Miye ou Miye ( ar, المية ومية, ) is a village in
southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon () is the area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. The two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s. The Rashaya and Western Beqaa Districts, the southernmost distric ...
located 5 km (3.2 mi) East of
Sidon
Sidon ( ; he, צִידוֹן, ''Ṣīḏōn'') known locally as Sayda or Saida ( ar, صيدا ''Ṣaydā''), is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate, of which it is the capital, on the Mediterranean coast. ...
and 45 km (28 mi) south of 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 ...
and it overlooks 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 village lies at an average altitude of 156 m (512 ft) above sea level. Miye ou Miyes' surface (with houses built on it) stretches for 230 hectares (2.3 km² - 0.8878 mi²). The village is bordered with a number of villages/towns: East: Qraiyeh,
Ain El Delb; West:
Sidon
Sidon ( ; he, צִידוֹן, ''Ṣīḏōn'') known locally as Sayda or Saida ( ar, صيدا ''Ṣaydā''), is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate, of which it is the capital, on the Mediterranean coast. ...
; North: Haret Saida; and South: Darb es Sim,
Zaghdraiya
Zaghdraiya (also Zeghdrâya, Zoghedraya, Zghedraia. Arabic: زغدرايا) is a town in the South Governorate in Lebanon. It is located southeast of Sidon. The village is bordered with a number of villages/towns like Darb es Sim, Maghdouche, Mi ...
.
Etymology
Legend has it there are three possible root words for the name of the town Miye ou Miye:
* It stems from the
Phoenician language
Phoenician ( ) is an extinct language, extinct Canaanite languages, Canaanite Semitic languages, Semitic language originally spoken in the region surrounding the cities of Tyre, Lebanon, Tyre and Sidon. Extensive Tyro-Sidonian trade and commerci ...
“Mio Mia”, which means a place where there is mummification water; In fact, there are many
Phoenicia
Phoenicia () was an ancient thalassocratic civilization originating in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily located in modern Lebanon. The territory of the Phoenician city-states extended and shrank throughout their histor ...
n tombs located at
Beirut National Museum
The National Museum of Beirut ( ar, متحف بيروت الوطنيّ, ''Matḥaf Bayrūt al-waṭanī'' or French: Musée national de Beyrouth) is the principal museum of archaeology in Lebanon. The collection begun after World War I, and the ...
that were found by the Missionary Dr. George Ford while building Gerard Institute for the boys (1881) and other facilities and halls on Miye ou Miye land. This is the most likely explanation for the name of the town.
* It also comes from the
Arabic language
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...
meaning “mieyya ”, which means one hundred. During a census of the number of villages that the
Druze
The Druze (; ar, دَرْزِيٌّ, ' or ', , ') are an Arabic-speaking esoteric ethnoreligious group from Western Asia who adhere to the Druze faith, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, syncretic, and ethnic religion based on the teachings of ...
won in war during the 1800s in the Iqlim al-Tuffah; Miye ou Miye the village, was number 200 on the roster. They presented their winnings in a batch format of 100. We won "mieyya" and this is the second "mieyya". So, it was named Miye ou Miye.
* Due to abundance of water in the area, the village was named Mayya w Mayya, meaning water and water in
Assyrian
Assyrian may refer to:
* Assyrian people, the indigenous ethnic group of Mesopotamia.
* Assyria, a major Mesopotamian kingdom and empire.
** Early Assyrian Period
** Old Assyrian Period
** Middle Assyrian Empire
** Neo-Assyrian Empire
* Assyrian ...
.
Demographics
Miye ou Miye’s population prior to 1985, which is when the town was attacked during the civil war, was around 5000+ inhabitants. Due to the displacement by the civil war; about half the population migrated to Western countries, about a quarter moved to the capital, Beirut, and the rest returned and settled in Miye ou Miye. Miye ou Miye is a Christian village. The people of Miye ou Miye are mostly members of the
Melkite Greek Catholic Church
el, Μελχιτική Ελληνική Καθολική Εκκλησία
, image = Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Damascus, Syria.jpg
, imagewidth = 200px
, alt =
, caption =
, abbreviatio ...
