Ras al-Ayn

Ras al-Ayn رأس العين Serê Kanîyê
City
Ras al-Ayn
Ras al-Ayn Location of Ras al-Ayn in Syria
Coordinates: 36°51′01″N 40°04′14″E / 36.8503°N 40.0706°E / 36.8503; 40.0706Coordinates: 36°51′01″N 40°04′14″E / 36.8503°N 40.0706°E / 36.8503; 40.0706
Country	Syria
Governorate	al-Hasakah
District	Ras al-Ayn
Subdistrict	Ras al-Ayn
Elevation	360 m (1,180 ft)
Population (2004)[1]	29,347
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Area code	+963 52
Geocode	C4988

Ras al-Ayn (Arabic: رأس العين‎, translit. Raʾs al-ʿAyn‎, Turkish: Resülayn, Kurdish: Serê Kaniyê‎, Syriac: ܪܝܫ ܥܝܢܐ‎, translit. Rēš Aynā), also spelled Ras al-Ain, is a city in al-Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria, on the border with Turkey.

One of the oldest civilizations in Upper Mesopotamia, the area of Ras al-Ayn has been inhabited since at least the Neolithic age (c. 8,000 BC). Later known as the ancient Aramean city of Sikkan, the Roman city of Rhesaina, and the Byzantine city of Theodosiopolis, the town was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and in medieval times was fiercely embattled between several Muslim dynasties. With the 1921 Treaty of Ankara Ras al-Ayn became a divided city when its northern part, today's Ceylanpınar, were ceded to Turkey.

With a population of 29,347 (as of 2005),^[1] it is the third largest city in al-Hasakah Governorate and the administrative center of Ras al-Ayn District. The city is inhabited predominantly by Arabs and Kurds, with a significant number of Syriacs/Assyrians and a smaller number of Armenians and Chechens. During the Syrian Civil War of the 2010s, it became part of Jazira Canton in the de facto autonomous region of Rojava.

Etymology

The first mention of the town is in Akkadian "Rēš ina"^[2] during the reign of the Assyrian king Adad-nirari II (911-891 BC).^[2] The Arabic name "Ras al-Ayn" derives from the Akkadian and has the same meaning: "head of the spring".^[2] Or, idiomatically, "Hill of the spring" - indicating a prominent mountain formation close to a well.

The ancient Greek geographer Ptolemy (d. 168) names the town "Raisena".^[3] The town was called in the Roman empire as "Ressaina/Resaina".^[4] Another name was Theodosiopolis after emperor Theodosius I who enlarged the town in 380.^[3] In addition to "Ras al-Ayn" medieval Arabic Muslim sources refer to the town sometimes as "Ain Werda".^[3] Nineteenth century English sources refer to the town as "Ras Ain" or "Ain Verdeh" (1819)^[5] or "Ras el Ain" (1868).^[3]

The Kurdish name Serê Kaniyê also means "head of the spring" or "head of the Fountain". It means water source areas in Kurdish. This name is probably a modern literal translation of the ancient Semitic name.

Geography and climate

Ras al-Ayn is located in the Upper Khabur basin in the northern Syrian region of Jazira. The Khabur River, largest tributary of the Euphrates, crosses the border from Turkey near the town of Tell Halaf, just about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the southwest of the city. The overground feeders, originating on the headwaters of the Karaca volcano in Şanlıurfa Province, however usually don't carry water in the summer, even though Turkey brings in water from the Atatürk reservoir to irrigate the region of Ceylanpınar. While more than 80% of the Upper Khabur's water originates from Turkey, this mostly comes as underground flow.^[6] So rather than the overground streams, it's the giant karstic springs of the Ras al-Ayn area that is considered the river's main perennial source.^[7]

Ras al-Ayn springs

Ras al-Ayn has more than 100 natural springs. The most famous spring is Nab'a al-Kebreet, a hot spring with a very high mineral content, containing everything from simple calcium to lithium, and even radium.

History

The area of Ras al-Ayn is one of the oldest civilizations in Upper Mesopotamia, inhabited since at least the Neolithic age (c. 8.000 BC). Later it became known as the ancient Aramean city of Sikkan, the Roman city of Rhesaina, and the Byzantine city of Theodosiopolis.

The city fell to the Arabs in 640, was several times destroyed and rebuild, and in medieval times fiercely embattled between several Muslim dynasties. It still remained an important site of the Syriac Orthodox Christians, until Tamerlane sacked the city at the end of the 14th century. During the Armenian Genocide, the Ottomans killed 80.000 Armenians in the infamous Ras al-Ayn camps.

Divided by the 1921 Treaty of Ankara, it was stripped off its northern neighborhoods, today's Ceylanpınar, Turkey. In the Syrian Civil War, Ras al-Ayn was engulfed by the long Battle of Ras al-Ayn, until in July 2013 the Kurdish YPG forces took over control and expelled the jihadists. Today the city with its predominantly Kurdish population is part of Jazira Canton in the de facto autonomous region of Rojava.

