Al-Qantara (القنطرة) is a municipality in the Marjayoun District in southern Lebanon.

Al-Qantara
القنطرة
Municipality
Map showing the location of Qabrikha within Lebanon
Map showing the location of Qabrikha within Lebanon
Al-Qantara
Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 33°16′25″N 35°27′49″E / 33.27361°N 35.46361°E / 33.27361; 35.46361
Grid position193/297 PAL
Country Lebanon
GovernorateNabatieh Governorate
DistrictMarjayoun District
Elevation
470 m (1,540 ft)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code+961

Etymology

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According to E. H. Palmer, the name El Kantarah means "the arch",[1] qantara (Arabic: قنطرة) also being used in Arabic to denote a bridge built of stone or masonry, an aqueduct or a dam, and a high building.[2]

History

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In 1875 Victor Guérin found that the village had 150 Metawileh inhabitants.[3] He further remarked: "The mosque is built of hewn stones of apparent antiquity. Its door is surmounted by a lintel belonging to an ancient Christian church, in the midst of which can be made out a cross with equal branches enclosed in a circle."[4]

In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village, built of stone, containing about 250 [..] Metawileh, situated on an isolated and conspicuous hill, and surrounded by gardens, olives, and figs. There are two perennial springs a little to the south of the village."[5]

On 24 August 1994 two members of Hizbollah were killed in Qantara in clashes with the South Lebanon Army.[6]

Demographics

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In 2014 Muslims made up 99.80% of registered voters in Al-Qantara. 98.27% of the voters were Shiite Muslims.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 23
  2. ^ van Donzel, Emeri Johannes (1994). Islamic Desk Reference. BRILL. p. 24. ISBN 9789004097384. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  3. ^ Guérin, 1880, p. 272
  4. ^ Guérin, 1880, p. 272; as given in Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 116
  5. ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 87
  6. ^ Middle East International No 484, 23 September 1994, Publishers Lord Mayhew, Dennis Walters MP; August chronology p.14
  7. ^ https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/النبطية/مرجعيون/القنطرة/المذاهب/

Bibliography

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