(85%), with a few
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 ...
(7%),
Protestants
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...
(6%), and
Baptists
Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...
(2%). The population of the town doubles when the immigrants / expatriates return to spend their summer vacations in their ancestral home. Arabic is the official language; English and French are also spoken.
Neighborhoods
History
![Cave Mieh Mieh](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Cave_Mieh_Mieh.jpg)
In the 17th century, Miye ou Miye was mostly farmland owned by a number of wealthy families. The families of "Abu Nakad" and "Faddoul" owned half of the land and the state owned the rest. In the 18th century, Christians started to move to the village, and the state encouraged the farmers by giving them land to farm. The farmers in return had to pay back 10% of the crops. In 1875
Victor Guérin
Victor Guérin (15 September 1821 – 21 Septembe 1890) was a French intellectual, explorer and amateur archaeologist. He published books describing the geography, archeology and history of the areas he explored, which included Greece, Asia Mino ...
found the village to have 400 inhabitants, some
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 ...
s and some Greek Orthodox.
In the 19th century, American missionaries came to the village for missionary work. In 1985, the
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War ( ar, الحرب الأهلية اللبنانية, translit=Al-Ḥarb al-Ahliyyah al-Libnāniyyah) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 120,000 fatalities a ...
spread to South Lebanon, and the villagers fled for their safety farther south and others went to the capital. From there they started their journey abroad to over 26 countries. The majority went to the United States of America, Canada, and Australia. In August 1991, the Miye ou Miye refugees returned and started rebuilding the village that was destroyed completely. Today, Miye ou Miye is full of life and it became better than it was before the war. Immigrants, who are living away from their hometown, carried their little town in their hearts along with deep pride of their heritage. This deep love and passion guided them in their daily lives and provided a moral compass.
The Miye ou Miye population includes the following families:
Culture and Art
* Every year in the middle of July, Arine Sports Club ( ar, نادي العرين الرياضي) an
Miye ou Miye municipalityhold a two-week athletic festival that includes games, tournaments, and other live events called "Karmes" or Carnaval. The games are played at Nasri Wakim arena, located in the middle of town in Beaula neighborhood. In addition, the World Vision International sponsored a library in town, which has enhanced the capabilities of, and resources for students; the youth, as well as adults. Also, an infirmary or a clinic is located in town to provide medical care mainly to the elderly. This invaluable service provided easy, walking distance access for the town's elderly.
* It is worth mentioning that Miye ou Miye had a renowned artist, who was a painter and a sculpture. Mr. Rashid Gerges Semaan, studied art in the most prestigious art institutes in Italy, graduated with high honors and returned to his native hometown to serve his community and his country. He sculpted several famous statues, most notably was the statue of the late Egyptian President
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein, . (15 January 1918 – 28 September 1970) was an Egyptian politician who served as the second president of Egypt from 1954 until his death in 1970. Nasser led the Egyptian revolution of 1952 and introduced far-re ...
,
Maarouf Saad
Maarouf Saad ( ar, معروف سعد) (1910. Maarouf Saad Cultural Center. or 1914–6 March 1975) was a Lebanese politician and activist. He served as Sidon's representative in the Parliament of Lebanon between 1957 and 1972. He founded the P ...
, and Motherhood ( ar, الامومة). Mr. Semaan was known as a passionate artist and poet who transformed a dull concept into a charming, beautiful, and seductive form of artistic beauty. Currently, the town boasts two professional individuals who are trailing blazers in the beauty of art and literature: Dr. Mounif Moussa and Hannah Shakeeb Bousaba.
