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Information about Gaziantep,
Turkey
Gaziantep is a city in the South-Eastern Anatolian
Region of Turkey. There are flights to Gaziantep, or
one may go by car or long distance coach. Gaziantep is
situated about 1067 m above sea level, in a wide and
treeless valley near the Syrian border. The
temperatures during the spring, summer and fall can
get very hot, and most museums are closed during the
hottest part of the day and on Mondays.
The Hittites probably founded Gaziantep before 1000
BC. The old city before Gaziantep was known as Aintap
and is located 12 km to the north of the present city,
on the upper slopes of Nizip Hill. The area was
continuously inhabited starting in the Paleolithic age
and witnessed the domination of such powers as the
Assyrians, Persians, Romans, the Byzantines, Abbasid
and the Seljuk Turks. Early in the 12th century, the
city was captured by Turks and ruled by various
occupying powers including Turkmen dynasties, Arabs,
and Mongols. Aintab became part of the Ottoman Empire
in the early 16th century. From 1920 to 1921, it
became a center of Turkish resistance against French
occupation. The occupying forces withdrew in 1921, and
the city was renamed Gaziantep, which includes the
Turkish word meaning "champion of Islam.
Historical buildings in the area include the ruins of
a Byzantine fortress. A mound located northwest of
Gaziantep marks the center of worship of a Baal
(Semitic deity) that was called Zeus Dolichenus by the
Greeks. The original builders of Gaziantep Fortress
are not known. The fortress was restored by the
Byzantines in the 6th century and later saw again in
1481 and in 1557 during the time of the Ottoman Sultan
Suleyman the Magnificent. The fortress has
watchtowers, mosques and small palaces. There are 36
circular watchtowers in the walls in the fortress.
Mehmet Gazali Tomb, a mosque and a bath exist in the
fortress. It is believed there are galleries and paths
leading to the river under the fortress. The fortress
was an important rampart in resistance against the
French during the War of Liberation in 1921.
Hasan Suzer Ethnography Museum building in Hanifioglu
Street was restored and transferred to the Ministry of
Culture by a businessman named Hasan Suzer. The museum
simulates the old style of life in Gaziantep by
decorating its rooms with traditional furniture and by
using mannequins dressed in the costumes of this time.
The museum also includes various weapons; documents
and instruments used in the defense of the city as
well as the photographs of local resistance heroes. If
you continue through the narrow streets in this area,
you will see some wonderful examples of doors and
portals to the old stone houses and their gardens, and
there are teahouses that offer shady gardens or cool
rooms inside of these old stone houses during the heat
of the day.
Built in conformity with the climate of the area, the
houses of Gaziantep are adjacent to each other along
the narrow streets of the old city and the historical
houses of Gaziantep are mostly found in the central
town and the Sahinbey area. There are some fine
examples of a rich cultural heritage. They have
traditional architectural features peculiar to
Southeastern Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Syria. The
finest examples of the old city fabric can be seen in
the area around Hidir and Harap Mescit streets.
Yesemek Open Air Museum is near the Islahiye District,
in the village known by the same name. It is the
largest open-air sculpture workshop in the Near East,
reflecting all stages from the extraction of stones
from the quarry to preliminary carving and final work.
Investigations in the area reveal that the site was
functional around 1375-1335 BC when the area was taken
by the Hittites and the Hittite King Suppiliuma
started to employ Hurrians, the native people of the
area, in quarries. Excavations unearthed a rich
collection consisting of sphinx and sculptures of
lions, mountain gods and various architectural pieces.
In the past, reliefs prepared here were sent to such
centers as Islahiye, Zincirli and Sakcagozu for final
works and completion. The Yesemek Tumulus is located 2
km to the west of the village. It is believed that it
was a settlement inhabited by masters working here
during the late Bronze Age and the time of the Romans.
Rumkale settlement is located at the point where
Merziman brook joins the Euphrates (Firat) River. It
is estimated that the settlement dates back to 840 BC
and was built by the Hittites. Rumkale later continued
under the domination of the Assyrians, Medes,
Persians, Romans and the Arabs. It is said that
Johannes, one of the 12 Apostles, tried to spread
Christianity in the region by using this settlement as
a base. Rumkale is the largest of all fortresses in
the area and it has many other remains dating back to
various periods in history.
The Karkamis district of Gaziantep used to be an
important center of the east in antiquity (then known
as Cerablus). The town is located on the Syrian
border, the citadel and the inner town on the west
side remaining in Turkey, and the outer fortress and
town remaining in Syria. Karkamis is where the Legend
of Gilgamesh took place. Many valuable pieces of art
originating from this town are exhibited in museums
around the world. At present, one may be able to
observe the remains of ancient city walls, the temple
and Hilani style houses (special permission may be
needed). The temples of Hittite gods Tesup and Hilani
maintain their striking features.
The remains of the old city of Belkis (Zeugma) are
located in Kavunlu village 10 km away from the Nizip
district. These remains appear as a tumulus type, high
acropolis' dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman and
Byzantine times. The old city is among those, which
issued their own coinage. Recent excavations revealed
a room, which is believed to be a part of an old Roman
house as well as a mosaic of Dionysus. Sculptures
obtained from these ruins are exhibited at the Belkis/Zeugma
part of Gaziantep Museum.
Dulluk, which is close to the city center, is ideal
for those who would like to rest in a natural setting
amidst forest and has camping facilities.
Because of its location, Gaziantep bears the influence
of many civilizations, being on a crossroad between
east and the west or between the Eastern Mediterranean
and the plains of Mesopotamia. Gaziantep is famous for
its regional arts such as copper-ware and boxes inlaid
with mother of pearl, traditional shoe making, cloth
making, stone working, antique weapons, gold and
silver works are the leading traditional handicrafts
in Gaziantep.
The principal products of Gaziantep are the colorful
striped silk and cotton dress material, tent cloth
made from black goat's hair, morocco leather, soap
processed from olive oil, and a sweet confectionery
paste made from grapes. The dyeing of yarn is also
important. Pistachio nuts, cereal grains, tobacco, and
raw cotton are transported from the surrounding
agricultural region to the city for export.
There are two bazaars, which survive to our day and
are still used. One of them, Zincirli Bazaar, was
built in the 18th century. The bazaar is locally known
as "black steps bazaar" and has 80 shops and five
gates. The other bazaar, Kemikli, dates back to the
19th century. It is a cut stone and rectangular
structure with two gates. There are also many "hans"
or inns that are the symbols of the past economic and
commercial richness of Gaziantep. They are still
functional today as trade centers. These include Sira
Hani, Kumrulu Han, Yeni Han, Kurkcu Hani, Anadolu Hani,
Incioglu Hani, Tuz Hani and Haci Omer Hani.
The cuisine of Gaziantep is famous and the delicious
lahmacun (a kind of pizza in Turkish Cuisine) and
sweet pastry baklava simply must be tried. The
Gaziantep kitchen has a special influence on Turkish
cuisine with its immensely rich flavor. In addition to
dishes, which date back to the Oguz Turks, there is
the influence of Aleppo. Its rich soups, rice meals,
kebabs, meatballs, etc. are among the favorites. Local
desserts include baklava, kunefe, burmali kadayif,
sari burma, mashed pistachio and milk fat. The most
famous restaurant in Gaziantep
is called "Cagdas" and is located not far from the
famous copper bazaar.
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