Database: Tantora: Difference between revisions
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<div style="clear: left; float: right; margin-left: 20px;">[[File:DTA Tantora 1.png|125px]][[File:DTA Tantora 2.png|125px]]</div> | <div style="clear: left; float: right; margin-left: 20px;">[[File:DTA Tantora 1.png|125px]][[File:DTA Tantora 2.png|125px]]</div> | ||
[[File:DTA Tantora 3.png|thumb|250px|The Tantora sundial determined the start of the water distribution practice in AlUla at the winter solstice.]] | [[File:DTA Tantora 3.png|thumb|250px|The Tantora sundial determined the start of the water distribution practice in AlUla at the winter solstice.]] | ||
On the east side of [[Al-Ula Valley|AlUla]] [[Al-Ula|Old Town]] stands the {{Wiki|ar:طنطورة (العلا)|tantora}}. Built of [[stone]] and set atop a wall, it is a sundial that was most useful annually, in December, on the winter solstice, when about midday its shadow reaches a certain rock fixed in the ground of the open area in front of it. For the inhabitants, this signalled the start of a {{Wiki|ar:مربعانية الشتاء|40-day period}} for planting fields crops, such as [[wheat]] and barley, which need cooler weather and irrigation to grow. | On the east side of [[Al-Ula Valley|AlUla]] [[Al-Ula|Old Town]] stands the {{Wiki|ar:طنطورة (العلا)|tantora}}. Built of [[stone]] and set atop a wall, it is a sundial that was most useful annually, in December, on the winter solstice, when about midday its shadow reaches a certain rock fixed in the ground of the open area in front of it. For the inhabitants, this signalled the start of a {{Wiki|ar:مربعانية الشتاء|40-day period}} for planting fields crops, such as [[wheat]] and {{Wiki|barley}}, which need cooler weather and irrigation to grow. | ||
Community leaders carefully managed the distribution system of water to ensure every farmer received his fair share of the vital resource. Even though the introduction of mechanical pumping brought the complex underground and surface channeling system and distribution practice to an end, the elders of AlUla still hold the ceremony on the winter solstice, which is attended and celebrated by many locals and visitors and marks the start of the {{Wiki|Winter at Tantora Festival}} instituted by the {{Wiki|Royal Commission for Al-Ula}}. | Community leaders carefully managed the distribution system of water to ensure every farmer received his fair share of the vital resource. Even though the introduction of mechanical pumping brought the complex underground and surface channeling system and distribution practice to an end, the elders of AlUla still hold the ceremony on the winter solstice, which is attended and celebrated by many locals and visitors and marks the start of the {{Wiki|Winter at Tantora Festival}} instituted by the {{Wiki|Royal Commission for Al-Ula}}. | ||
[[Category:Database: Life in the Oasis]] | [[Category:Database: Life in the Oasis]] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tantora}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Tantora}} | ||
Latest revision as of 02:41, 28 September 2026
On the east side of AlUla Old Town stands the tantora. Built of stone and set atop a wall, it is a sundial that was most useful annually, in December, on the winter solstice, when about midday its shadow reaches a certain rock fixed in the ground of the open area in front of it. For the inhabitants, this signalled the start of a 40-day period for planting fields crops, such as wheat and barley, which need cooler weather and irrigation to grow.
Community leaders carefully managed the distribution system of water to ensure every farmer received his fair share of the vital resource. Even though the introduction of mechanical pumping brought the complex underground and surface channeling system and distribution practice to an end, the elders of AlUla still hold the ceremony on the winter solstice, which is attended and celebrated by many locals and visitors and marks the start of the Winter at Tantora Festival instituted by the Royal Commission for Al-Ula.