Mesopotamia: Gaziantep, Göbekli Tepe and Mardin

Aintab and Gazi TitleThe city was formerly Aintab, and is still called Antep today. It came under Ottoman rule in 1516. For its resistance during the 1920/21 French siege, parliament granted the honorary title Gazi in 1921.Castle & Old TownThe city center castle, originally a Roman watchtower, gained its current form in the 6th century under Emperor Justinian. It suffered severe damage in the February 2023 earthquakes. Restoration is now complete. It's best to check visitor accessibility before your visit.Earthquake 2023In Gaziantep, around 900 buildings collapsed, and over 10,000 were severely damaged. The Şirvani and Kurtuluş Mosques and the Zincirli Bedesten have also been restored and reopened.

The Taş TepelerAround Şanlıurfa lie the Stone Age mounds. Göbekli Tepe was used from around 9500 BC and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2018. The related Karahan Tepe is located about 46 km east of the city.Edessa and the Legend of AbrahamIn antiquity, the city was called Edessa. On the castle hill stand two approximately 15 to 17 m high columns with Corinthian capitals, which were erected under King Ma'nu IX. around 240 to 242 AD. According to Islamic tradition, Abraham was born here, and the pools of Balıklıgöl commemorate him.HarranAbout 40 to 47 km southeast lies Harran with its mud-brick beehive houses. Domed structures there already display Assyrian reliefs from the 7th century BC, though today's houses mostly date from the early 20th century.

The Kingdom of CommageneAround 62 BC, Antiochos I had a 49 m high and 152 m wide tumulus erected on the summit. His father, Mithridates I Kallinikos, was revered in Arsameia.Gods from East and WestThe 8 to 9 m high statues combine Greek and Iranian gods, flanked by lions and eagles. The heads were separated and today lie scattered on the terraces. The complex includes eastern and western terraces.Around the MountainThe Roman Cendere Bridge honours Emperor Septimius Severus; three of its originally four Corinthian columns still stand. The Karakuş tumulus is dedicated to the royal women of Commagene.

Artuqids and AkkoyunluThe old town's grand buildings date back to the Middle Ages. The Great Mosque was built in 1176 under the Artuqids, the Zinciriye Madrasah in 1385. In the 15th century, the Kasımiye Madrasah, named after the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım, was completed.Syriac Orthodox HeritageThe city is primarily inhabited by Kurds and Arabs, along with Syriac Orthodox Christians. The Deyrulzafaran Monastery, dating from the 5th century, served as the seat of the Patriarch for centuries. Approximately 20 km southeast of Midyat lies Mor Gabriel, founded in 397 by Mor Shmuel and Mor Shemun, and one of the oldest still-operating Syriac Orthodox monasteries.BazaarsIn the old town, historical bazaars are still in operation, such as the Kayseriye Bazaar, the Coppersmiths' Bazaar, and the Jewellery Bazaar.