| Tripoli-Lebanon And The :
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The Offshore Islands Of Tripoli
Opposite
Tripoli are four islands located at a slight distance from the shore . The largest is
called today the "Island of Palm Trees" by some, and by others
"Rabbits’ Island". There is no life on this arid, windswept isle therefore
one wonders why the island has been given such unusual names. Once again our literary
sources provide a plausible answer. Several hundred years ago these offshore islands
offered safe anchorage for foreign vessels. Two Dutch travelers in the year 1795 observe:
"The harbor (of Tripoli) is very much exposed, its chief shelter for the vessels
being two small islands about five miles from land. The one is called Pigeon Island from
the multitude of pigeons on it; and the other Rabbit Island, a name given it by a master
of a Dutch ship on his putting ashore a number of those creatures, which have since so
greatly increased that the sailors frequently enjoy the benefit of his economy.’ Top
page
The presence of numerous
potsherds dating to the late Roman and medieval periods as well as several rock-cut
cisterns suggested the presence of an important settlement there. The first excavation of
"Rabbits’ Island" was undertaken in October 1973 and revealed foundations
of several buildings dating to the Crusades in which earlier architectural elements, such
as column drums and fragments of capitals had been re-used."
Several medieval sources
mention the offshore isles of Tripoli. The Arab geographer Idrisi who visited Tripoli
during the twelfth century at the time the city was ruled by Raymond III of Toulouse
writes: "Opposite the city of Tripoli are four islands in a row. The first of them,
and nearest to the land, is the Narcissus Isle (an -Narjis) ; it is very small and
is unoccupied. Then comes the Isle of the Column (al-tantid), then Monk’s Isle
(ArRdhib), and then the Isle of Ardhdkun (or Udhákun). Top
page
The Crusaders built a
church upon the largest island. It was there that the widow of Hugh I of Cyprus, Alix de
Champagne, came in 1224 to marry Bohemund, son of the Prince of Antioch, and the royal
wedding took place within the church. Years later the island became the scene of a bloody
massacre. When the Mamluks entered Tripoli in 1289, the panic-stricken inhabitants fled to
the port and crossed over to the island. Many took refuge in the church which we are told
by Arab chroniclers was dedicated to Santomas (Saint Thomas). There they were put to death
when the Mamluks caught up with them.’ The island then was abandoned for
many years and the church with time and neglect fell into ruins. Top
page
Barely a decade before the
sack of Tripoli by the Mamluks, a pilgrim journeying to the Holy Land gives a description
in his travel account of the prosperous conditions in the Crusader city:
Two leagues beyond Nephin
(Enfe) is Tripoli, an exceeding noble city, standing almost entirely in the sea like Tyre.
It is full of people, for therein dwell Greeks and Latins, Armenians, Maronites,
Nestorians and many others. Much work is done there in silk. I have heard for certain that
therein there are weavers of silk and camlet and other like stuffs... The plain before the
gates of the city is one league in length and half a league in breadth. In this space
there are gardens, where in divers fruits grow in such plenty that it is said that every
year they bring their owners three hundred thousand gold byzants. Top
page
The pilgrim also records in
his diary: "The land round about it may without doubt be called a paradise because of
its endless beautiful vineyards. And here he emphasizes the quality of the wine of Tripoli
by referring to a biblical passage written many hundreds of years earlier: "They
shalt blossom as the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon."’ Top
page
Historical References |
Photo Gallery
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Ramkin
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Fanar
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Eng.Nabil KHAYAT |
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