Bteghrine
Encyclopedia
Bteghrine is a municipality
in the Matn District
of the Mount Lebanon Governorate
of Lebanon
.
in the region and the rise of the Mamluks – a period which saw numerous battles in the area, including a 1291 rebellion by the Shi'a and Druze
against the Mamluks in Keserwan
, the district on the northern border of the Matn
.
to the east, Wadi el-Jamajem to the north, Jiwar to the west, and Khonchara to the south. The municipality is composed of seven neighborhoods and four outlying areas.
used for both drinking water
and agriculutural purposes in Bteghrine. The four primary springs are Aassal, Manboukh, Mir, and Sparta.
to make it more suited for planting. The most common fruits and vegetables grown in Bteghrine are: figs
, grape
s, mulberry
, plums, apple
s, peach
es, persimmon
, pomegranate
, cherries
, tomato
es, cucumber
, parsley
, mint
, wheat
, and bean
s. Small shops in the town process much of the local produce
into arak, molasses
, wine
, and preserves.
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. The city also enjoys a full set of services including three gas stations, a supermarket, dry cleaner, several specialty and general stores, a large bakery, several bookstores, several clinics, many restaurants, and one hotel. Bteghrine also hosts the central telephone station for the upper Metn region.
school.
.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the Matn District
Matn District
Matn , sometimes spelled Metn, is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon, east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
of the Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon Governorate
Mount Lebanon is one of the Governorates of Lebanon. Its capital is Baabda. The overwhelming majority of its population is Maronites, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic Christians...
of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
Etymology
The exact origin of the 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. This date corresponds closely with the end of Christian ruleNinth Crusade
The Ninth Crusade, which is sometimes grouped with the Eighth Crusade, is commonly considered to be the last major medieval Crusade to the Holy Land. It took place in 1271–1272....
in the region and the rise of the Mamluks – a period which saw numerous battles in the area, including a 1291 rebellion by the Shi'a and Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
against the Mamluks in Keserwan
Keserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
, the district on the northern border of the Matn
Matn District
Matn , sometimes spelled Metn, is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon, east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
.
Geography
Bteghrine is located at 33.93°N 35.745°E. It is bordered by Mount SannineMount Sannine
Mount Sannine is a mountain in the Mount Lebanon range. Its highest point is 2,628 m above sea level in Lebanon. Mount Sannine, which has a base of limestone, is the source of many mountain springs.- External links :*...
to the east, Wadi el-Jamajem to the north, Jiwar to the west, and Khonchara to the south. The municipality is composed of seven neighborhoods and four outlying areas.
Neighborhoods
- 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
- Bsefrine
- Meisree
- Sabourta
- Zaarour
Water
There are several springsSpring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
used for both drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
and agriculutural purposes in Bteghrine. The four primary springs are Aassal, Manboukh, Mir, and Sparta.
Agriculture
Bteghrine is situated on a rocky hillside, but supports a thriving, self-sufficient agriculture. Most of the land within the city and the surrounding hills, including the Meisree and Bsefrine districts, was fully terracedTerrace (agriculture)
Terraces are used in farming to cultivate sloped land. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease erosion and surface runoff, and are effective for growing crops requiring much water, such as rice...
to make it more suited for planting. The most common fruits and vegetables grown in Bteghrine are: figs
FIGS
FIGS is an acronym for French, Italian, German, Spanish. These are usually the first four languages chosen to localize products into when a company enters the European market....
, grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
s, mulberry
Mulberry
Morus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae. The 10–16 species of deciduous trees it contains are commonly known as Mulberries....
, plums, apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s, peach
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
es, persimmon
Persimmon
A persimmon is the edible fruit of a number of species of trees in the genus Diospyros in the ebony wood family . The word Diospyros means "the fire of Zeus" in ancient Greek. As a tree, it is a perennial plant...
, pomegranate
Pomegranate
The pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
, cherries
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
, tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
es, cucumber
Cucumber
The cucumber is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and in the same genus as the muskmelon. The plant is a creeping vine which bears cylindrical edible fruit when ripe. There are three main varieties of cucumber: "slicing", "pickling", and...
, parsley
Parsley
Parsley is a species of Petroselinum in the family Apiaceae, native to the central Mediterranean region , naturalized elsewhere in Europe, and widely cultivated as an herb, a spice and a vegetable.- Description :Garden parsley is a bright green hairless biennial herbaceous plant in temperate...
