ANKARA
Area: 30.715 km²
 The
history of Ankara and its surroundings stretches back to the
Hatti civilisation of the Bronze Age. Two thousand years before
the time of Jesus, the Hittites become the dominant power of the
region, and were then followed by the Phyrgians, Lydians and
Persians. In the 3rd Century BC, a Celtic race known as the
Galatians made Ankara their capital city. The name Ankara comes
from the word 'Ancyra', which means 'anchor.'
Ankara gained prominence under the leadership of Ataturk during
the national resistence which followed World War I. It was
declared the capital of the new Turkish Republic on October 13th
1923 when the National War of Independence freed Turkey from
foreign occupation.
Occupying one of the most prominent parts of the city is
Anitkabir, the magnificent mausoleum constructed to commemorate
Atatürk. This structure, which was completed in 1953, is a
synthesis of antique and modern architectural themes, and proves
the elegance and strength of Turkish architecture.
The oldest parts of the city surround the Castle. The Alaaddin
Mosque found inside its walls is still one of the best examples
of Selcuk art and wood craftsmanship, in spite of the fact that
it was restored by the Ottomans. The area has experienced a
rejuvenation with the restoration of many interesting old
Turkish houses, and the opening a several art galleries and fine
restaurants which feature examples of traditional Turkish
cuisine. Near the gate of the castle is the Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations, which is a beautifully restored portion of the
old bazaar. It contains priceless artifacts belonging to the
Paleolithic and Neolithic eras as well as the Hatti, Hittite,
Phrygian, Urartu and Roman civilizations.
Ankara has a vibrant cultural and artistic life with many select
ballet, theatre, opera and folk dance performances. The city's
Philharmonic Orchestra, which always plays to a packed house, is
especially famous.
MUSEUMS
 Anitkabir
The mausoleum of the Republic's founder and leader, Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, Anitkabir was built on the hill of Rasattepe and
has an impressive entrance. It was designed by architects Prof.
Emin Onat and Doc. Orahn Arda, and completed in 1953. Ataturk
was removed from the temporary burial site at the Ethnographic
Museum and brought here with great ceremony the same year.
Within the Anitkabir complex are the Tower of Independence, the
Tower of Liberty, The Road of Lions, Mudafaa-i Hukuk Tower, the
Soldier's Tower, the Tower of Victory, the Tower of Peace, the
April 23 Tower, the Misak-i Milli Tower, the Reform Tower and
the Victory Reliefs. The hallowed Mausoleum hall itself is a
colonnaded temple with huge bronze doors but little in the way
of decoration. Opposite is the tomb of Ismet Inonu, the first
prime minister of the Turkish republic and president after
Ataturk's death.
The Anitkabir museum is located between the Tower of the
National Pact and the Tower of the Revolution. A number of
Ataturk's personal belongings are exhibited, including clothes
that he wore, and gifts presented to him by visiting foreign
dignitaries.
Anatolian Civilisations Museum
Located on the south side of Ankara Castle in the Atpazari area,
the Museum consists of the old Ottoman Mahmut Pasa bazaar
storage building, and the Kursunlu Han. Because of Ataturk's
desire to establish a Hittite museum, the buildings were bought
upon the suggestion of Hamit Zubeyir Kosay, who was then Culture
Minister, to the National Education Minister, Saffet Arikan.
After the remodelling and repairs were completed (1938 -1968),
the building was opened to the public as the Ankara
Archaeological Museum.
Today Kursunlu Han, used as an administrative building, houses
the work rooms, library, conference hall, laboratory and
workshop. The old bazaar building houses the exhibits. Within
this Ottoman building, the museum has a number of exhibits of
Anatolian archeology. They start with the Paleolithic era, and
continue chronologically through the Neolithic, Early Bronze,
Assyrian Trading Colonies, Hittite, Phrygian and Urartu periods.
There is also an extensive collection of artifacts from the
excavations at Karain, Catalhoyuk, Hacilar, Canhasan, Beyce
Sultan, Alacahoyuk, Alacahoyuk, Kultepe, Acemhoyuk, Bogazkoy
Gordion, Pazarli, Altintepe, Adilcevaz and Patnos as well as
examples of several periods.
The exhibits of gold, silver, glass, marble and bronze works
date back as far as the second half of the first millennium BC.
The coin collections, with examples ranging from the first
minted money to modern times, represent the museum's rare
cultural treasures. |
