Tripoli (Arabic طرابلس Trablos, academically transliterated Ṭarābulus) is the second-largest city in Lebanon.

In ancient times, this was the center of a Phoenician confederation which included Tyre, Sidon and Arados, hence the name Tripoli, from the Greek meaning "triple city". Later, it was controlled successively by the Persians, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Mamelukes, and Ottomans. The Crusaders established the County of Tripoli there in the 12th century.

Today it is the second-largest city, and second-largest port, in Lebanon, with about 500,000 inhabitants.

History

Tripoli had a number of different names as far back as the Phoenician age. In the letters of Tell el-Amarina the name "Derbly" was mentioned, and in other places "Ahlia" or "Wahlia" are mentioned (14th century BC). In an engraving concerning the invasion of Tripoli by the Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II (888-859 BC) it is called Mahallata or Mahlata, Mayza, and Kayza.

Under the Phoeinicians, the name Athar was used to refer to Tripoli. When the Greeks settled in the city they called it "Tripolis". The Arabs called it a variety of names, including the Princedom of Tripoli, the State of Tripoli, and the Eastern Tripoli Kingdom. In addition, the names Tarabulus, or Atrabulus, and Tarablus al-Sham (Tripoli of Syria, to differentiate it from Tarablus al-Gharb, Tripoli of Libya), were also used. The Crusaders settled in Tripoli for about 180 years and made it the capital of the County of Tripoli. The city was also simply named "Triple".

Today, Tripoli is also known as Al-Fayha'a, derived from the Arabic verb Faha which is used to indicate the spread of a certain smell. Tripoli was best known with its vast orange orchards. During the season of blooming, the pollen of orange flowers gets carried by the air spreading a splendid odor that can be felt anywhere in the city and its suburbs, hence the name al-Fayha'a.

See also

• Krak des Chevaliers
• Raymond IV of Toulouse
• Siege of Tripoli
• County of Tripoli

External links

• www.tripoli-city.org Tripoli's most prominent history scholar moderates this site
• Tripoli-Lebanon.com
• Tripoli Culture and Events
• Tripoli History

Cities and villages in Lebanon | Coastal cities | Crusades | Phoenicia | Hellenistic colonies | Roman colonies

طرابلس (لبنان) | Trípoli (Líban) | Tripoli (Libanon) | Trípoli (Líbano) | Tripolo (Libano) | طرابلس (لبنان) | Tripoli, Libanon | Tripoli (Liban) | Tripoli, Lebanon | Tripoli (Libano) | טריפולי (לבנון) | Tripoli (Libanon) | トリポリ (レバノン) | Trypolis (Liban) | Tripoli | Tripoli, Libanon