Khawabi
|
Khawabi الخوابي Qala'at Khawabi |
|
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Khawabi
|
|
| Coordinates: 34°58′22″N 36°0′8″E / 34.97278°N 36.00222°E | |
| Country |
 Syria
|
| Governorate | Tartus |
| District | Tartus |
| Subdistrict | Al-Sawda |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 1,039 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
Khawabi (Arabic: السودا), also spelled Qala'at al-Khawabi (Arabic: قلعة الخوابي) is a village and medieval citadel in northwestern Syria, administratively part of the Tartus Governorate, located 20 kilometers northeast of Tartus and 12 kilometers east of al-Sawda. Khawabi is situated in a hilly area, surrounded by olive groves, in the Coastal Mountain Range. Nearby localities include al-Sawda and to the west, al-Annazah to the northwest, al-Qamsiyah to the north, Brummanet Raad to the northeast, al-Shaykh Badr to the east, Khirbet al-Faras to the south and Bimalkah to the southwest.
According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Khawabi had a population of 1,039 in the 2004 census. Its inhabitants are predominantly Sunni Muslims. The village formerly had a significant Ismaili population until the early 20th century, and during the medieval period, its citadel (Qala'at Khawabi) served as a center of the Ismaili community when they were known as the Assassins. The citadel itself has been inhabited since at least the 12th century.
Like many of the other castles in coastal Syria, the castle of Khawabi has its origins in the Phoenician era (1200 - 539 BC). In 985 the Arab geographer al-Muqaddasi noted that Hisn al-Khawabi ("Citadel of Khawabi") was part of Jund Hims ("Military District of Homs") during the Abbasid era. In 1025 the citadel was restored by the Byzantines. Khawabi later came into the possession of one Mohammed Bin Ali Bin Hamed.
...
Wikipedia