Ein Al-Asad – Village History in Upper Galilee

Ein Al-Asad is located on the southern slopes of Mount Meron in Upper Galilee. Its location gives the destination a clear geographical setting, while its local history spans from its founding toward the end of the 19th century to a religious ceremony in 2011.

Village History and Shrine Dedication

On May 14, 2011, hundreds of Druze sheikhs from towns in Galilee, on Mount Carmel, and in the Golan came to Ein Al-Asad to dedicate the shrine of Sheikh Abu Muhammad Saleh al-Kahhal (al-Jarmani). They were led by the community’s spiritual leader, Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif. The date marks the shrine dedication; the village’s founding toward the end of the 19th century is a separate time reference. This distinguishes the period when the village was founded from the later religious event.

Another local point of reference is the stone arch over the spring. It is considered an important landmark associated with the village’s history. The arch adds a built landmark to the local history, while the shrine dedication is a dated event. Together, the two features illustrate different ways of approaching the history of Ein Al-Asad.

Archaeological Themes in the Northern District

In the wider destination of the Northern District, Tel Hazor and Tel Megiddo offer distinct archaeological points of reference. Tel Hazor is a biblical tell with significant remains of a city associated with the Bible; visits focus on the upper city. Solomon’s Gate has six chambers and two towers and dates to the 10th century BCE. A Canaanite palace at Tel Hazor was used by the kings of Hazor in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. The Late Bronze Age palace is considered the most elaborate in Israel and one of the most important in the Levant. Tel Hazor also preserves significant remains of an underground water-collection system, an example of sophisticated engineering adapted to the geography. Three-meter-wide steps are hewn into the walls of the vertical shaft. The fortifications are considered the finest example of their kind in the area stretching from southern Turkey to the northern Negev.

Tel Megiddo offers a different archaeological focus. This biblical tell preserves significant remains of a city associated with the Bible and is one of three tells closely linked to events in the Bible. Its Early Bronze Age temple complex is particularly notable: the number of temples, the continuity of cultic activity, and the ritual practices make it exceptional. Tel Megiddo’s orthogonal Iron Age city plan has few parallels in the Levant. The regional focuses therefore differ: at Tel Hazor, the gate, palace, water-collection system, and fortifications are among the main features, while at Tel Megiddo, the temple complex and city plan take center stage.

Discover more destinations: Amuka, Nazareth, Neve Zohar, Ein Yahav, Hurfeish, Kfar Adumim, Evron, Kfar Bin Nun

For the wider travel overview: Israel.