Ankara

Ankara, the capital of Turkey, nestles on a plain of the same name in Central Anatolia. Ankura means "the Temple of the Blessed Mother God" in the Scythian/Khatti language. Subsequently, it changed into Ankyra and Angora, finally becoming Ankara today. Remains were found belonging to the prehistorical era on the Citadel of Ankara, the environs of Hacibayram and the Hill of Anitkabir (Mausoleum). After Khattis / Hittites. the area was dominated by Phrygians, and Galatians who chose Ankara as the capital of Galatia. Phrygians established their capital at Gordion, near Polatli. They adorned the Temple of Cybele. the Mother Goddess, located in Pessmus, with structures all around. The area subsequently fell under the sovereignty of Macedonians in 333 B.C. followed by Persians, Pergamenes, Romans, Pontics and Byzantines. It passed into the hands of Turks in 1073. In 1402, the Ottoman Sultan Bayezit and Timur Lenk, both of Turkish origins, met in a combat in the Plain Qubuk. Ankara which was home to the Turkish national struggle under the leadership of AtatOrk during the War of Independence was proclaimed the capital of the Republic of Turkey on October 13,1923. The foremost work in the city is the Citadel of Ankara located upon a steep rocky cliff. The inner line of walls consisting of two sections and two gates were restored. The 20 towers of the outer line of walls are still standing. Apparently, the Temple of Augustos beside the Hacibayram Mosque originally was the Temple of Anka/ Cybele, mother goddess, which gave Ankara its name, and was converted into the Temple of Men in the process of adaptation of patriarchal faith during the Galatian era, and made a sanctuary to worship the Emperor Augustos during the Roman era, The other artistic works are the Roman Baths on the Street Cankin and Fluted Column of Julianus in Ulus dating from the Roman era. The most important artistic work in Ankara is the Anitkabir Ataturk Mausoleum on an area of 15.000 km2 blending the architectural styles of 11 cultures in Anatolia. It was built on November 10,1953. The remains of Atatiirk are just underneath the marble coffin of 42 tons in the center of the great hall. The way that approaches Anitkabir is 160 m long and flanked by lion's sphinxes all along. The galleries around the Mausoleum have been converted into a museum housing the the articles belonging to Ata are on exhibition. The Ethnographic Museum, Ataturk's House, Museum of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Hacibayram Mosque, Ahi Elvan Mosque, Kursunlu Mosque, Alaattin Mosque, Maltepe Mosque and Kocatepe Mosque are the other works. Artistic works from the prehistoric era are the Castle of Gavur in Haymana, Castles of Kalecrk and Karaoglan. Ankara is well-known for the famed disc of the Hittite goddess of sun, its mohaire from the Ankara Angora goat which has passed into the world literature with the name of Angora, the Ankara cat, its flat bread called bazlama and its diner.