Economy
Miye ou Miye's main industry is agriculture. The town produces olive oil, edible olives, figs, and loquat (acadinia, pi-pa, mespila). Some olive trees date back to the Ottoman Empire days, while others date back to the era of Prince
Fakhr-al-Din II
Fakhr al-Din ibn Qurqumaz Ma'n ( ar, فَخْر ٱلدِّين بِن قُرْقُمَاز مَعْن, Fakhr al-Dīn ibn Qurqumaz Maʿn; – March or April 1635), commonly known as Fakhr al-Din II or Fakhreddine II ( ar, فخر الدين ال ...
Al-maani Al Kabiir. Livelihood from agricultural and farming products dwindled with time. The younger generation focused their energy on higher education where a new crop of professionals has emerged such as: doctors, business owners, dentists, lawyers, engineers, etc.
Over the years, Miye ou Miye has provided its fair share of soldiers and officers to the country they all love and adore. They wore the uniform with pride and some made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
Panoramic View
Education
National Evangelical School for Girls and Boys*Miye ou Miye High School
Health
*Miye ou Miye Clinic
*Hariri Clinic
*Sidon Governmental Hospital
*El Hamshary Hospital
Institutions
*
Arine Sports Club
*Miye ou Miye Senior's Club
*Officer's Military Club & Compound
Landscape
![Spring Mieh Mieh](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Spring_Mieh_Mieh.jpg)
Landscape in Miye ou Miye Matthews Vegetation Zone: evergreen broadleaved shrub land/thicket and evergreen dwarf shrub land. The soil type: luvisols, cambisols (LV), soil with clay-enriched lower horizon, high CEC, and high saturation bases. There is no malaria occurrence. Miye ou Miye is in a very strong (vii) earthquake zone on average one every 50 years, with occurrences of earthquakes at 6-7 Richter scale. There is a medium to high occurrence of flooding with a risk factor of 7 out of 10. Also, drought is an issue in the town with a risk factor of 9 out of 10.
Weather
Miye ou Miye experiences temperate climatic conditions with clearly defined seasons. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are cold and wet. The temperatures in Miye ou Miye are considered mild and humid climate.
Summer spans the months of June to September and is the most popular time to visit, with temperatures peaking in July and August. At their hottest, summer days reach about 31 °C ( 88 °F) and occasional heat weave conditions.
Winter takes charge from December to March and during this time, Miye ou Miye sees a great deal of rain. Winter conditions are much milder with the mercury rarely dropping below 11 °C (52 °F). Spring and fall are pleasant as the weather is warm but not unbearable.
Miye ou Miye, experiences شلوق shlūq winds (also known as
Sirocco
Sirocco ( ), scirocco, or, rarely, siroc (see below) is a Mediterranean wind that comes from the Sahara and can reach hurricane speeds in North Africa and Southern Europe, especially during the summer season.
Names
''Sirocco'' derives from ...
in Europe and
Khamaseen
Khamsin, chamsin or hamsin ( ar, خمسين , meaning "fifty"), more commonly known in Egypt as khamaseen ( arz, خماسين , ), is a dry, hot, sandy local wind affecting Egypt and the Levant; similar winds, blowing in other parts of North ...
in Northern Africa). These winds are most common during autumn and spring seasons. Shlūq winds are red
Sahara
, photo = Sahara real color.jpg
, photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972
, map =
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dust and is associated with storms and heavy rain, the wind being very strong, the duration may be as short as half a day or may last several days (usually four days).
Parks and recreation
Miye ou Miye Park was created in 2001.
Byader Park is used for religious activities and athletic events. This land used to be owned by several farmers’ families. At this location the farmers used to beat the head of the wheat stalk with a club like tool to loosen the grain, then throw it into the air. The lighter chaff material blew away further on the ground than the grain which was heavier. The grain was then collected and sold at the local mill. Over the years, they donated their ownership in this land to the interest of the town.
