Shaizar

Shaizar
شيزر
Larissa
Village
The fortress and town of Shaizar
The fortress and town of Shaizar
Shaizar is located in Syria
Shaizar
Shaizar
Location in Syria
Coordinates: 35°16′04″N 36°34′00″E / 35.26778°N 36.56667°E / 35.26778; 36.56667
Country Syria
GovernorateHama
DistrictMahardah
SubdistrictMahardah
Population
 (2004 census)[1]
 • Total5,953
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Shaizar or Shayzar (Arabic: شيزر; in modern Arabic Saijar; Hellenistic name: Larissa in Syria, Λάρισσα εν Συρία in Greek) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Hama Governorate, located northwest of Hama. Nearby localities include, Mahardah, Tremseh, Kafr Hud, Khunayzir and Halfaya. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Shaizar had a population of 5,953 in the 2004 census.[1]

During the Crusades, the town was a fortress, ruled by the Banu Munqidh family. It played an important part in the Christian and Muslim politics of the crusades.