, mint
Mentha
Mentha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae . The species are not clearly distinct and estimates of the number of species varies from 13 to 18. Hybridization between some of the species occurs naturally...
, wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, and bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s. Small shops in the town process much of the local produce
Produce
Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...
into arak, molasses
Molasses
Molasses is a viscous by-product of the processing of sugar cane, grapes or sugar beets into sugar. The word molasses comes from the Portuguese word melaço, which ultimately comes from mel, the Latin word for "honey". The quality of molasses depends on the maturity of the sugar cane or sugar beet,...
, wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
, and preserves.
Economy
Education
There is one public school in the town named Bteghrine Public School, and one private CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
school.
Religion
The inhabitants of Bteghrine are almost all Christians, predominantly Greek Orthodox and Melkite Greek CatholicMelkite Greek Catholic Church
The Melkite Greek Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See as part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Melkites, Byzantine Rite Catholics of mixed Eastern Mediterranean and Greek origin, trace their history to the early Christians of Antioch, Syria, of...
.
Churches
- St. George – Greek Orthodox.
- St. Michael – Greek Orthodox.
- St. Elias – Greek Orthodox.
- Notre Dame – Greek Catholic.
Famous Bteghrineites
- Elias MurrElias MurrElias Murr is the former Lebanese Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. He held the positions of Deputy Prime minister and Interior Minister in previous Cabinets....
– LebaneseLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime MinisterA deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
and Defense Minister - Gabrielle Bou RachedGabrielle Bou RachedGabrielle Bou Rached, is a Lebanese model and actress. In 2005 she was crowned Miss Lebanon.-Biography:Gabrielle Bou Rached was born in Jezzine. Her mother was from Bteghrine. She modeled during her teenage years, participating in music videos for popular Arab singers, in television commercials,...
– Miss LebanonMiss Lebanon.Miss Lebanon - Lebanon's Official National Beauty Pageant is a beauty contest in Lebanon.Miss Lebanon is the only national beauty contest that awards prizes worth more than one million US dollars to its winners. It is broadcast on Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation , since 1991...
2005 - George HawiGeorge HawiGeorge Hawi was a Lebanese politician and former secretary general of the Lebanese Communist Party . He was assassinated in 2005.-Background:...
– former Secretary General of the Lebanese Communist PartyLebanese Communist PartyThe Lebanese Communist Party – LCP or Parti communiste libanais in French, is a communist political party in Lebanon...
, assassinated June 21, 2005 by a bomb planted under his car - Greg Simon (Saliba) – current President of the Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
based think tankThink tankA think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
FasterCures, Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to former Vice PresidentVice President of the United StatesThe Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
Al GoreAl GoreAlbert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
from 1993 to 1997 - Michel MurrMichel MurrMichel Murr is a Lebanese politician and businessman. He first occupied the post of Minister of the Interior, as well as being Deputy Prime Minister in Rafik Hariri's first cabinet in 1992 and remained in the post in all subsequent cabinets formed by Hariri, except the last one, in which his son,...
– former LebaneseLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Minister of the Interior - Antonious Saliba - Orthodox Priest in the 1800s who has had miracles attributed to them. Currently in process for sainthood.
- Naseeb SalibaNaseeb SalibaNaseeb Michael Saliba was a construction mogul and philanthropist. He was born in 1915 in Ozark, Alabama to Lebanese immigrants, and later moved to Los Angeles, California with his family. In 1942, he founded N.M. Saliba Co., which became one of the most successful heavy construction companies on...
- Co-founder of the Tutor-Saliba CorporationTutor-Saliba CorporationThe Tutor-Saliba Corporation is a building contractor and heavy civil works construction company. In 2008, it was ranked the 37th largest general contractor in the United States by Engineering News-Record.-Portfolio:...
, one of the largest construction companies in the United States. Responsible for the construction of LAX, SFO, The Olympic Stadium in Los Angeles, among many others major United States landmarks. - George A. Saliba - CTO of multi-billion dollar Quantum Corp.Quantum Corp.Quantum Corporation is a manufacturer of tape drive, tape automation, data deduplication storage products and scalable file storage software, based in San Jose, California...
Currently has over 100 patents (published or in process) and is internationally recognized as an industry pioneer and inventor in data storage. - Gabriel MurrGabriel MurrGabriel Murr is a Lebanese Politician and is the owner of Murr Television and Mount Lebanon Radio Station, which were forcefully shut down in September 2002...
– former LebaneseLebanonLebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Minister of the Interior (July 26, 1948 – October 10, 1949)