Two Neolithic figurines (9000–7000 BC), gypsum with bitumen and stone inlays, excavated in Tell Fekheriye.
Oriental Institute Museum, Chicago, USA.

Neolithic and ancient history

The area of Ras al-Ayn was inhabited at least since the Neolithic age (c. 8.000 BC). Today's Ras al-Ayn can be traced back to a settlement existing since c. 2000 BC, which in the early 1st millennium BC became the ancient city of Sikkan, part of the Aramaean kingdom of Bit Bahiani. The archaeological site is located on the southern edge of the mound Tell Fekheriye, around which today's Ras al-Ayn is build, just a few hundred meters south of the city center. During excavations in 1979, the famous Tell Fekheriye bilingual inscription was found. The nearby town of Tell Halaf is also a former site of an Aramean city.

Classical era

In later times, the town became known as "Rhesaina", "Ayn Warda", and "Theodosiopolis", the latter named after the Byzantine emperor Theodosius I who granted the settlement city rights. The latter name was also shared with the Armenian city of Karin (modern Erzurum) making it difficult to distinguish between them.^[8]

The Sasanians destroyed the city twice in 578 and 580 before rebuilding it and constructing one of the three Sasanian academies in it (the other two being Gundishapur and Ctesiphon) in it.

Medieval history

The city fell to the Arabs in 640 who confiscated parts of the city which were abandoned by their inhabitants.^[8] The Byzantines raided the city in 942 and took many prisoners. In 1129, Crusader Joscelin I managed to hold the city briefly, killing many of its Arab inhabitants.^[8]

At its height the city had a West Syrian bishopric and many monasteries. The city also contained two mosques and an East Syrian church and numerous schools, baths, and gardens.^[8]

Later, Ras al-Ayn became contested between the Zengids, Ayyubids, and the Khwarazmians between the 12th and 13th centuries. It was sacked by Tamerlane at the end of the 14th century ending its role as a major city in al-Jazira.^[8]

Ottoman history

In the 19th century a colony of Chechen refugees were settled in the town by the Ottoman Empire.^[3] They had left their native land after the Russian invasions. The Ottomans also build barracks and a fort for a thousand men to control and protect the refugees.^[3]

During the Armenian Genocide, Ras al-Ayn was one of the major collecting places of deported Armenians. From 1915 on, 1.5 million Armenians were deported from all over Anatolia, many forced to death marches into the Syrian desert. Approximately 80,000 Armenians, mostly women and children, were slaughtered in desert death camps near Ras al-Ayn.^[9] Besides the Deir ez-Zor Camps, the Ras al-Ayn camps became "synonymous with Armenian suffering".^[10]

Modern history

As a result of the 1921 Treaty of Ankara, Ras al-Ayn became a divided city when its northern neighborhoods, today's Ceylanpınar, were ceded to Turkey. Today, the two cities are separated by a fenced border strip and the Berlin–Baghdad Railway on the Turkish side. The only border crossing is located in the western outskirts of Ras al-Ayn.

During the Syrian Civil War, Ras al-Ayn has been engulfed by the long Battle of Ras al-Ayn. In late November 2012 rebels of al-Nusra Front and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) attacked positions of the Syrian Army. During the following eight months, Kurdish YPG forces, who were present from the outset, gradually took over control and approached the more moderate FSA rebels. On 21 July 2013, the YPG expelled the jihadists after a night of heavy fighting. On 21 January 2014, Ras al-Ayn officially became part of the newly founded Jazira Canton in the de facto autonomous region of Rojava.

Demographics

In 2004 the population was 29,347.^[1] The population consists mostly of Arabs and Kurds in addition to a significant number of Syriacs/Assyrians and a smaller number of Armenians and Chechens.

