Shinan, Syria

Shinan
شنان
Shinan

Location in Syria

Coordinates: 35°44′7″N 36°36′42″E / 35.73528°N 36.61167°E / 35.73528; 36.61167
Country  Syria
Governorate Idlib Governorate
District Ariha District
Nahiyah Ariha
Elevation 750 m (2,460 ft)
Population (2004 census)[1]
  Total 2,025
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Website www.shnan.co.cc

Shinan (Arabic: شنان) is a village located in the eastern side of Jebel az-Zawiya in Syria. It is located about 30 km to the south of Idlib and north-west of Maarrat al-Nu'man at a distance about 13 km in very rugged terrain. It is in the administrative district of Ariha. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Shinan had a population of 2,025 in the 2004 census.[1]

Architecture

The houses are a mixture of Byzantine, Roman and early Islamic heritage and AlGhams (mud) houses that were prevalent in the late Ottoman epoch. Modern buildings are built on the sides of a valley from east to west.

Archaeology

Shnan village contains many archaeological sites belonging mostly to the Romans and Byzantines. Umm Serfos was a station for the caravans that went from Ebla to Ugarit. Its impacts are visible in a highland area west of the village. It operates as a summer resort because it remains cool in the summer and offers a beautiful view to Eastern region of the village.

The village contains many Roman tombs carved in the rock and hidden in caves. It also contains a plate carved in the rock with a painting of Nero, with a lion and a young girl.

Economy

The primary occupation is agriculture, despite the severe ruggedness of its terrain. A main crop is apricot trees. Production reached more than 75 tons of apricots in 2008.

Services

The village hosts two schools for basic education (first cycle and second cycle), a branch for Consumption (Cooperative) Society, a mosque, a pharmacy. Electricity, water and telephone services are present.

References

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