TheNahr al-Kabir,also known in Syria asal-Nahr al-Kabir al-Janoubi(Arabic:النهر الكبير الجنوبي,lit. 'the southern great river', in contrast with theNahr al-Kabir al-Shamali) or in Lebanon simply as theKebir,is ariverinSyriaandLebanonflowing into theMediterranean SeaatArida.The river is 77.8 km (48.3 mi) long, and drains awatershedof 954 km2(368 sq mi).[1]Its headwaters are at the Ain as-Safa spring in Lebanon and it flows through theHoms Gapin theOrontes River Valleyof southern Syria.
The river forms the northern part of theLebanon–Syria border.In antiquity, the river was known asEleutherus(GreekΕλεύθεροςEleutheros,ΕλευθερίςEleuterislit.'free'). It defined the border between theSeleucidandPtolemaicempires during much of the 3rd century BCE.[2]
The river is mentioned byJosephus[3]and in1 Maccabees11:7 and 12:30.
References
edit- ^United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asiaet al.,"Nahr el Kabir Basin",Inventory of Shared Water Resources in Western Asia8PDF
- ^Dov Gera,Judaea and Mediterranean Politics: 219 to 161 B.C.E.,p. 9
- ^Josephus,The Jewish War1:363 pg 75 Translated by G.A.Williamson 1959, printed 1981
34°38′02″N35°58′32″E/ 34.63389°N 35.97556°E