Muharraq
Encyclopedia
Muharraq (meaning Place of Ashes), is Bahrain
's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island
and has long been a centre of religiosity. Bahrain International Airport
is located on the island.
The city's origins are ancient, going back to the time of Dilmun
some 5,000 years ago, but it came to prominence in the historical records during the era of Tylos
when Bahrain came under domination of the Selucid Greeks, and Muharraq was the centre of a pagan cult dedicated to the shark god, Awal
. The city's inhabitants, who depended upon seafaring and trade for their livelihood, worshipped Awal in the form of a large statue of a shark located in the city.
By the fifth century AD, Muharraq had become a major centre of Nestorian Christianity, which had come to dominate the southern shores of the Persian Gulf
. As a sect, the Nestorians were often persecuted as heretics by the Byzantine Empire
, but Bahrain was outside the Empire's control offering safety. The names of several of Muharraq's villages today reflect this Christian legacy, with Al-Dair meaning 'the monastery' and Qalali meaning a 'monk's cloisters'.
Muharraq is home to Muharraq Club
, which is Bahrain's most successful football club. The city is also known for its traditional market, or souq, and as a home of traditional arts and music; Ali Bahar, a popular and successful Bahraini singer is from Muharraq. Adjacent to Muharraq are the man-made Amwaj Islands
, known for their large buildings, hotels and beaches.
has its headquarters in Muharraq, and Bahrain Air
has its headquarters in the Mohamed Centre in Muharraq.
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
's third largest city, and served as its capital until 1923. The city is located on Muharraq Island
Muharraq Island
Muharraq Island is the third largest island in the archipelago of Bahrain after Bahrain Island and Hawar Island. It is named after Muharraq City, the former capital of Bahrain.There are several towns and villages located on the Island, including:...
and has long been a centre of religiosity. Bahrain International Airport
Bahrain International Airport
Bahrain International Airport is an international airport located in Muharraq, an island on the northern tip of Bahrain, about northeast of the capital Manama...
is located on the island.
The city's origins are ancient, going back to the time of Dilmun
Dilmun
Dilmun or Telmun is a land mentioned by Mesopotamian civilizations as a trade partner, a source of the metal copper, and an entrepôt of the Mesopotamia-to-Indus Valley Civilization trade route...
some 5,000 years ago, but it came to prominence in the historical records during the era of Tylos
Tylos
Bahrain was referred to by the Greeks as Tylos, the centre of pearl trading, when Nearchus came to discover it serving under Alexander the Great. From the 6th to 3rd century BC Bahrain was included in Persian Empire by Achaemenians, an Iranian dynasty...
when Bahrain came under domination of the Selucid Greeks, and Muharraq was the centre of a pagan cult dedicated to the shark god, Awal
Awal
Awal is the ancient name of Bahrain, an island country in the Persian Gulf. The name Awal had remained in use, probably for eight centuries. Awal was derived from the name of a god that used to be worshiped by the inhabitants of the islands before the advent of Islam. Awal resembled the head of an...
. The city's inhabitants, who depended upon seafaring and trade for their livelihood, worshipped Awal in the form of a large statue of a shark located in the city.
By the fifth century AD, Muharraq had become a major centre of Nestorian Christianity, which had come to dominate the southern shores of the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. As a sect, the Nestorians were often persecuted as heretics by the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, but Bahrain was outside the Empire's control offering safety. The names of several of Muharraq's villages today reflect this Christian legacy, with Al-Dair meaning 'the monastery' and Qalali meaning a 'monk's cloisters'.
Muharraq is home to Muharraq Club
Muharraq Club
Al-Muharraq Sports Club , is the oldest sports club in Muharraq island in the Persian Gulf region. Al-Muharraq Sports Club has won the Bahraini Football Premier League 31 times. Al-Muharraq Sports Club also takes part in other sports than football like Basketball and Volleyball...
, which is Bahrain's most successful football club. The city is also known for its traditional market, or souq, and as a home of traditional arts and music; Ali Bahar, a popular and successful Bahraini singer is from Muharraq. Adjacent to Muharraq are the man-made Amwaj Islands
Amwaj Islands
Amwaj Islands are a group of man-made islands located in the northeast of Bahrain, near the coast of Muharraq island. It covers roughly 2 790 000 m² ....
, known for their large buildings, hotels and beaches.
Economy
Gulf AirGulf Air
Gulf Air is the principal flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Headquartered in Muharraq, adjacent to Bahrain International Airport, the airline operates scheduled services to 45 destinations in 28 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe. Its main base is Bahrain International Airport...
has its headquarters in Muharraq, and Bahrain Air
Bahrain Air
Bahrain Air is the second flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, headquartered in the Mohamed Centre in Muharraq. Its main base is Bahrain International Airport. The airline flies to 16 destinations in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The airline planned to increase its destinations to 23...
has its headquarters in the Mohamed Centre in Muharraq.
Education
The Ministry of Education operates government schools. Boys schools include Abu Farias Al-Hamdani Primary Boys School, Al-Maari Primary Boys School, Hassan bin Thabit Primary Boys School, Omer bin Abdulazeez Primary Boys School, Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa al-Khalifa Primary Boys School, Omer bin Al-Kattab Primary Intermediate Boys School, Abdul-Rahman Al-Nasser Intermediate Boys School, Tariq bin Zeyad Intermediate Boys School, and Moharraq Secondary Boys School. Girls schools include A'amena bint Wahab Primary Girls School, Al-Muharraq Primary Girls School, Mariam bent Omran Primary Girls School, Zubaida Primary Girls School, Istiklal, Khadija al-Kubra Intermediate Girls School, Zanoobia Intermediate Girls School, and Muharraq Secondary Girls School.See also
- Amwaj IslandsAmwaj IslandsAmwaj Islands are a group of man-made islands located in the northeast of Bahrain, near the coast of Muharraq island. It covers roughly 2 790 000 m² ....
, man-made islands near Al Muharraq. - Christians in the Persian GulfChristians in the Persian GulfChristians reached Basra , near the shores of the Persian Gulf by the beginning of the fourth century. According to the Chronicle of Seert, Bishop David of Perat d'Maishan was present at the Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, around 325, and sailed as far as India. Gregory Bar Hebraeus, Chron...