|
Diyarbakir, before all else, is a city of ancient history. Emerging on the dawn of history, over centuries, the city continued to replenish itself, and today, it remains alive true to its history. In comparison to Babylon and Nineveh in the east, and Ephesus and Phaselis in the west - cities that emerged during the same period but have been obliterated through time - Diyarbakir is still standing tall. This is why Diyarbakir is an important city and is the focus of interest and attention.
Near the town of Ergani, on top of Bajargeren hills, 'kot e ber cem' - or as it's most popularly called, Cay Onun- in Hilar, one may witness the historical significance of the city's hinterland, where ten thousand years ago, the first settlements took place, a variety of wild animals and crops were tamed, and ancient farming started by sowing wheat. Likewise, in the Birkleyn Caves near Lice, one may run into the drawings and figures, which belong to the times of the Assyrian kings I.Tiglatpiliser and Salmanazar. The historical city of Dakyanus and the archeological findings in Egil and Bismil also stand as vivid historical evidence attesting to the crucial historical heritage surrounding the city.
|
|
The center of Diyarbakir carries similarly impressive traces of history. The city walls of 5.5 kilometers surrounding Diyarbakır were built approximately 5000 years ago, and still stand as the primary example of their kind throughout the world.
It is also crucial to stress the importance of the river Tigris, when mentioning Diyarbakir. Together with Euphrates, Aras and Kura, Tigris is one of the four rivers mentioned in the Holy Books indicating the city's unique history.
Historical Diyarbakir houses, education centers, schools, churches, water pipes, castles of the city walls, inscriptions, epitaphs, monuments and many other historical sites and materials not yet archived in the inventories, remain to be the amazing samples of historical and cultural heritage in the city.
Diyarbakir is also a city of culture. The ethnically rich background of the city, which, until a hundred years ago, comprised of the voices of Kurds, Turks, Armenians, Assyrians, Keldanis and Jews, has the power to tell stories of a historical meeting point for all these people. It was perhaps precisely this rich multicultural blend, which made Diyarbakir the home of many men of letters during the last phases of the Ottoman Empire.
|
|
Diyarbekir, the first newspaper to be published in Anatolia was also published in Diyarbakır. In 1869, nine years after the first newspaper Tercuman-ı Ahval was published in Istanbul, Diyarbakır created its own, contributing to the cultural developments to take place in the region in the following years.
Diyarbakır's poets, writers and thinkers have also contributed to the cultural developments of Turkey. Ali Emin Efendi, often cited as the father of librarianship in Turkey, as well as famous literary names such as Ishak Sukuti, Suleyman Nazif, Ziya Gokalp, Cahit Sitki Taranca, Ahmet Arif were to be brought up in the premises of the city of Diyarbakir.
Though Diyarbakır's cultural and artistic life has been often interrupted with societal conflicts and nationwide political chaos, each time, Diyarbakir has been able to sprout with new energies claiming its strength from the deep cultural roots of its history and multicultural background.
Therefore, as we observe the cultural and artistic panorama of Diyarbakir soon after the halt of regional political violence a few years ago, we can only be impressed by the numbers of people who attend and appreciate the cultural activities organized every week in the city. At least a few times very year, a growing number of cultural events take place, bringing the people of Diyarbakir together, embracing the city and drawing the attention of national media. This is to say that Diyarbakir is back on its track, on the way to claiming its historical identity. This is also to say that Diyarbakir is again on its way to bring out and appreciate the local in arts, and to conjoin it with the universal.
Because Diyarbakir is a city of history and culture.
Şeyhmus Diken
 |
|
