Ansaries, Or Ansarians (Arab. Anscriych), also called Nossairians, an Arab tribe or sect inhabiting the mountainous district between the northern part of the Lebanon and Antioch, Syria. This range, called the Ansarian mountains, is much lower than the Lebanon, not averaging more than 4,000 feet. Limestone is the prevailing rock, and thin oak forests cover almost the whole ridge. The Ansaries are to be found also in Antioch, Saida, Latakieh, and other towns and villages on the coast. Their chiefs live in Bahluleh, Simrin, and Safeta. Of their origin and early history little is known. They endeavor to conceal their doctrines from all foreigners, and only male adults are initiated. Among Moslems they, like the Druses, profess Mohammedanism. Their prophet Nos-sair taught that God has appeared 11 times in human form, in Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Ali. Hakem-bi-amr-Illah, and other imams; that he always encountered opposition and then returned to heaven, where he wrapped himself in a blue mantle, and at length retired to the sun, which is therefore worshipped by the Ansaries. They wait for the appearance of a Mahdi or Messiah, who will be the last of the 12 imams in whom the Deity assumes a human form.

Like the Yezidis of northern Syria, they allow promiscuous intercourse of the sexes on certain festivals, and in performing their religious rites they are said to be very licentious. They believe in the migration of souls, which for the faithful is a progressive purification till they become stars; but those who neglect their religious duties, betray the mysteries, or deny the divinity of Ali, are doomed to transformations into Jews, Christians, Mohammedans, donkeys, dogs, and hogs. They have four degrees: shamsi, worshippers of the sun; kama-//, worshippers of the moon; Klesi or kadami, worshippers of women; and shemali (shemal, north; literally, northerners). They practise circumcision and ablutions, and pray three times a day under the open sky. Their chief religious festival is called the Єha-dir. Their doctrines teach them benevolence, honesty, and patience in adversity, but they are thievish, superstitious, and ignorant, though very hospitable. Each community is governed by a mokaddem, who is almost wholly independent. They have frequently defended their freedom with great courage against Turkish and Egyptian pashas.

During the crusades they were found in all parts of Syria and Mesopotamia. The accounts given of this sect by modern travellers vary, and must be received with caution. According to Mme. Audouard (L'Orient et ses peuplades, Paris, 1867), they are divided into three parties, considerably differing from each other. The most numerous of them worship a beautiful young woman, who is elected to the dignity of goddess every third year. - Among the Ansaries it is usual to reckon the sect of the Kadamisseh, who live east of them in several valleys of the Cadmus mountains. They keep apart, however, from the Ansaries, do not intermarry either with them or any other neighboring sect, and have their own religious customs. Like the Assassins of the middle ages, they call themselves Ismaelians.