Maydan al-Shajara
Encyclopedia
Maydan al-Shajara is a major town square
in Benghazi
, the second largest city in Libya
. A large native Atlas Cedar
tree is located in the center of the square, giving it its name. The square is located in the center of Benghazi, linking two primary roads, Gamal Abdel al-Nasser
Street and 'Amr ibn al-'As
Street.
and Wahda Bank buildings overlook the square, with several other buildings of historic architectural distinction. Nearby are three government administration buildings. Maydan al-Shajara is the site of public events, celebrations, and demonstrations.
. Government forces had used water cannons, and reportedly machine-guns and heavy weapons on crowds, in attempts to disperse demonstrators in the early days. By February 20 Benghazi and Maydan al-Shajara came under the control of the opposition government.
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
in Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, the second largest city in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. A large native Atlas Cedar
Atlas Cedar
Cedrus atlantica, the Atlas Cedar, is a cedar native to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco . A majority of the modern sources treat it as a distinct species Cedrus atlantica, but some sources consider it a subspecies of Lebanon Cedar Cedrus atlantica, the Atlas Cedar, is a cedar native to...
tree is located in the center of the square, giving it its name. The square is located in the center of Benghazi, linking two primary roads, Gamal Abdel al-Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
Street and 'Amr ibn al-'As
'Amr ibn al-'As
`Amr ibn al-`As was an Arab military commander who is most noted for leading the Muslim conquest of Egypt in 640. A contemporary of Muhammad, and one of the Sahaba , who rose quickly through the Muslim hierarchy following his conversion to Islam in the year 8 AH...
Street.
Features
The National Oil CorporationNational Oil Corporation
The National Oil Corporation is the national oil company of Libya. It dominates Libya's oil industry, along with a number of smaller subsidiaries, which combined account for around 70% the country's oil output...
and Wahda Bank buildings overlook the square, with several other buildings of historic architectural distinction. Nearby are three government administration buildings. Maydan al-Shajara is the site of public events, celebrations, and demonstrations.
2011 Libyan protests
Maydan al-Shajara became a major gathering place for protesters during the 2011 Libyan Civil War2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. Government forces had used water cannons, and reportedly machine-guns and heavy weapons on crowds, in attempts to disperse demonstrators in the early days. By February 20 Benghazi and Maydan al-Shajara came under the control of the opposition government.