Ein Hemed

Ein Hemed is a national park and nature reserve in the hills seven kilometers west of Jerusalem, Israel. It is also known by its Latin name Aqua Bella. The park is located on the path of an old Roman road, also used in later periods, called Emmaus by the Crusaders. The road connected the coastal plain with the Jerusalem hills.

History

The Kingdom of Jerusalem built fortresses along the road to Jerusalem in order to control the traffic to Jerusalem, and protect pilgrims visiting the Holy City. Farms were built using the spring water for irrigation. Impressive ruins of a 30x40 meter Crusader structure, whose southern wall survives to a height of 12 meters, are located on the north site of the riverbed. The building has several gates and two arched halls. The building was known in Arabic as Deir al Benat (Monastery of the Daughters). Archeological investigations indicate that it was built in 1140-1160, during the reign of Fulk of Jerusalem, in the same period as the fortresses on Tzova and Emmaus. South of the building are a nature reserve and a Muslim cemetery.

Hemed

Hemed (Hebrew: חֶמֶד, lit. Grace; Arabic: حيمد‎) is a religious moshav in central Israel. Located near Or Yehuda, it falls under the jurisdiction of Lod Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 563.

The village was founded in 1950 by demobilised soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces who were immigrants from Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania. Its name is an acronym for Hayilim Meshuhararim Datiyim (Hebrew: חיילים משוחררים דתיים‎, lit. Demobilised Religious Soldiers). The residents initially worked in agriculture, but today much of the moshav's land is rented out for warehouses and industrial buildings.

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Hemed (mountain)

Hemed is a mountain in the western part of the Arta Region in south-central Djibouti. It is located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) east of the capital Djibouti City. The summit is 1,103 metres (3,619 ft) above sea level.

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