Turmanin () is a town in northern
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
, administratively part of the
Idlib Governorate
Idlib Governorate ( / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Idlib'') is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in northwestern Syria, bordering Turkey's Hatay province to the north, Aleppo Governorate to the east, Hama Governorate to the sou ...
, located north of
Idlib
Idlib (, ; also spelt Idleb or Edlib) is a city in northwestern Syria, and is the capital of the Idlib Governorate. It has an elevation of nearly above sea level, and is southwest of Aleppo. It is located near the border with Turkey.
History
...
. Nearby localities include
al-Dana and
Sarmada to the southwest,
Darat Izza to the northeast and
Atarib to the south. According to the
Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Turmanin had a population of 10,394 in the 2004 census.
[General Census of Population and Housing 2004](_blank)
. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Idlib Governorate.
The town is notable for the ruins of an ancient
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...
in its vicinity. The Basilica, built around 480 AD, was an important influence on later church architecture, and operated as a monastery and a hospice that was noted for its care for the dying. Recently, the town came under the control of the
Syrian National Army
The Syrian National Army (SNA; ), also known as the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (TFSA), is a coalition of armed Syrian opposition groups that participate in the Syrian civil war. Comprising various rebel factions that emerged at the sta ...
.
Climate
In Turmanin, the climate is warm and temperate. In winter there is much more rainfall in Turmanin than in summer.
According to Köppen and Geiger climate is classified as Csa.
The average annual temperature in Turmanin is 16.9 °C. The average annual rainfall is 459 mm.
The driest month is July with 0 mm. Most precipitation falls in January, with an average of 90 mm.
The warmest month of the year is August with an average temperature of 27.7 °C. In January, the average temperature is 6.0 °C. It is the lowest average temperature of the whole year.
Deir Turmanin: the Byzantine monastery
The ruins of the Byzantine monastery of Deir Turmanin (''deir'' meaning 'monastery' in Arabic) are located northeast of the modern village. The monastery buildings stood around a paved courtyard containing two cisterns, a sarcophagus and several tombs. The ruins include a building that housed the monks' dormitories, and the large 5th-century basilica. The twin-towered facade of the church had a colonnade above the portal. The towers were three stories high and were roofed with gables.
[Baedeker (1876), p. 555.] The church was probably donated by wealthy patrons. Evidence at the site suggests that the monks were involved in agricultural activity and kept livestock.
See also
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Church of Saint Simeon Stylites
The Church of Saint Simeon Stylites () is one of the oldest surviving church complexes, founded in the 5th century. It is located approximately northwestern of Aleppo, Syria. It was constructed on the site of the pillar of Saint Simeon Stylites ...
*
Dead Cities
The Dead Cities () or Forgotten Cities () are a group of 700 abandoned settlements in northwest Syria between Aleppo and Idlib. Around 40 villages grouped in eight archaeological parks situated in north-western Syria provide an insight into rura ...
References
Bibliography
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{{Idlib Governorate, Harem
Populated places in Harem District
Towns in Syria
Archaeological sites in Idlib Governorate
Syriac Christianity
Dead Cities