Johfiyeh
Encyclopedia
Johfiyah Juhfiyah (or Juhfiyeh) is a historical and archaeological village in northern Jordan
, located 80 kilometers north of the capital Amman
, about 7.5 km southwest of the city Irbid
(Araballa).
Its estimated population is 4000, and the major family (tribes or clans) is Talafha
(Telfah).
7.5 km south-west Irbid
. It is part of the Horan plains which extend from southern Syria to the north of Jordan. From Johfieh, one can see the Jordanian, Syrian and Palestinian triangle of borders. In winter, Mount Hermon, which is located in Lebanon
can be seen clearly.
, which lies at about 400 meters above sea level . Both the western and southern slopes of the hills suffer from soil erosion as a result of rainfall, which overtime led to the loss of vegetation in these areas except for some shrubs and wild herbs found standing between the cracks in the rocks. Among these herbs is thyme
and buckthorn. The case is different when heading east, where the plateau
begins to become less steppy and the layer of soil is thicker, dark red and fertile. This soil is often mixed with ashes of ancient ovens which are the remains of civilizations that have followed on in the area.
In the Western side, Wadi "Valley" Al-Joroon is the natural separation between Deir Yousef and Johfiyeh, it separates it from Al-Mazar also. From the north it is the natural Wadi Al-Ghafar which separates Johfiyeh from Irbid
.
until the Ottoman Empire
, it was one of the largest urban and population centers until the advent of the ten Romanian fortified cities Decapolis
in the Roman era. It is believed that most of its historic ruins
and buildings collapsed after the quake, which hit the region in 747 AD and the earthquakes that followed
Johfiyah strategically located on a hill overseeing the mountainous plains Horan, overlooking the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon and the Lake of Tiberias, and overlooking the beginning of the mountains of Ajloun
to the south. is what gave it its importance through the ages.
"Jehvip" originated in the Stone Age, as evidenced by surveys and archaeological discoveries.
It flourished in the Iron Age and the Bronze Age
as evidenced by late artifacts found in the Tell Johfiyeh
.
Johfiyeh is found in Greek inscriptions, as well as remains of marble and pottery belonging to the Hellenistic era and the beginning of the Roman era, which indicates the prosperity of it during that era.
It continued prosperous and was one of the Romanian colonies as evidenced by the archeological foundings like sculptures, coins and pottery found in the site of Tell Johfiyeh
.
Johfieh is believed to have been a shelter, during the period of the Byzantines, for those who had converted to Christianity
. This is clear from the monuments like the Byzantian church, which dates back to the sixth century AD, besides the distinctive floor mosaic color and the remnants of the lime. This not mentioning the Byzantine cemetery that extends from the western site of the ancient church until "Karm-At'toot" berries garden to the South of the current Othman Ibn Affan mosque
.
During the Umayyad Caliphate, Johfiyeh was of great importance for the rulers, for it is believed that the Umayyad rulers were visiting Johfiyeh for hunting and to enjoy the beauty of nature. A lot of glassware and pottery belonging to the Umayyad
era has been found.
Johfiyeh began to lose its importance after transferring center of the Islamic caliphate to Baghdad, as most towns in the Sham /Syrian area.
However, Johfiyeh is mentioned in the Ottoman tax records, which means it continued to be inhabitated and cultivated during that time and up till today.
, wild cucumber
(Faggos), zucchini
and pumpkins. All depend on rain for irrigation.
Some Fig trees and olive trees besides the famous cactus are another natural support for income of Johfiyeh.
A high percentage of the young generation (born after 1965) have gained higher education at university levels and are employed in different governmental institutions. Many are employed in the army as well.
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, located 80 kilometers north of the capital Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, about 7.5 km southwest of the city Irbid
Irbid
Irbid , known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of...
(Araballa).
Its estimated population is 4000, and the major family (tribes or clans) is Talafha
Talafha
Talafha is an Arabic tribe, originally from Arabian Peninsula. Big group of this tribe moved from their native land because of a tribal conflict to the north and the eastern north of Hejaz and they settled in Jordan and Iraq. Some groups of the Jordanian parts continued traveling furthermore to...
(Telfah).
Site
Johfiyeh is located about 80 km to the north of the Jordanian capital AmmanAmman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
7.5 km south-west Irbid
Irbid
Irbid , known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of...
. It is part of the Horan plains which extend from southern Syria to the north of Jordan. From Johfieh, one can see the Jordanian, Syrian and Palestinian triangle of borders. In winter, Mount Hermon, which is located in 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...
can be seen clearly.
Topography of Johfiyeh
Johfiyeh lies on a plateau elevated around 750 to 793 meters above sea level. The decline of the hills gradually hand Johfiyeh in a horizontal line that stretches to less than one kilometer to HoranHoran
Horan is a surname that originated in County Galway, Ireland, and from there spread into County Mayo.Notable people with the name Horan include:*Allan Horan , New Zealand rower*Arthur Horan , Irish rugby union player...
