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Bteghrine

Coordinates: 33°55′48″N 35°44′42″E / 33.93000°N 35.74500°E / 33.93000; 35.74500
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Bteghrine
بتغرين
City
Overlooking Bteghrine (2005)
Overlooking Bteghrine (2005)
Map showing the location of Bteghrine within Lebanon
Map showing the location of Bteghrine within Lebanon
Bteghrine
Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 33°55′48″N 35°44′42″E / 33.93000°N 35.74500°E / 33.93000; 35.74500
Country Lebanon
GovernorateMount Lebanon Governorate
DistrictMatn District
Government
 • PresidentMirna Michel el-Murr
 • Vice PresidentEmile Murad Saliba
 • MayorsNejm Elias Saliba
Jean Jamil Saliba
Jean Mansour Saliba
Elevation
950 m (3,120 ft)
Highest elevation
1,100 m (3,600 ft)
Lowest elevation
950 m (3,120 ft)
Population
 • Total
12,000
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code+961
Family Names
  • Abou Rjeily
  • El Murr
  • Murr
  • Saliba

Bteghrine (Arabic: بتغرين, also spelled Bteghrin and Btighrin) is a municipality in the Matn District of the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon.

Etymology

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The exact origin of the town name Bteghrine is unknown, but possibilities include Place of Warriors, Place of Rocks, and House of the Saddest – references to a large battle in the area around 1290 that resulted in thousands of deaths.[1] Bteghrine was used as a base for the Mardaites during their raids against the Arabs. According to Father Ibrahim Khalil El Murr, this culminated in a battle in 1290 between the local inhabitants and the Arabs, under the command of the Mamluk sultan Barquq, in a valley called “Olon”, later renamed Wadi El Jamajem translating to “The Valley of Skulls” in reference to 17,000 casualties from both sides and their skulls which fell into the valley. Thus, the adjacent town was renamed “Bteghrine” or “Btekrino”, meaning "The House of Sadness", in the Aramaic language since it is where the Mamluks first entered Kisrawan, due to its strategic location at the mouth of the valley, and began their reign of terror and oppression against the local populace.[2]

Geography

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Bteghrine is located at 33°55′48″N 35°44′42″E / 33.93°N 35.745°E / 33.93; 35.745. It is bordered by Mount Sannine to the east, Wadi el-Jamajem to the north, Jouar to the west, and Khenchara to the south. The municipality is composed of seven neighborhoods and four outlying areas.

Neighborhoods

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  • Haret al-Ain
  • Haret al-Dara
  • Haret al-Shahara
  • Haret al-Shawyee
  • Haret al-Ssaha
  • Haret al-Wata
  • Haret Ali
  • Haret al-Asfourieh

Outlying areas

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View of Mount Sannine from Zaarour (2005)

Water

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There are several springs used for both drinking water and agricultural purposes in Bteghrine. The four primary springs are Zaarour, Manboukh, Mir, and Sparta.[citation needed]

Agriculture

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Bteghrine is situated on a rocky hillside, but supports a self-sufficient agriculture. Most of the land within the city and the surrounding hills, including the Meisree and Bsefrine districts, was terraced to make it more suited for planting. The most common fruits and vegetables grown in Bteghrine are: figs, grapes, mulberry, plums, apples, peaches, persimmon, pomegranate, cherries, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley, mint, wheat, and beans. Small shops in the town process much of the local produce into arak, molasses, wine, and preserves.[citation needed]

Economy

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Centre Bteghrine, in downtown Bteghrine (2003)

The Saliba Nail and Screw factory is the largest single plant in Bteghrine. Additionally, the town has a large number of small shops for blacksmithing, woodworking, car repair and bodywork, leather tailoring, and aluminum manufacturing.[citation needed]

Education

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There is one public school in the town named Bteghrine Public School, and one private Catholic school.[citation needed]

Religion

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The vast majority of inhabitants of Bteghrine are Christians, with roughly 80% Greek Orthodox and 20% Melkite Catholic.[citation needed]

Churches

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  • St. George – Greek Orthodox.
  • St. Michael – Greek Orthodox.
  • St. Elias – Greek Orthodox.
  • Notre Dame – Melkite Catholic.

Famous Bteghrineites

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References

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  1. ^ "History of Bteghrine". Retrieved November 11, 2006.
  2. ^ "Histoire de Bteghrine". bteghrine.com. Bteghrine, Lebanon: Nizar Tabcharani.
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