In the center of the city stands the Gaziantep Fortress and the Ravanda citadel as the reminders of past. The Archaeological Museum, with its important collections from neolithic and the Hittite ages as well as the Roman and Commagene times, attracts many visitors. The surroundings of the city are also full of valuable Hittite remains. The Suzer House, which has been restored to its original beauty, now houses the Ethnographical Museum. The Yesemek Sculpture Workshop, 30 kms south of the town of Islahiye, is one of the world's first of this kind. Some of the other historical remains are the Belkis, and Kargamis Ruins by the town of Nizip. 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.
Gaziantep is famous for its three regional specialties. First is the copper-ware products you will not want to pass up. The delicious lahmacun (a kind of pizza) is the second, while the third is the sweet pastry baklava, which Gaziantep makes the best in the world.
City, south-central Turkey. It is situated near the Sacirsuyu, a tributary
of the Euphrates, in limestone hills north of Aleppo, Syria.
The city was strategically situated near ancient trade routes, and recent
excavations have unearthed fragments of pottery indicating settlement
there in the early 4th millennium BC. Known as Hamtap in the Middle Ages,
the city was an important stronghold guarding the Syrian routes and was
captured by Turks in 1183. Thereafter it changed hands among various
Turkmen and Arab dynasties and Mongol and Timurid invaders until its
final absorption into the Ottoman Empire in the early 16th century. Called
Ayintab (Arabic 'Ayntab: "Good Spring") under the Ottomans,
it was occupied by the British in 1919 and by the French until 1921.
By then it had become a centre of Turkish nationalist resistance to European
occupation. Upon its return to Turkey in 1922, Mustafa Kemal (later called
Atatürk), founder of the republic, renamed it in honour of its heroic
stand (Turkish gazi, "champion of Islam"). Well-built, with
stone houses, paved streets, and covered bazaars, Gaziantep is bordered
by gardens, vineyards, and olive and nut groves.
Historical buildings include the ruined fortress built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I (6th century AD) and mosques dating from the 11th and 16th centuries. A medieval theological college houses an archaeological museum that has an outstanding collection of Hittite seals unearthed in the region.
The surrounding area is delimited on the south by Syria and on the east by the Euphrates River. It is noted for its production of wines, halvahs and baklava (sweets), and pekmez (grape preserve); other products include pistachio nuts, aniseed, tobacco, and goatskin rugs. A region settled since antiquity, it includes the ancient sites of Duluk (ancient Doliche; site of the shrine of Jupiter Dolichenus); Kilis (the Assyrian Kilisi); and the neo-Hittite city of Samal (Zincirli Höyük; q.v.). Pop. (1985 prelim.) city, 466,302.
Gaziantep ,the biggest city in the southeast of Turkey and the sixth biggest one in Turkey, is one of the first settlements in Anatolia.
Ruins which belong to the Stone Age, Calcoholitic , Copper age, Hittite, Mitani, Assyrian, Roman and Byzantine, Islam and Turkish - Islamic Period can be traced everywhere in the area .
The region was under the Hittite control in the 1700s BC. The ancient city of Duluk, which is in the north of the city today, was an important religious center of the Hittites. During the period of Caliph Omar as a result of the wars to spread the Islam out of the Arab Peninsula, the Moslem troops who defeated the Byzantine Army at Yermuk in 636 under the command of lyaz Bin Ganern captured the area. As a result the people admitted Islam and Omeriye Mosque was built in this period as a symbol of the conquest. After the .Manzikert victory in 1071, Suleiman Shah conquered Antep and surroundings in 1084 and annexed the area to the Seljuk Empire. On August 20,1516 Yavuz Sultan Selim Khan came to Antep and stayed here for three days. After Mercidabik Victory against Memaluks in 1516 the city came under the reign of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkish Grand National Assembly granted Antep the "GAZi" title on Pebruary 8, 1921 because of this achievement.
Gaziantep, which was called Ayintap, Antep, Kala-i Pusus, and Hantap, got its name from the depth of the history and the title from the Independence War with full of heroism.
Gaziantep, which is a leader in trade and industry in the region, is an important city with its Independence War Memories, the rich historical and cultural surroundings, highways, international airport, train station, delicious foods, extraordinary handicrafts, mosques, fortresses, caravansaries, baths, tombs, churches, castles, plateaus, excursion and picnic places.
