Atassi family

Atassi (Arabic: الأتاسي) (Turkish: Atasi/ Atasizade) is the name of a prominent family in Homs, Syria, of a noble lineage dating back to the 15th century AD.

The power and prestige of the family reached an apex at the formation of the modern Republic of Syria in 1936, when its second head of state, Hashim al-Atassi was elected president.

Family members included magistrates, governors, ambassadors, heads of political parties, military officers and other public officials throughout Ottoman and modern times.

The name al-Atassi evolved from the word "العطاسي" (from "العطاس," meaning "the sneezer" in Arabic) which later changed to "الأطاسي" then to "الأتاسي" or Atassi.

[citation needed] The office of Mufti of the town of Homs, the highest religious jurisdiction in the city, was hereditary in the Atassi family for over four centuries.

Residence of Khaled Efendi al-Atassi, the head of The Atassi House, built in 1893
Tomb of Sayed Ali Bin Khalil Al-Atassi, who died in 1508, located in the Atassi Mosque, Homs
Tombstone of Sayed Saleh Al-Sayed Suleiman Al-Atassi, who died in 1782, located in the Atassi Mosque, Homs