Sakib

Roman and Byzantine periods

Archaeological remains such as Trapetum olive presses and ancient aqueducts indicate that Sakib was inhabited during the Roman era. In 2008, archaeologists have found a cemetery dating back to the Byzantine period, and It is considered to have a notable historical value.^[4]

Early Islamic era

During the time of the Umayyad Empire, A hamlet and a mosque were built in the southwestern part of the town.

Crusader rule

Sakib (Seecip) was acquired by the Crusaders in 1100.^[5] Later, it became the eastern border of the Kingdom of Jerusalem with the Seljuk Empire.^[6][7] In the year 1120, a garrison of forty men stationed in Jerash by Zahir ad-Din Toghtekin, atabeg of Damascus converted the Temple of Artemis into a fortress. It was captured in 1121 by Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem, and demolished.^[8][9] Then, the Crusaders immediately abandoned Jerash, and withdrew to Sakib; the eastern border of the settlement.^[6][10]

Ottoman period

Sakib, like the rest of the Levant, was incorporated into the Ottoman State in 1517. According to the Ottoman census in the 16th century, Sakib was two contiguous villages named Sakib and Aysra (عيصره). Aysra now is part of present day Sakib and forms its northern part. In the census of 1538, it was located in the nahiyah (subdistrict) of Ajlun of the liwa (district) of Ajlun. It had a population of 13 Muslim households and 1 mosque's imam, while Aysra had a population of 7 households and 1 mosque's imam.^[11] The census from 1596 indicates that Sakib had a population of 12 households, all Muslim.^[12]

In 1868, the missionary Frederick Augustus Klein visited the region, and illustrated that it is beautiful and there are twenty inhabited villages in the district including Sakib. He also added there was one Greek priest to look to the spiritual affairs of the Christian families in the district.^[13]

In April 14, 1882, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale and his brother Prince George of Wales (later King George V) visited the area, and they said: "Next we passed Sakib village at 9.10, and entered the Wady Hamur (roebuck) at 9.30 ; long stretches of corn were growing at the bottom, and the cliffs were wooded at the side with pines and oaks intermixed. A most enjoyable English-like morning as we ride along by the stream which goes gurgling over its pebble bed down the valley ; we cross it ever and anon, and dip in and out of the copses which cling to the hill-side and remind some of us much of Wales, and others of Scotland.^[14]"

The English soldier Claude Reignier Conder was enabled to visit the country north of Amman as far as Jerash in April, 1882, when he attended Prince Albert Victor and Prince George of Wales on their visit to the country beyond Jordan.^[15] He said: "And by Sakib, on its cliff down which a stream falls in a long cascade, we gain the beautiful glens which run down from the rugged Ajlun to the green valley of Jordan. With exception of the woods of Tabor (now sadly thinned), the copses of Carmel, the oaks of Harosheth, and the groves of Banias, there is nothing in western Palestine which can at all compare with the beauty of the ravines of Gilead between Wady Hesban on the south and the Hairomax on the north. Beside clear mountain brooks the horseman wanders through glades of oak and terebinth, with dark pines above. The valleys green with corn, the streams fringed with oleander, the magnificent screens of yellow, green, and russet foliage, which cover the steep slopes, present a scene of quiet beauty, of chequered light and shade.^[16]"

Climate

Sakib has a Mediterranean climate; cool winter and warm to hot summer. The average annual rainfall is about 422 mm (16.6 inches) per year. Its average annual temperature is 23.5 °C (74.3 °F) during the day and 13 °C (55.4 °F) at night.^[18] Snow falls once or twice a year.

Fauna and flora

The entire forest reserves in the region extends over an area of 60 km². The forest is a home to many endemic Mammals, including the Wild boar, the Jackal, the Red fox, the Persian squirrel and the Hedgehog. The notable birds are the Eurasian hoopoe, the Common blackbird, the Bee-eater, the Jay, the Tit, the Goldfinch, the Nightingale and the Roller.

The most common plants present in the area are Oak, Aleppo pine, Greek strawberry tree, Tabor oak (national tree), Mediterranean cypress, Carob, Terebinth and Cedar.^[19] The ground flora includes numerous kinds of species such as Windflower, Black iris (national flower), Oxeye daisy, Orchids, Clover, Ragged-Robin, Tagetes, Cyclamen and Tulip.