Antiquity Zayzun is identified with
Zeizin (), a
Jewish village located in the territory of
Naveh (modern
Nawa, Syria) in the region of
Batanaea. It is mentioned in
Roman-era sources, including
rabbinic literature and the
Mosaic of Rehob.
Ottoman period In 1596 Zayzun appeared in the
Ottoman tax registers as part of the
nahiya (subdistrict) of Bani Juhma in the
Qada of Hauran. It had an all
Muslim population consisting of 13 households and 5 bachelors. A fixed tax−rate of 25% was paid on wheat (3000
akçe), barley (900 a.), summer crops (1600 a.), goats and/or beehives (200 a.), in addition to taxes occasional revenues (200 a.); a total of 5,900 akçe. In 1884 the American archaeologist
Gottlieb Schumacher visited the village. He noted that it occupied both sides of a small lake called Bahret Zeizun, which was formed by the Zeizun waterfall. The northern side of the village stood at a higher elevation and held more importance than its southern counterpart. Gardens of pomegranates, figs and other orchards laid to the north of the village and were irrigated by the
Wadi al-Ajami stream. Schumacher noted that the village had recently flourished but had declined sharply by the time of his visit due to a blood feud between its
sheikh (village headman) and the local
Bedouin tribes, which forced the sheikh, his relatives and other residents to abandon Zayzun for the nearby
Tell Shihab. There remained in Zayzun about 200
Muslim inhabitants, including several Africans. In all there were 55 largely dilapidated homes, all built of stone. The former sheikh's house had a courtyard and was well built but was falling into ruin. ==Syrian Railways==