Difference between revisions of "Guadalajara"
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By the way, Guadalajara is the Español-ization of <i>wadi al-Hijarah</i>, which is Arabic for "River of Stones." | By the way, Guadalajara is the Español-ization of <i>wadi al-Hijarah</i>, which is Arabic for "River of Stones." | ||
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| + | This is the story that goes around Guadalajara about its strange name. Many years ago, in the early ninth century, some say under the instruction of the Caliph Abu Jafar al-Mamun, Arabs set out in search of one of the lost tribes of Israel (who are, after all, cousins of the Arabs). It was known that at least on of these lost tribes was located behind the River Sambation, the fabled River of Stones. One group came to Spain, because it was known that in Western Spain was a river called Sambado, which was assumed to be a Spanish pronunciation for Sambation. Since it was also well known that Spain was full of Jews, who had crossed from northern Africa, and since everyone knows that at least one of the lost tribes had gone to Europe, it was a logical place to search. The search party stopped at Caraca, which had been in Moorish hands for many years but had kept its ancient name hitherto, and renamed the place Wadi al-Hagarah, River of Stones, in honor of the expedition. | ||
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| + | Unfortunately, the search party found that the Jews in Spain were of the very not-lost tribe of Judah, having been brought to Tunisia from Judea by the Romans and crossing to Spain thence, and Sambado was (and is to this day) a town in modern-day Portugal that has a normal river running through it. But the name Wadi al-Hagarah remained, as a testament to the failed expedition. | ||
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| + | Why did they seek the lost tribes? Did they ever find Sambation? In the streets of Guadalajara, no one knows. | ||
Latest revision as of 22:09, 18 April 2007
A major city Moorish Spain.
Reynaldo killed Hafiz and Hesam here during his first run against the Elven Genocide Squad in 974.
However, he was captured here after his failed second run against them in 984 before being transferred to Madrid.
By the way, Guadalajara is the Español-ization of wadi al-Hijarah, which is Arabic for "River of Stones."
This is the story that goes around Guadalajara about its strange name. Many years ago, in the early ninth century, some say under the instruction of the Caliph Abu Jafar al-Mamun, Arabs set out in search of one of the lost tribes of Israel (who are, after all, cousins of the Arabs). It was known that at least on of these lost tribes was located behind the River Sambation, the fabled River of Stones. One group came to Spain, because it was known that in Western Spain was a river called Sambado, which was assumed to be a Spanish pronunciation for Sambation. Since it was also well known that Spain was full of Jews, who had crossed from northern Africa, and since everyone knows that at least one of the lost tribes had gone to Europe, it was a logical place to search. The search party stopped at Caraca, which had been in Moorish hands for many years but had kept its ancient name hitherto, and renamed the place Wadi al-Hagarah, River of Stones, in honor of the expedition.
Unfortunately, the search party found that the Jews in Spain were of the very not-lost tribe of Judah, having been brought to Tunisia from Judea by the Romans and crossing to Spain thence, and Sambado was (and is to this day) a town in modern-day Portugal that has a normal river running through it. But the name Wadi al-Hagarah remained, as a testament to the failed expedition.
Why did they seek the lost tribes? Did they ever find Sambation? In the streets of Guadalajara, no one knows.
