Al-Suqaylabiyah

Coordinates: 35°22′11″N 36°22′48″E / 35.36972°N 36.38000°E / 35.36972; 36.38000
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Al-Suqaylabiyah
السقيلبيه
Al-Suqaylabiyah is located in Syria
Al-Suqaylabiyah
Al-Suqaylabiyah
Location in Syria
Coordinates: 35°22′11″N 36°22′48″E / 35.36972°N 36.38000°E / 35.36972; 36.38000
Country Syria
GovernorateHama
DistrictAl-Suqaylabiyah
SubdistrictAl-Suqaylabiyah
Elevation
220 m (720 ft)
Population
 (2004)
 • Total17,313
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)+3

Al-Suqaylabiyah (Arabic: السقيلبيه, romanizedAs Suqailabiya) is a Greek Orthodox Christian Syrian city administratively belonging to Hama Governorate. Al-Suqaylabiyah is located at a height of 220 meters above sea level. According to the 2004 official census, the town has a population of 17,313.

History[edit]

The name goes back to the ancient Seleucia ad Belum, a town of Hellenistic foundation that was located almost at the same place. The site was given up during the Middle Ages and repopulated at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1860 local Bedouin tribes attacked al-Suqaylabiyah.[1]

In July 2020, the Syrian government announced a plan to build a replica of the Hagia Sophia in Al-Suqaylabiyah with Russian assistance as a reaction to its transformation into a mosque by Turkish authorities.[citation needed]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Douwes, 2000, p. 38.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Douwes, Dick (2000). The Ottomans in Syria: a history of justice and oppression. I.B. Tauris. ISBN 1860640311.