Shaqqa

Shaqqa or Shakka (Arabic: شَقَّا, romanized: Šaqqā) is a Syrian town in Suwayda Governorate in southern Syria. The Druze migrated to the region from Mount Lebanon starting from the 18th century.

History

In ancient times it was known as Saccaea (transliterated also as Sakkaia). In AD 287, it was given the rank of a city and the name Maximianopolis. Since it was situated in the Roman province of Arabia, it is distinguished from other cities by being called Maximianopolis in Arabia. The town had a population of 5,116 in the 2004 census. The town's inhabitants are predominantly Druze, while Christians and Sunni Muslim Bedouins represent a minority.

Text from Wikipedia