Religious & historical Sites
Saint Georges Spring (Nabaat Mar Giryos)
A shepherd from the village had several different dreams during a period of time. Always in these dreams, a knight (ref: rider, Saint George) was riding a white horse, while the shepherd was herding his sheep. In each dream, the knight told the shepherd to tell the mayor and the priest of the village to dig in this particular spot () and your town will have a natural water spring. And the rider added, in case the people in town did not believe you; take this olive branch with fruits on it as a proof. When this event occurred, the harvest of the olive fruit was long gone. The people of the village did not believe the shepherd at first, until he showed them the olive branch with the fruits on it. They dug where Saint Georges pointed, and water came out. St. Georges Natural Spring became a holy place and is called in Arabic “Nabaat Mar Giryos". The natural spring became the destination for many people, mainly for praying and healing. The elderly in the village are still telling this story from generation to generation. Unfortunately, after the civil war in 1985 in Miye ou Miye and the displacement of the town's people, the St. George's natural spring was bulldozed and covered with dirt and debris.
Ramapo Hall
File:RamapoHall1.JPG, Upward Frontal View. Present Day (December 8, 2012)
File:RamapoHall3.JPG, Front View. Present Day (December 8, 2012)
File:RamapoHall2.JPG, Side View. Present Day (December 8, 2012)
National Evangelical Institute for Girls and Boys is one of the National Evangelical Synod Schools in Lebanon. It is a private school and the union of two old and historical famous institutions: Sidon Evangelical School for Girls (SESG) that was first founded in 1862 and Gerard Institute for the boys that was first founded in 1881 by the missionaries Rev. William King Eddy and Dr. George Ford. Dr. Ford had a grander vision of building an orphanage and other facilities in Miye ou Miye hilltop overlooking the ancient city of Sidon. But since he was in need of funds to build it, he traveled to
Ramapo, New York
Ramapo is a town in Rockland County, New York, United States. It was originally formed as New Hampstead, in 1791, and became Ramapo in 1828."Ramapo", in Peter R. Eisenstadt and Laura-Eve Moss (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of New York State'. Syr ...
, and secured donations from the local Christian community. The word Ramapo (Ramapough), is from
Native American origin, meaning either "sweet water" or "sloping/slanting rocks". In 1881, with the donation money secured, he built Ramapo Hall, Peace Hall, among other buildings in Miye ou Miye. During World War II, the
Australian 7th Division, with
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
and
Free French
Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...
, supported by the
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
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, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
,
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...
,
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
and
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
, fought for Miye ou Miye against
Vichy French
Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its terr ...
forces in 1941. The Free France Forces turned the orphanage into a prison when they defeated the Vichy French. In 1942-43, the Lebanese people strived for independence from the French control. The French authorities responded by arresting and imprisoning key Lebanese leaders at Ramapo hall. Lebanese Christian and Muslim leaders united their forces, supported by the international community and regional powers, to pressure the French government which resulted in releasing the prisoners on November 22, 1943 and recognizing Lebanon's full and complete independence.
In 1948,
Palestinian refugees
Palestinian refugees are citizens of Mandatory Palestine, and their descendants, who fled or were expelled from their country over the course of the 1947–49 Palestine war (1948 Palestinian exodus) and the Six-Day War (1967 Palestinian exodu ...
were driven from their homeland during the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israelis ( he, יִשְׂרָאֵלִים, translit=Yīśrāʾēlīm; ar, الإسرائيليين, translit=al-ʾIsrāʾīliyyin) are the citizens and nationals of the State of Israel. The country's populace is composed primarily of Jew ...
and some of them settled at the outskirts of Miye ou Miye, occupying the land and the Palace(Ramapo Hall). Since then, the West of Miye ou Miye village became known as
Mieh Mieh refugee camp. Also, below the hill of Miye ou Miye refugee camp another camp was created at that time and became known as
Ain al-Hilweh
Ain al-Hilweh ( ar, عين الحلوة, lit. meaning "sweet natural spring"), also spelled as Ayn al-Hilweh and Ein al-Hilweh, is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. It had a population of over 70,000 Palestinian refugees but swell ...
Palestinian refugee camp.
References
Bibliography
*
External links
*
Miyeh ou Miyeh Localiban
{{Sidon District
Populated places in Sidon District
Melkite Christian communities in Lebanon