The Rib
of Ars
f and the Coastal Defence System in Early Islamic Palestine1
University of Haifa
E-mail: khalilih{at}research.haifa.ac.il
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Abstract |
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Early Muslim governors and army commanders of Bil
d al-Shm (Greater Syria) were aware of the strategic importance of the coastal frontiers of their territories along the eastern basin of the Mediterranean. With the ascent of the Umayyads and the transfer of the capital from Kufa (Iraq) to Damascus, the Syrian region was fortified with rib
s and mi
rses. The purpose was both to protect the coast from outside attacks and to protect Umayyad rule in its first years from internal as well as external threats, and to guard trunk routes on land and maritime trade routes within the territorial waters of the Islamic provinces. There were three types of ribs in the Muslim world. The first may be called rib towns, which included coastal and port towns. Their importance was not only economic and cultural but also military and strategic. These were fortified towns surrounded by watchtowers, often with inner forts, and garrisoned with cavalry troops to defend the coast from hostile raids. The second type was the military fortress, S
sa and Monastir in Tunisia, for example, and Azdd, Mz Yubn and Kafr Lm in Palestine. These fortresses, generally situated outside the town limits, in front of it and facing the enemy, are of the central courtyard type with round watchtowers at the corners and two semicircular towers protecting the main gate. The courtyards were surrounded by arms and food warehouses, stables for cattle and horses, larger and smaller rooms, as well as prayers niches. The third type was a military lookout tower manned by at least five horsemen, equipped with defensive and deterrent arms. Arsf is thought to be one of the seven ribs that protected the capital Ramla until the Crusader conquest. Like the others, Arsf was a walled town (probably backed up by a fort) and linked to Ramla by a line of watchtowers. The overwhelming majority of its citizens were Muslims, some of them famous scholars and even q
s who served in the defence of Jund Filasn as also of Muslim frontiers beyond Bild al-Shm. Those stationed in the rib of Arsf earned their living from crafts, industry, farming, and trade. The proximity to Ramla made it necessary for regular soldiers and volunteers to relieve the jihd warriors several times a year. The memorial structure (maqm), widely known as Maqm Sayyidun 
Al, appears to have been built in the eleventh century CE, and is said to be the work of Ab l-
asan Al ibn Ulaym or Ulayl, a descendants of the second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khab.