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Gaziantep Gaziantep, also called Ayintap,
Antep, Kala-i Pusus, and Hantap. Gaziantep gained
it's name in Turkey's War of Independence in 1922
when Antep was awarded the title Gazi or warrior
of the faith. Gazi Antep is now called Gaziantep.
Gaziantep has a long and tumultuos history. An
ancient city as we can see from the Hittite
sculpture it was a provincial capitol under the
Ottoman Empire. In the Ottomen days sit was Arab
and Armenian with many kurds in the surounding
country side. The Sultan would usually appoint a
Syriac Govenor. Later with the fall of the Empire
population shifted in the region and the area
became heavily Turkish. I was struch by what one
of our readers wrote about Gaziantep
Chris Belcher
wrote:
My grandfather, who was Armenian, left
Gaziantep (then Aintab) in 1918 to save his
family's lives. Yes, Gaziantep is currently
Turkish, but historically it is part of Cilicia
or Western Armenia, before the arrival of the
Turks.. "National Identity" is
sometimes more complex than current political
boundaries, especially in Turkey.
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- Circa 1700s BC Antep was the ancient city of
Duluk a major center of the Hittite Empire. The
center of Duluk is jst north of presentday
Gaziantep.
- Uner Caliph Omar, lyaz Bin Ganern captured
Gaziantep and the area accepted Islam. The
Omeriye Mosque dates back to this era and was
named after the Caliph Omar.
- Suleiman Shah conquored Gaziantep in 1084 and the
city became part of the Sejuk Empire.
- On August 20,1516 Sultan Selim the Grim captired
Antep for the Ottoman Empire.
- The Turkish Grand National Assembly granted Antep
the "Gazi" title on February 8, 1921
because of the valor shown first during the
British occupation, the French Occupation, and
then the war of Independence.
- Gaziantep
TU Weather Forecast
Gaziantep Turkey
In Pictures
Kurtulus Mosque - Gaziantep Turkey
In Pictures
The Kurtulus Mosque takes it name from "Kurtulus
Günü" (Day of Liberation) when Atatürk's armies
drove out the invading Greek army during Turkey's War of
Independence in 1922. Ir was at this time that Antep
became Gaziantep.
Hittite Sculpture Center - Yesemek,
Gaziantep Turkey
In Pictures
For Further Reading: Guide to Rugs & Books
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
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