Ain Harcha

Ain Harcha عين حرشة
Village
Country	Lebanon
Governorate	Beqaa Governorate
District	Rashaya District
Elevation	3,900 ft (1,200 m)

Ain Harcha

Shown within Lebanon
Alternative name	Ain Hircha
Location	south of Dahr El Ahmar
Region	Bekaa Valley
Coordinates	33.456389°N 35.783889°E / 33.456389; 35.783889
History
Cultures	Roman
Site notes
Condition	Ruins
Public access	Yes

Ain Harcha (or Ain Hircha) is a village situated in the Rashaya District and south of the Beqaa Governorate in Lebanon. It is located east of Mount Hermon close to the Syrian border south of Dahr El Ahmar.^[1] The village is home to a Roman temple.

The village sits ca. 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above sea level and the name is claimed in Aramaic to mean "house of spirits" or "place of worship" with some seeing this as derived from "the feast of sorceries" due to local folklore suggesting an evil spirit of Ain Al-Horsh inhabits the springs of Lebanon.^[2]

History

In 1838, Eli Smith noted 'Ain Harshy's population as being Druze and Christians.^[3]

The temple and archaeological site at Ain Harcha were amongst 34 cultural heritage properties given enhanced protection by UNESCO to safeguard them during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2024.^[4]

Roman temple

2 kilometres (2,000 m) (about a forty-minute walk) along a rocky path, on a ridge-top to the west, 525 metres (1,722 ft) higher than the village sits one of the best examples of a Roman temple in the vicinity of Mount Hermon.^[5] The temple of Ain Harcha can also be reached by walking down from the village of Ain Ata. It was restored in 1938-1939 and dates, based on a Greek inscription on one of the blocks, to 114-115 AD. The temple is built of limestone, opens to the east and blends in with the landscape. The pediment and west wall are in particularly good condition and two columns bases show what supported the beams and roof. Carved blocks show busts of Selene, the moon goddess and Helios, the sun god.^[6] Around the site are remnants of ancient habitations and tombs.

References

1. Anīs Furaiḥa (1972). dictionary of the name of towns and villages in Lebanon. Maktabat Lubnān.
2. Qada' (Caza) Rachaya - Promenade Tourist Brochure, published by The Lebanese Ministry of Tourism Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
3. Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 138
4. "Cultural property under enhanced protection Lebanon". Archived from the original on 31 December 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
5. Robert Boulanger (1955). Lebanon, p. 205. Hachette.
6. George Taylor (1969). The Roman temples of Lebanon: a pictorial guide, p. 30, 75, 105. Argonaut.

Bibliography

• Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Vol. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.

External links

• [1]
• Ain Horcheh, localiban
• Panoramio - Images of Ain Harcha Roman Temple
• Lebanon Tourism - Ain Harcha Roman Temple Details
• The Lebanon Mountain Trail Project