Ad-Dhahiriya
| ad-Dhahiriya | |
|---|---|
| Other transcription(s) | |
| • Arabic | الظاهرية |
| • Also spelled | al-Dhahiriya (official) az-Zahiriya (unofficial) |
 ad-Dhahiriya
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| Coordinates: 31°24′28″N 34°58′20″E / 31.40778°N 34.97222°ECoordinates: 31°24′28″N 34°58′20″E / 31.40778°N 34.97222°E | |
| Palestine grid | 147/090 |
| Governorate | Hebron |
| Government | |
| • Type | City |
| Population (2016) | |
| • Jurisdiction | 38,002 |
| Name meaning | "The village on the ridge" |
ad-Dhahiriya (also az-Zahiriya) (Arabic: الظاهرية) is a Palestinian city in the Hebron Governorate, 23 km southwest of the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, ad-Dhahiriya had a population of 38.002 in 2016.
According to Conder and Kitchener Ad-Dhahiriya was probably the site of the ancient biblical town of Debir. They found the village undermined by caves. In the centre of Ad-Dhahiriya was a tower, which appeared to be from before the Crusader era, possibly from early Christian or Roman period.
Local tradition, supported by archaeology, have that ad-Dhahiriya was founded by Baibars (†1277).
In 1856, a Scottish clergyman, Horatius Bonar described the village and its ruined castle: "Suddenly, at an abrupt elbow of the ravine, we are relieved by seeing the old castle, perched on its rocky height well in the setting sun; the poor village, which seems to hang about it, with its square yellow huts, rather helps, at this distance, to improve its appearance, and to give dignity to its towers and broken ramparts. From this point it looks much bolder and substantial than it is; not so isolated as El-Aujeh, which we passed some days ago, but well-set upon yon craggy perch. Like most of its fellow castles in the east and border “peels” in the north, it has seen better days, and has at one time, been a noble stronghold for Romans, or Crusaders, or Turks…"
In 1863 the French explorer Victor Guérin visited the place, and found that many of the men had fled, mostly further south in tents, in order to avoid conscription. He noted one building, measuring sixteen steps on each side which was built in beautiful stone. It contained several vaulted chambers, and was the home of one of the sheikhs of the village. Several other private houses were also built with fine materials, from old buildings; some even seemed to date, either entirely or only in their lower courses from the Roman period.
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