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Unknown
Facts About Turkey |
The only city in the
world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has
been the capital of three great empires, Roman,
Byzantine and Ottoman for more than 2000 years.
The number of
archaeological excavations going on in Turkey every year
is at least 150.
The oldest known human
settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7500 BC).
Temple of Artemis and
the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the two of the seven
wonders of the ancient world, are in Turkey.
Abraham was born in
Sanliurfa in Southeastern Turkey.
Anatolia is the
birthplace of historic legends, such as Omar (the poet),
King Midas, Herodotus (the father of history) and St.
Paul the Apostle.
Julius Ceasar
proclaimed his celebrated words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici" (I
came, I saw, I conquered) in Turkey when he defeated the
Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of
Turkey.
Turks introduced coffee
to Europe.
Turks gave the Dutch
their famous tulips.
St. Nicholas, who
became popular as Father Christmas, was born in Demre on
Turkey's Mediterranean Coast.
According to legend,
Noah's Ark landed on Agri Dagi (Mount Ararat) in Eastern
Turkey.
The last meal on Noah's
Ark, a pudding with nearly 20 ingredients, is still
served throughout Turkey.
The last home of Virgin
Mary is in Selcuk.
St. John, St. Nicholas,
St. Paul and St. Peter have all lived and prayed in
Southern Anatolia.
Part of Turkey's
southwestern shore was a wedding gift that Mark Anthony
gave to Cleopatra.
Homer was born in Izmir
on the west coast of Turkey and he depicted Troy in his
Epic the Iliad.
Aesop, famous for his
fables and parables, was born in Anatolia.
Leonardo da Vinci drew
designs for a bridge over the Bosphorus, the strait that
flows through Europe and Asia. It was never built.
Alexander the Great
conquered a large territory in what is now Turkey and
cut the Gordion Knot in the Phrygian capital (Gordium)
not far from Turkey's present-day capital (Ankara).
Istanbul's Robert
College (established in 1863), is the oldest American
school outside the United States.
Early Christians
escaping Roman persecution nearly 2000 years ago
sheltered in Cappadocia in Central Anatolia.
The Amazons originated
in Turkey's northeastern region.
The Famous Trojan Wars
took place in western Turkey, around the site where a
wooden statue of the Trojan Horse rests today.
According to Turkish
tradition a stranger at one's doorstep is considered "A
Guest from God" and should be accommodated accordingly.
The first church built
by man (St. Peter's Church) is in Antioch (Antakya).
The first Ecumenical
Council was held in Iznik.
Suleyman the
Magnificent (the famous Ottoman Sultan) was a poet who
wrote over 3000 poems, some of them criticizing the
greed of mankind.
Turkey is a long-time
member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)
since 1952.
Turkey provides 70% of
the world's hazelnuts; the nut in your chocolate bar was
most probably grown in Turkey.
Istanbul has a 540-year-old
covered shopping mall of 64 streets, 4000 shops, 22
entrances and 25,000 workers, -the famous Grand Bazaar.
The most valuable silk
carpet in the world, is in the Mevlana Museum, Konya
with 144 knots per square centimeter. In the 13th
century, Marco Polo wrote "the best and handsomest of
rugs are woven here, and also silks of crimson and other
rich colors".
Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi
was the first man who flew a significant distance using
wings across the Bosphorus.
Anatolia is the
location of the first known beauty contest, judged by
Paris, with Aphrodite, Hera and Athena as leading
participants.
Anatolia was producing
wine as early as 4000BC.
Turkey receives
children from around the world each year on 23rd April
to "honor and cherish the freedom and independence of
all people".
Anatolia is the
location of Seven Churches of Asia.
Anatolia is the origin
of the names of Paris, Philadelphia and Europe. |
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