The Gazianten district from an historical geographic point of view has a North Syria-Anatolian (Asia Minor) culture somewhere between east-west, situated on military and trade routes as well as being a crossroads, in today's Turkish Geopolitical make-up is still an important factor. For this reason, almost all cultures from the historic ages have influenced the Gaziantep district which has more than 250 mounds, which were first formed in the Neolitic age by the collective gathering of items from settlements reflecting culture and architectural advancement levels with each level belonging to a town, village or settiement. The oldest Anatolian findings attributed to man were some stone tools found in the DQllik Paleolitic cave, dated 600 thousand years ago, in the mid-Paleolitic age cultural life, especially from the Bronze age, Gaziantep and its environs shows signs of being a bustling settlement. This region was active in the Hum, Hitite Empire, Late Hitites, Assyrian, Persian, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Along with the Byzantians and Islamic periods, the Crusades of the Middle Ages brought new geopolitical forces and made Gaeiantep the scene for many historic events. The Gaziantep Museum has had more than 35 working sites for joint efforts and rescue digs, as well as scientific digs with all artifacts now located in the museum. In 1998 the Director of Museums sponsored 11 archeological digs usually with the assistance of the Gaziantep Museum and a total of 64 thousand artifacts were discovered.
The Gaziantep
Director of Museum is responsible for the Archeological Museum, Etnographical
Museum and the lslahiye Yesernek Open Air Museum.
The Director of Museums is also responsible for 693
immovable (parmanent) culture location and 221 archeological site areas.
In 1944 Sabahat Gögus gathered artifacts from here and there to
establish the uaziantep Museum. First housed in the Nuri Mehmet Pasha
Mosque, they were brought to this building in
1969. In a short time the museum needed to be enlarged due to the richness
of the archeological potential of this location. 1976 saw the start of
an additional ha!! and after standig half-completed for a lono time.
it was finished and increased the museum
space greatly. The buiiding today has 5 exhibition halls that remain
humble beside the exhibits presented from f all the afore-mentioned sites.
The Gaziantep Museum while trying to break I out of image as an historical depot and awake visitor sympathy tried to target new exhibitions.
MUSEUM
HALLS
A. Temporary Exhibits and Nostalgic Displays
The long narrow hall at the entrance is usually used for temporary or periodic
exhibits that change regularly. To attract those individuals who like pictures
and chacterizations, a characterization exhibit, entitled
'Archeology' was held.
B. Chonological Hall
In this hall, Anatolian and Gaziantep's antique settlement locations and excavation
centers are displayed on large panel maps for knowledge and there is also
a chronology of Gaziantep's district. The first is of the natural history,
especially the DillUk and Euphrates paleolittc stone tools, the techniques
for their usage, didactic materials continue the display. Various CalcolMc
and Bronze Age stages are displayed. The Iron Age and its shining example
of civilizalion, the Urarians, are the last display. The second section contains,
Acamedian-Persian, Hellenistic and Koffimagene with special Roman age artifacts
placed in the display. The next section displays the decorated cups and various
oil lamps of the Byzanliunti and Islamic periods bring this exhibit to a
close. Also located in this hall is the Belkis-Zeugma Excavation 'Findings
and Childhoods Toys of the Ages' display. There are also the bones of a mammoth
and a stuffed crocodile on display.
C. Bellas-Zeugma Hall
Another long narrow hall displays the findings of the Belkis excavations on-hand
and especially the carved gravestones and reliefs along with mosaic panels.
(The 4th century A.D. graverooms with corridors and terraces with statues
reliefs of the deceased are a special feature of the Zeugma necropolis.)
Also displayed here was iliegally removed from our country in the '1960's
by the United States of America.
Recently arranged according to modem museum standards, one side displays artifacts
from all ages of bronze, there are the superstitous smail statuettes of people
and animals, cult artifacts, figures, stamps and cylindrical signets, decorated
needles, bracelets and tork's with fibula's, ring stones and classic-age hair
signet presses with gold and silver ornamentattons. The other side holds the
coins according to their pressage (minting) and period with notes about each
period and special coins on the panels. The displays on the side contain gold,
silver, and bronze coins from Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantium periods
beside Ottoman ornaments for the visitor to admire.
