area of 2.73 square kilom ...
's Mar Takla and Mar Roukouz neighborhoods.
Mansourieh municipality administers the industrialized
Mkalles
Mkalles ( ar, المكلس translit. al-Mkalles) is a town in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republ ...
zone and the
Daychounieh
Daychounieh ( ar, الديشونية translit. al-Dayšūniyat) (also Al-Daychounieh) is a village in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon. Daychounieh is administered by Mansourieh municipality.
Overview
Daychouni ...
village.
Demographics
As of 2009, Mansourieh houses a population of approx. 17,000 of whom 1,445 are voters and 2,254 native residents.
Residences number approximately 4,500
.
Education
Mansourieh is home to the following educational institutions:
*
Eastwood College
Eastwood International School is a private international IB World School in Beirut, Lebanon.
History
Initially called Eastwood College, the school was founded in 1973 by Amine M. Khoury in Kafarshima, Lebanon with the motto "Children, our Purp ...
br>
EWC*
Lebanese University
The Lebanese University (LU) (, ) is the only public university in Beirut, Lebanon. It is ranked #701–750 worldwide in terms of education.
The creation of the Lebanese University was an idea first mentioned in the speech of the former Minist ...
, Literatur
In addition to the institutions found within village limit, several others are located a few kilometers around:
*
Saint Joseph University, Université Saint Josephbr>
(
Mar Roukouz
Mar Roukouz or Mar Roukoz ( ar, مار روكز translit. Mar Roukouz) is a village in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebano ...
)
*
Sagesse High School, Sagesse High School, Mary Mother of Wisdombr>
(
Ain Saadeh
Ain Saadeh ( ar, عين سعادة, also spelled Ain Saadée and Ain Saade) is a suburb located northeast of the capital Beirut in Lebanon.
Demography
Ain Saade is a traditional Christian village located in the mountains of Lebanon overlooking t ...
)
*
Lebanese University
The Lebanese University (LU) (, ) is the only public university in Beirut, Lebanon. It is ranked #701–750 worldwide in terms of education.
The creation of the Lebanese University was an idea first mentioned in the speech of the former Minist ...
, Human Science
(
Fanar (Matn), Fanar)
Medical institutions
* Hospital Beit Al Ajouz (Mansourieh)
* Bellevue Medical Cente
(Mansourieh)
Archaeological sites: Roman aqueduct
Located in the secluded river valley between Mansourieh and
Hazmieh
Hazmieh (also Romanized as Hazmiyé, Hazmie, Hasmiyeh, Al Ḩāzimīyah, and El Hâzmîyé) is a town in Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon, and a suburb of Beirut, part of Greater Beirut.
Geography
Hazmieh covers an area of 2.73 square kilom ...
are the remains of a little-known
Roman aqueducts, Roman aqueduct.
During the Roman period, with the expanding urbanization of
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
, the demand for running water outgrew the capacity of the existing wells and springs.
The solution was to get water from one of the springs located along the Beirut River.
The nearest spring was the
Daychounieh
Daychounieh ( ar, الديشونية translit. al-Dayšūniyat) (also Al-Daychounieh) is a village in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon. Daychounieh is administered by Mansourieh municipality.
Overview
Daychouni ...
source, situated 20 km southeast of Beirut.
The Roman architects built a water channel to convey this water across the
Beirut River
Beirut River ( ar, نهر بيروت, ''Nahr Bayrūt'') is a river in Lebanon. The river runs east to west, then curves north, separating the city of Beirut from its eastern suburbs, primarily Bourj Hammoud and Sin el Fil. According to popular le ...
and transport it onwards to
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
.
It was built over an arched, bridge-like structure known today as 'Qanater es-Sett Zubaida' (The Arches of Mistress Zubaida).
The aqueduct consisted of a series of arches of which only a small number remains on the sides of the river.
