Halil - Diyarbakır Englizce

DİYARBAKIR,
CİTY OF CULTURE AND HİSTORY

Diyarbakır, the city of culture and history known as the “cradle of civilization”, seems to have lost its past splendor. No matter how succinctly the walls surrounding the city display its historical importance, the street vendors at every corner, the coffee houses full of people and the streets of today bear testament to the changes, which have taken place.

Diyarbakır's history dates back to the dawn of civilization. The city was considered important during each and every period in history since it lies at the major crossroads between Anatolia and Mesopotamia and between Europe and Asia. Throughout history, it had various names such as Amida, Amid, Kara-Amid, Diyar-Bekr, Diyarbekir and Diyarbakır.

Archeological studies have revealed that people lived in caves in the region in the Stone and Mesolithic Ages. The oldest village community in Anatolia was found at Mt. Çayönü, near Ergani in Diyarbakır province, which extends back 10,000 years and indicates that Diyarbakır and its environs have been home to many civilizations from that period onwards. Since 3000 B.C., the city was controlled by Assyrians, Arameans, Urartians, Scythians, Medes, Persians, Macedonians, Selucians, Parthians, the Tigranes Kingdom, Romans, Sassanids, Byzantines, Omayyads, Abbasids, al Sheikhs, Hamdanians, Mervanians, Seljuks, Inanogullari, Nisanogullari, Artukids, Eyyubids, Mongols, Akkoyunlu Turks, Safevids and Ottomans. The civilizations who have contributed most to the city have been the Roman, Abbasid, Mervani, Seljuk, Artukid, Christian and Ottoman.

The walls are the most interesting feature of the city. They were fashioned out of chiseled basalt. While the walls, second only to the Great Wall of China, are thought to have been built by the Hurrians, who controlled the region around 3000 B.C., the Roman Emperor Constantine rebuilt and expanded them in 349 A.D. The originally 12-meter-high walls, despite the deterioration of sections over the years, are considered the highest in the world. Their total length is close to five kilometers, with a thickness of three to five meters. The walls surround the old city and bear inscriptions from 12 civilizations. These walls received the greatest number of votes in a poll on an Internet site established to determine the "Seven Wonders of Anatolia."

The city is adorned with caravansaries, palaces, fountains, inns and arches. As one walks around the walls, historical artifacts of interest appear at every corner.

The city also has been home to many different religions over the centuries. Before the advent of Islam, three religions dominated the people of the region: Shemsis (sun worshipers), Jews and Christians. Religious buildings constructed by those who practiced these religions, while mostly in disrepair, are still standing around the city and include the Suryani Church of the Virgin Mary or Kadim Church, the Chaldean Church, the St. Gregos and St. Sarkis Armenian Churches, the Church of St. George and Catholic and Protestant churches.

The Suryani Church of the Virgin Mary is the only one still in use. While the date of its construction is not known, its latest appearance is the result of extensive renovation carried out in the 18th century.

Islamic structures may be seen around the city. One of the most significant is the Great or Ulu Mosque which had formerly been Mar Tom Church. The date of the construction of this structure, situated in the city center, is unknown. Muslim Arabs, who captured the city in A.D. 639, converted Mar Tom Church into a mosque, one of the oldest in Anatolia.

Diyarbakır's houses are peculiar to the region. They are built of black basalt and have a plan that provides for seclusion from the outside. The front door leads to a hall. There is a courtyard with a pool. One of the rooms, known as the "eyvan," opens onto the courtyard where the family spends their summers due to the intense heat.

The narrow side streets in front of these houses are called "kuce." As the urban population began to grow, the streets became even narrower. These historical houses are being torn down, only to be replaced by buildings.

Even with all the cultural richness of the city, it is hard to say that this legacy is being protected. When you add to this the unrestricted exodus from rural communities, Diyarbakır has become a migration center. In a very short period of time, the population of the city has increased to more than one million. Naturally, this has had an adverse effect on urban life. It appears that it will take a long time to instill a sense of urban awareness in the people who bring their village lifestyle to cities.