Gaziantep / Zeugma

From the settlement of Dolike/Dijliik located in the area it appears that the history of the area dates back to the prehistoric times. The prehistoric finds recovered in Gedikli Tumulus and Tumen Tumulus in Islahiye and the Outdoor Statuary Workshop in Yesemek are among the prominent works of art. The Acropolis Castle, built in circa 3000s on both banks of the River Euphrates/Firat in the district of Nizip, later gained importance during the Assyrian era because of its location on the trade route. It became the political and commercial centre of the Northern Mesopotamia. It was expanded as a result of the settlements of Galatians, Phrygians and Commagenians in the 7th century B.C. In the 3rd century B.C. Seleucos Nicator, of the Macedonian generals, founded Zeugma on the banks of the Euphrates in his and his wife's names. It fell under the Roman sovereignty in the 1st century B.C. and the slope of the acropolis was adorned with various temples and villas. A temple was built in honour of Fortuna, goddess of trade and luck, on the acropolis to commemorate the trade thriving off. It was razed to the ground and abandoned as a result of the Sassanid assaults in 252 -A.D. and Arab invasions in the 7th century. In the 12th century the village of Belkis was founded by the Turkomans who came to the area. The GAP Irrigation and Power Project is the largest project in the world, aimed at reclaiming the northern Mesopotamia which has become barren. In the ancient city of Zeugma which will be submerged in the water of the Birecik Dam built for this purpose the rescue excavations started in 1987 under the leadership of the Gaziantep Museum Directorate backed by an international cooperation. 24 instants of mosaic, 93 wall pictures, statues and seals made of clay earth, called bulla, of numerous numbers as the foremost cultural values have been recovered. These objects are on display in the Gaziantep Museum.