People in the city center  Orthodox church  During war

References

External links

Cities and towns of Syria
Governorate centres	Aleppo Damascus Daraa Deir ez-Zor Hama al-Hasakah Homs Idlib Latakia Quneitra Ar-Raqqah Rif Dimashq al-Suwayda Tartus
District centres	Abu Kamal Afrin Arihah Atarib Ayn al-Arab Azaz al-Bab Baniyas Darayya Dayr Hafir Douma Duraykish Fiq al-Haffah Harem Izra' Jableh Jarabulus Jisr ash-Shugur Maarat al-Numaan al-Malikiyah Manbij Masyaf Mayadin Mhardeh al-Mukharram al-Foqani an-Nabk Palmyra Qamishli Qardaha Qatana Qudsaya al-Qusayr al-Qutayfah Ra's al-'Ayn al-Rastan as-Safira Safita Salamiyah Salkhad al-Sanamayn Shahba ash-Shaykh Badr al-Suqaylabiyah Talkalakh al-Tall Tell Abyad al-Thawrah Yabrud Zabadani
Sub-district centres	Abu Qilqil Abu al-Thuhur Akhtarin Amuda Arbeen Arima al-Ariqah al-Arishah Armanaz Arwad al-Asharah Assal al-Ward Awj Ayn al-Fijah Ayn Halaqim Ayn Issa Ayn al-Nasr Babbila Banan Barri Sharqi Beit Jinn Binnish Bir al-Helu Bosra Bulbul Busayrah Da'el al-Dana Darat Izza Darkush al-Darbasiyah Deir Atiyah al-Dimas al-Dumayr Furqlus Ghabaghib Ghandoura al-Ghariyah al-Ghizlaniyah al-Hader Hadidah al-Hajar al-Aswad al-Hajib Hajin al-Hamidiyah al-Hamraa Harasta Harbnafsah Harran al-Awamid al-Hirak Hish Hisyah al-Hawl Huraytan al-Huwash Ibbin Samaan Ihsim Jayrud al-Jalaa al-Janudiyah Jaramana al-Jarniyah Jasim al-Jawadiyah Jubb al-Jarrah Jubb Ramlah Jindires al-Jiza al-Qabu Kafr Batna Kafr Nabl Kafr Takharim Kafr Zita al-Karamah al-Kasrah Kessab al-Khafsah Khan Shaykhun Khasham Kirnaz Kuwayris Sharqi Khanaser Khirbet Ghazaleh Khirbet al-Tin Mahmoud al-Kiswah Ma'arrat Misrin Maabatli Maadan Ma'loula Madaya Mahin Malah al-Malihah al-Mansurah Mare' Markada Mashta al-Helu Maskanah al-Masmiyah al-Mazraa Muhambal Muhasan al-Musayfirah al-Mushannaf Muzayrib al-Nashabiyah al-Nasirah Nawa Nubl al-Qadmus al-Qahtaniyah Qalaat al-Madiq Qarah al-Qaryatayn al-Qurayya Qurqania Rajo Rankus Rasm Harmil al-Imam al-Rai al-Riqama al-Ruhaybah al-Saan Saasaa Sabburah al-Sabe' Biyar al-Sabkhah Sadad Sahnaya Saidnaya Salqin Saraqib Sarmin Sarrin Sawran Sebei al-Shaddadah al-Shajara Shaqqa Sharran Shathah Shaykh al-Hadid al-Shaykh Maskin Shayukh Tahtani Shin Sinjar Sirghaya Slinfah Suluk al-Sur al-Surah al-Saghirah Suran al-Susah al-Sukhnah al-Tabni Talbiseh Taldou al-Tamanah Tasil Tell al-Daman Tell Hamis Tell Rifaat Tell Salhab Tell Tamer Tedef Thiban Uqayribat Urum al-Kubra Wadi al-Oyun al-Yaarubiyah al-Zurbah az-Ziyarah

Media related to Ras al-Ayn, al-Hasakah Governorate at Wikimedia Commons

Al-Hasakah Governorate
Capital: Al-Hasakah
	Al-Hasakah District Al-Hasakah Abu Hajirat Khuatana Abu Tinah al-Alwa al-Arishah Bir al-Helou Bureij Sharqi Dashishah Gharbiyah al-Fadghami al-Fakkah Markada Ghabshah al-Ghariri al-Haddadiyah al-Hajiyah al-Hawl Al-Kharitah Khatuniyah Markada Markada Sharqiyah Qaber Shamiyah al-Sabaa wa Arbain al-Saadah Safia al-Shaddadeh al-Shaykh Hamad Sumayhan Gharbi Tell Arboush Tell Balouaah Tell Baz Tell Brak Tell Bureij Tell Damshij Tell Fuweidat Jazira Tell Goran Tell Hefyan Tell Hermez Tell Jazira Tell Jedaya Tell Jemaah Tell Kifji Tell Maghas Tell Majdal Tell Makhadah Tell Massas Tell Nasri Tell Ruman Tell Safouk Tell Sakra Tell Shamah Tell Shamiram Tell Tal Tell Talaah Tell Tamer Tell Tawil Tell Tawil Gharbi al-Tweinah Umm Ghargan Umm al-Keif Umm Madfaa
	Al-Qamishli District Al-Qamishli Amuda Jimaayah al-Manathirah al-Qahtaniyah al-Tannuriyah Tell Hamis Tell Maaruf Umm al-Fursan
	Al-Malikiyah District Al-Malikiyah al-Jawadiyah al-Muabbada Maashuq Sabaa Jafar Suwaydiyah Fawqani al-Tabaqah Tell Adas Tell Arab al-Yaarubiyah
	Ras al-Ayn District Ras al-Ayn Abu Rasin al-Darbasiyah al-Lid Dirbasiyah Mabrouka al-Manajir Tell Halaf Tell Sinan Sharqi Umm al-Dibs Dirbasiyah

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Geography	Subdivisions Jazira Canton Kobanî Canton Afrin Canton Shahba region Towns Al-Hasakah Al-Qamishli Manbij Kobanî Afrin Ras al-Ayn Amuda Al-Malikiyah Tell Rifaat Al-Qahtaniyah Al-Shaddadah Al-Muabbada Tell Abyad Al-Sabaa wa Arbain Jandairis Al-Manajir Qabasin Kurd Mountains Khabur River
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