It was built in 273 AD, during the reign of Roman emperor
Aurelian
Aurelian ( la, Lucius Domitius Aurelianus; 9 September 214 October 275) was a Roman emperor, who reigned during the Crisis of the Third Century, from 270 to 275. As emperor, he won an unprecedented series of military victories which reunited t ...
and was also used as a way station for the
Roman military
The military of ancient Rome, according to Titus Livius, one of the more illustrious historians of Rome over the centuries, was a key element in the rise of Rome over "above seven hundred years" from a small settlement in Latium to the capital o ...
in
Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...
.
The name Zubaida can be identified with the famous
al-Zabba'/Bat-Zabbai/Zenobia of
Palmyra
Palmyra (; Palmyrene: () ''Tadmor''; ar, تَدْمُر ''Tadmur'') is an ancient city in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria. Archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, and documents first mention the city in the early second ...
, who may have built it.
It can also be associated with Princess
Zubaida, wife of caliph
Haroun ar-Rashid
Abu Ja'far Harun ibn Muhammad al-Mahdi ( ar
, أبو جعفر هارون ابن محمد المهدي) or Harun ibn al-Mahdi (; or 766 – 24 March 809), famously known as Harun al-Rashid ( ar, هَارُون الرَشِيد, translit=Hārūn ...
.
Curiously, another Roman aqueduct on the
Nahr Ibrahim
The Abraham River (, Nahr Ibrahim) also known as Adonis River (), is a small river in the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate in Lebanon, with a length of about . The river emerges from a huge cavern, the Afqa Grotto, nearly above sea level before it dr ...
(Adonis river) bears the same name.
Religion
Mansourieh native inhabitants are
Christians
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 ...
predominantly
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 ...
. Population influx in the last 20 years diversified the religious panorama to include
Maronites
The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the largest ...
and other
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 ...
denominations.
Churches
* Mar Elias (
Saint Elijah
Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) was, according to the Books o ...
Church) –
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 ...
(Mansourieh)
* Miled Es-Sayde
(
Saint Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...
Church) –
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 ...
(Mansourieh)
* Mar Gergis (
Saint George
Saint George (Greek: Γεώργιος (Geórgios), Latin: Georgius, Arabic: القديس جرجس; died 23 April 303), also George of Lydda, was a Christian who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. According to tradition he was a soldier ...
Church) –
Maronite
The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the larges ...
(
Daychounieh
Daychounieh ( ar, الديشونية translit. al-Dayšūniyat) (also Al-Daychounieh) is a village in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon. Daychounieh is administered by Mansourieh municipality.
Overview
Daychouni ...
)
* St. Thérès
(
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Sainte Thérèse Church) –
Maronite
The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the larges ...
(
Ain Saadeh-Beit Mery)
* Mar Elias (
Saint Elijah
Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) was, according to the Books o ...
Church) –
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 ...
(
Mkalles
Mkalles ( ar, المكلس translit. al-Mkalles) is a town in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republ ...
)
* Mar Elias (
Saint Elijah
Elijah ( ; he, אֵלִיָּהוּ, ʾĒlīyyāhū, meaning "My God is Yahweh/YHWH"; Greek form: Elias, ''Elías''; syr, ܐܸܠܝܼܵܐ, ''Elyāe''; Arabic: إلياس or إليا, ''Ilyās'' or ''Ilyā''. ) was, according to the Books o ...
Church) –
Maronite
The Maronites ( ar, الموارنة; syr, ܡܖ̈ܘܢܝܐ) are a Christian ethnoreligious group native to the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant region of the Middle East, whose members traditionally belong to the Maronite Church, with the larges ...
(
Mkalles
Mkalles ( ar, المكلس translit. al-Mkalles) is a town in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon
Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republ ...
)
References and footnotes
External links
Mansouriyeh - Mkalles - Daychouniyeh Localiban
Mansourieh on the Net
{{Archaeological sites in Lebanon
Populated places in the Matn District
Archaeological sites in Lebanon
Roman sites in Lebanon
Roman aqueducts outside Rome