, which lies at about 400 meters above sea level . Both the western and southern slopes of the hills suffer from soil erosion as a result of rainfall, which overtime led to the loss of vegetation in these areas except for some shrubs and wild herbs found standing between the cracks in the rocks. Among these herbs is thyme
Thyme
Thyme is a culinary and medicinal herb of the genus Thymus.-History:Ancient Egyptians used thyme for embalming. The ancient Greeks used it in their baths and burnt it as incense in their temples, believing it was a source of courage...
and buckthorn. The case is different when heading east, where the plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
begins to become less steppy and the layer of soil is thicker, dark red and fertile. This soil is often mixed with ashes of ancient ovens which are the remains of civilizations that have followed on in the area.
In the Western side, Wadi "Valley" Al-Joroon is the natural separation between Deir Yousef and Johfiyeh, it separates it from Al-Mazar also. From the north it is the natural Wadi Al-Ghafar which separates Johfiyeh from Irbid
Irbid
Irbid , known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of...
.
History
The small village Johfiyah has been thriving from the Stone AgeStone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
until the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, it was one of the largest urban and population centers until the advent of the ten Romanian fortified cities Decapolis
Decapolis
The Decapolis was a group of ten cities on the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire in Judea and Syria. The ten cities were not an official league or political unit, but they were grouped together because of their language, culture, location, and political status...
in the Roman era. It is believed that most of its historic ruins
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
and buildings collapsed after the quake, which hit the region in 747 AD and the earthquakes that followed
Johfiyah strategically located on a hill overseeing the mountainous plains Horan, overlooking the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon and the Lake of Tiberias, and overlooking the beginning of the mountains of Ajloun
Ajloun
Ajloun also written Ajlun is the capital town of the Ajloun Governorate . A hilly town in the north of Jordan, located 76 kilometers north west of Amman. It is noted for its impressive ruins the 12th century castle which known nowadays as Ajlun Castle...
to the south. is what gave it its importance through the ages.
"Jehvip" originated in the Stone Age, as evidenced by surveys and archaeological discoveries.
It flourished in the Iron Age and the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
as evidenced by late artifacts found in the Tell Johfiyeh
Tell Johfiyeh
Tell Johfiyeh is an archeological site in the villages of Johfiyeh, Jordan, which dates back to the Iron Age.Geographical Location• Middle East.• Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.• North Jordanian plateau.• 7.5 km south-west of Irbid....
.
Johfiyeh is found in Greek inscriptions, as well as remains of marble and pottery belonging to the Hellenistic era and the beginning of the Roman era, which indicates the prosperity of it during that era.
It continued prosperous and was one of the Romanian colonies as evidenced by the archeological foundings like sculptures, coins and pottery found in the site of Tell Johfiyeh
Tell Johfiyeh
Tell Johfiyeh is an archeological site in the villages of Johfiyeh, Jordan, which dates back to the Iron Age.Geographical Location• Middle East.• Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.• North Jordanian plateau.• 7.5 km south-west of Irbid....
.
Johfieh is believed to have been a shelter, during the period of the Byzantines, for those who had converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. This is clear from the monuments like the Byzantian church, which dates back to the sixth century AD, besides the distinctive floor mosaic color and the remnants of the lime. This not mentioning the Byzantine cemetery that extends from the western site of the ancient church until "Karm-At'toot" berries garden to the South of the current Othman Ibn Affan mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
.
During the Umayyad Caliphate, Johfiyeh was of great importance for the rulers, for it is believed that the Umayyad rulers were visiting Johfiyeh for hunting and to enjoy the beauty of nature. A lot of glassware and pottery belonging to the Umayyad
Umayyad
The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...
era has been found.
Johfiyeh began to lose its importance after transferring center of the Islamic caliphate to Baghdad, as most towns in the Sham /Syrian area.
However, Johfiyeh is mentioned in the Ottoman tax records, which means it continued to be inhabitated and cultivated during that time and up till today.
Monuments and Archaeological site
- Tell JohfiyehTell JohfiyehTell Johfiyeh is an archeological site in the villages of Johfiyeh, Jordan, which dates back to the Iron Age.Geographical Location• Middle East.• Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.• North Jordanian plateau.• 7.5 km south-west of Irbid....
- The Old Mosque
- The ByzantineByzantineByzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
Church
- Dolmens: There are many examples of flint dolmens in village of Johfiyeh and NatifahNatifahNatifah is a village in Jordan.-References:...
in northern JordanJordanJordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
.
- Assieh
- Al Bateen:
- Kherbet Hufa
- Umisrareh
- Rojmelaries
Economy
The people of Johfiye mainly depend on cultivating their lands with wheat, barley,beans,chickpeas and occasionally corn and sesame. Johfiyeh is well-known for cultivating tomatoes, okraOkra
Okra is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins...
, wild 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...
(Faggos), zucchini
Zucchini
The zucchini is a summer squash which often grows to nearly a meter in length, but which is usually harvested at half that size or less. It is a hybrid of the cucumber. Along with certain other squashes, it belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo. Zucchini can be dark or light green...
and pumpkins. All depend on rain for irrigation.
Some Fig trees and olive trees besides the famous cactus are another natural support for income of Johfiyeh.
A high percentage of the young generation (born after 1965) have gained higher education at university levels and are employed in different governmental institutions. Many are employed in the army as well.