In the corridor joining this hall with the BeltasZeugma Hall, on two antique wooden buffets is a collection of "Old Gaziantep Children's Toys" restored and donated to our museum by Mrs. Akten Koyluoglu
E. Exhibition Hall
This hall, again a first for our country's museums, displays
a 60 panel panorama of "The founding of a Roman Period City' with
a drawing exhibition area. •Turkish Architectural Works' and 'Archeologic
Cultural Wealth' with 'Plundered Anatolia' were large photographic panels
originalli/ sponsored by the Cultural Ministry and sent for display in
many foreign countries, we have on display their reduced size copies.
The Museum Director's 1997-98 excavations in the dam area of an Old Bronze
Age Necropolis uncovered 312 gravesites and many remains and artifacts
were taken More than 34 thousand signet presses which were uncovered
at the Belkis-Zeugma excavations, now a panels display documents and
information on local treasures illegally taken out of the country and
current
F. Museum Garden
In the front garden are funeral banguet reliefs and markers of the Hitite and
Late Hitite periods. The -side garden is mostly occupied by finds from the
Roman period at Belkis-Zeugma with men represented as eagles and women by wool
basket motifs on the grave displayed in the garden. New large rock and stone
artifacts and mosaic panels will be displayed in the new building upon completion
due to lack of current space.
Gaziantep Highlands
Islahiye Hizir Highland (Huzur Highland)
Transportation:
In order to get there, you need to turn south on the Islahiye -Hatay
highway at the Nurdagi junction, which is located on the Gaziantep-Adana
highway. And then turn west when you come to the town of Altmüzüm
and then take the road leading to the villages of Kerküt - Hasanlök
- Tandir and the ruins at Cincikli (an old monastery). After passing
through the vineyards and gardens of Tandir Village, you will continue
following this steep winding gravel road lined with pines and small
shrubs until you reach the Huzur Highlands (20 km.)
Description: The pass at Burunsuz is surrounded by Tahtali, Hamo and Havsu peaks, at the foot of which lies the broad mountain plateau. The Huzur highland is made up of a number of spring-fed mountain meadows surrounded with pine, cedar, fir, sycamore, alder and different varieties of juniper trees.
People from the nearby villages, who come to take care of their apple, pear, cherry and sour cherry trees as well as to grow strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers during the summer months bring life and vitality to the highlands as they make use of their small garden plots and raise their cattle. The small creeks and springs fed by the melting snows and ice-cold underground rivers and the mountain meadows covered with snowdrops, narcissus, mullein, daisy, wild cyclamen, tulips and other flowers make this a highland well-worth seeing.
Accommodations - Food and Drink: The local people take advantage of their simple highland houses by offering them to visitors. Those who would like to camp must bring their own tent and other basic supplies.
Little Sof Highland (Gerdek Springs )
Transportation:
Take the Gaziantep-Adana highway out 21 kilometers and turn off at
the road
to Dimisikli Village. Take this gravel road for
another 10 kilometers and then take the turn off for the Little Sof Highland
(Küçük Sof Highland), which is another 2.5 km.
Description: The north and northeast section of this otherwise completely rocky
untillable highland are farm fields.
Accommodations - Food and Drink: There are no facilities there. Visitors will have to come with their own vehicle and bring any basic supplies with them.
Sof Highland
Transportation: In order to get there yo need to turn left at the village of Dimisikli and go another further 3 km. to the village of Sof Alici. Take the gravel road north to the highland (2 km.)
Description: The highland, with an elevation of 1400 m. is surrounded with rocky hills and resembles a large a earthenware bowl. The level areas of this mountain plateau are used for fruit orchards. Because they are so rocky, about the only vegetation the hills can support are a few scrub trees. The water which comes out of the southeastern slopes disappears underground in the foothills to the northwest. The cucumbers, apples, grapes and other farm products grown in the clean healthy air of these highlands do not begin to ripen until the end of summer because of the high elevation and for this reason are extremely delicious.
Accommodations
- Food and Drink: People who come from Gaziantep and
the surrounding villages stay in the simple highland houses. Visitors
will have to come with their own vehicle and bring any basic supplies
with them.