Diyarbakır Diyarbakır) is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey. Situated on the banks of the River Tigris, it is the administrative capital of the Diyarbakır Province and with a population of about 843,460 it is the second largest city in Turkey's South-eastern Anatolia region, after Gaziantep. The city is official capital of north of Kurdistan. The name of the city is inscribed as Amid on the sheath of a sword from the Assyrian period, and the same name was used in other contemporary Syriac and Arabic works. The Romans and Byzantines called the city Amida. Among the Artukid and Akkoyunlu it was known as "Black Amid" (Kara Amid) for the dark color of its walls, while in the Zafername, or eulogies in praise of military victories, it is called "Black Fortress" (Kara Kale). In the Book of Dede Korkut and some other Turkish works it appears as Kara Hamid. Following the Arab conquests in the seventh century, the Arab Bakr tribe occupied this region, which became known as the Diyar Bakr ("landholdings of the Bakr tribe", in Persian: Diyar-ı Bekir). In 1937, Atatürk visited Diyarbekir and, after expressing uncertainty on the true etymology of the city, ordered that it be renamed "Diyarbakır," which means land of copper in Turkish. Diyarbakır is surrounded by an almost intact, dramatic set of high walls of black basalt forming a 5.5 km (3.4 mi) circle around the old city. There are four gates into the old city and 82 watch-towers on the walls, which were built in antiquity, restored and extended by the Roman emperor Constantius II in 349. In addition, the walls of Diyarbakır in the world after the Great Wall of China is the second largest city walls. Great Mosque of Diyarbakır built by the Seljuk Turkish Sultan Malik Shah in the 11th century. The mosque, one of the oldest in Turkey, is constructed in alternating bands of black basalt and white limestone (The same patterning is used in the 16th century Deliler Han Madrassah, which is now a hotel). The adjoining Mesudiye Medresesi/Medreseya Mesûdiyeyê was built at the same time as was another prayer-school in the city, Zinciriye Medresesi/Medreseya Zincîriyeyê. Beharampaşa Camii/Mizgefta Behram Paşa -- an Ottoman mosque built in 1572 by the governor of Diyarbakır, Behram Pasha, noted for the well-constructed arches at the entrance. Dört Ayaklı Minare/Mizgefta Çarling (the four-footed minaret) -- built by Kasim Khan of the Ak Koyunlu. It is said that one who passes seven times between the four columns will have his wishes granted. Fatihpaşa Camii/Mizgefta Fetih Paşa -- built in 1520 by Diyarbakır's first Ottoman governor, Bıyıklı Mehmet Paşa ("the moustachioed Mehmet pasha"). The city's earliest Ottoman building, it is decorated with fine tilework. Hazreti Süleyman Camii/Mizgefta Hezretî Silêman -- 1155--1169 -- Süleyman son of Halid Bin Velid, who died capturing the city from the Arabs, is buried here along with his companions. Hüsrevpaşa Camii/Mizgefta Husrev Paşa -- the mosque of the second Ottoman governor, 1512--1528. Originally the building was intended to be a school (medrese) İskender Paşa Camii/Mizgefta Îskender Paşa -- a mosque of an Ottoman governor, an attractive building in black and white stone, built in 1551. Melek Ahmet Camii/Melek Ahmed Paşa a 16th-century mosque noted for its tiled prayer-niche and for the double stairway up the minaret. Nebii Camii/Mizgefta Pêxember -- an Ak Koyunlu mosque, a single-domed stone construction from the 16th century. Nebi Camii means "the mosque of the prophet" and is so-named because of the number of inscriptions in honour of the prophet on its minaret. Safa Camii/Mizgefta Palo -- built in 1532 by the Ak Koyunlu Turkmen tribe. Famous churches include: St. Giragos Armenian Church -- A disused and restored Armenian Orthodox church. The Syriac Orthodox Church of Our Lady (Syriac: ܐ ܕܝܠܕܬ ܐܠܗܐ `Idto d-Yoldat Aloho, Turkish: Meryemana kilisesi), was first constructed as a pagan temple in the 1st century BCE. The current construction dates back to the 3rd century, has been restored many times, and is still in use as a place of worship today.[citation needed] There are a number of other churches in the city. Museums include: The Archaeological Museum contains artifacts from the neolithic period, through the Early Bronze Age, Assyrian, Urartu, Roman, Byzantine, Artuqids, Seljuk Turk, Aq Qoyunlu, and Ottoman Empire periods. Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum -- the home of the late poet and a classic example of a traditional Diyarbakır home. The birthplace of poet Ziya Gökalp -- preserved as a museum to his life and works. Historic bridges: The Dicle Bridge, an 11th-century bridge with ten arches

• published: 03 Sep 2013
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