Deir El Aachayer
Village in Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Deir El Aachayer (Arabic: ديرالعشاير) is a village north of Rashaya, in the Rashaya District and south of the Beqaa Governorate in Lebanon.[1]
Deir El Aachayer
ديرالعشاير | |
---|---|
Village | |
Country | Lebanon |
Governorate | Beqaa Governorate |
District | Rashaya District |
Area | |
• Total | 9.9 sq mi (26 km2) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 500 |
Location | near Rashaya |
---|---|
Region | Bekaa Valley |
Coordinates | 33.589181°N 36.019169°E / 33.589181; 36.019169 |
Length | 30 metres (98 ft) |
History | |
Builder | Romans |
Material | Stone |
Cultures | Greek, Roman |
Site notes | |
Condition | Ruins |
Public access | Yes |
The municipality is located on the border frontier of the Kaza of Rashaya, one of eight mohafazats (governorates). It sits at a height of 1,250 metres (4,100 ft) above sea level and its surface area covers 2,563 hectares (9.90 sq mi) hectares. The registered population of the village is around 500, predominantly Druze.[2] Actual residents may number only around 250, distributed among about 90 households. The village has a municipal council made up of nine members, and a town mayor. Residents rely on farming as a main source of income, especially grapes, fruit and wheat. Residents also raise and herd sheep and cows, which have been a good source of milk. Farmers in the village have had difficulty selling their products in modern times.[3]
Deir El Aachayer has a number of local springs, including Ain Halalweh, Ain Shayeb, Ain Rouk, Ain Dibb. The village was once known by the name Deir Mar Sema’an, owing to the Monastery of Saint Simon, known locally as Al Borj, said to have been built by the Romans for preaching, religious ceremonies and practices by disciples of Saint Simon the Baptist. The monastery having been a stronghold for the students, enabling them to expand their teaching in Syria.[4]