Diyarbakır

It is located on a depressed plain to the west of the river Tigris in the southeastern Anatolia. The name of the city in the Scythian/Pelasgian language is "Amawanda", meaning "the People of the Mother Goddess." This name subsequently became Amanda, Amida and Amed. Upon the Arab occupation of the area the city was named Diyarbekr by the Arabs in the name of the famous Arab Tribe Bekr. According to the finds unearthed at the Tumulus of Kuyulu and Tumulus of Yukan Darili it appears that the area has been inhabited in the Northern Mesopotamia since the prehistoric times. The Pelasgian branches of the Etruscans who. crossing over the Caucasia, reached the fertile lands of Mesopotamia, first established a fort city near Eghil/lngila in the area and built their tombs on the site today called the Grottos of Egil. Subsequently, during the Assyrian period of peace they descended south from the fort city and settled on the banks of Tigris where Diyarbakir is located today. Later, the area fell under the hegemonies of Hurrians, Mitannis, Babylonians, Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Macedonians, Seleucids, Parts, Bagratids and Romans. The city was then annexed to the Byzantine Empire. It was occupied first by Sassanids and then, in 639, by Arabs. After Abbasids the area was captured by Artukogullan Turks in 1096 followed by Inalogullari, Zengi and Eyyubi Dynasties. In around 1400s it became the capital of the empire established by the Akkoyunlu Turkomans. The city was taken over by Safavids in the 15th century.. Being the second longest city walls in the world they span 5 km long and are with 3 storeys and 72 bastions on them. The walls have 4 gates called Dag Kapi (Mountain Gate), Yeni Kapi (New Gate), Mardin Kapi and Urfa Kapi. Visible within the inner castle are the remains of 2 churches, a mosque and a water cistern. The most remarkable works in the city are Ulu Cami, built in the 11th century, ickale Cami (Inner Castle Mosque), a Seljuk work, HOsrev Pasha Cami, Peygamber Cami, Fatih Cami, Seyh Matar Cami, Hasan Pasha Caravanserai, Mesudiye Medrese and Zincirli Medrese. The Bridge of Malabadi with a pointed arch, located upon the Silvan Way dates from the period of the Artukoglu Turkomans. The Qermik Hot Springs and Hotel are near the Dam of Ataturk to the west of the city.