Diyarbakır
Ancient city on the Tigris, Kurdish cultural and political center.
Diyarbakır is the largest Kurdish-majority city in Turkey and the administrative center of Diyarbakır Province. It is considered one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, with continuous habitation since c. 8,000 BCE. Situated on a high plateau by the banks of the Tigris River, it is home to the historic Diyarbakır Fortress and is the second-largest city in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. As of December 2024, the metropolitan province population was 1,833,684.
- location
- Southeastern Turkey, on the Tigris River
- population_2024
- 1,833,684 (metropolitan province); 1,164,940 (built-up area)
- ancient_name
- Amida (also Āmid, Amit, Tigranakert, Amed, Āmīd)
- current_name_origin
- Renamed Diyarbakır in 1937 by President Atatürk, meaning 'land of copper' in Turkish
- known_for
- Largest Kurdish-majority city; informal capital of Kurdistan; ancient fortress; site of the 2023 earthquake damage
Lore & Background
Diyarbakır has been inhabited since the Stone Age, with the first major civilization being the Hurrian kingdom of the Mitanni. It was subsequently ruled by Arameans, Assyrians, Urartu, Armenians, Achaemenid Persians, Medes, Seleucids, and Parthians. The Roman Republic gained control in 66 BC. The city was besieged by Shapur II of Persia in 359 and later by Kavad I in 502–503. The Roman emperor Justinian the Great rebuilt its walls, praised by Procopius. In 639, it fell to the Rashidun Caliphate during the Muslim conquests. From 983 to 1085, the Marwanid dynasty, a Kurdish dynasty, ruled the region, with its apogee under Nasr al-Dawla Ahmad (1011–1061), a period of peace and cultural flourishing. The city was taken by the Seljuks in 1085 and by the Ayyubids in 1183.
Reader's Guide
Diyarbakır holds profound historical and political significance. As the largest Kurdish-majority city in Turkey, it is seen by many Kurds as the informal capital of Kurdistan. The 1920 Treaty of Sèvres intended it as the capital of an independent Kurdistan, but this was disregarded. The city has been a focal point of conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish separatist groups. Its name was changed in 1937 from Diyarbekir to Diyarbakır as part of the Turkification of non-Turkish place names. The city's ancient walls, built of black basalt, were damaged in the February 2023 twin Turkey–Syria earthquakes. Diyarbakır's long history as a center for Syriac Christianity, including its role as a metropolitan see, and its Armenian heritage (as Tigranakert) add layers to its cultural legacy. The Marwanid period exemplified pluralistic governance, attracting diverse ethnic and religious groups.
Did You Know?
- Diyarbakır has been continually inhabited since c. 8,000 BCE, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
- The city was intended to become the capital of an independent Kurdistan following the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres.
- Its name was changed to Diyarbakır in 1937 by President Atatürk, meaning 'land of copper' in Turkish, as part of the Turkification of place names.
- The Marwanid dynasty, a Kurdish dynasty, ruled the city from 983 to 1085, with a period of peace and cultural flourishing under Nasr al-Dawla Ahmad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Diyarbakır?
Diyarbakır is an ancient city in southeastern Turkey built along the Tigris River and serving as the administrative capital of its province. It is the largest Kurdish-majority city in the country and the second-largest settlement in the Southeastern Anatolia Region.
How old is Diyarbakır?
The city has seen continuous habitation since roughly 8,000 BCE, placing it among the oldest unbroken settlements on Earth. It was historically known as Amida and received its current Turkish name, meaning 'land of copper,' in 1937.
Why is Diyarbakır a World Heritage Site?
UNESCO recognized Diyarbakır for its extraordinary layered history, including its massive medieval fortress and a dense historic old quarter that reflects thousands of years of overlapping civilizations. The site embodies an unbroken thread of human occupation stretching back nearly ten millennia.
What is Diyarbakır known for?
The city is best recognized for its towering ancient fortress, its role as a major Kurdish cultural and political center, and its status as one of the world's oldest continually occupied cities. Locals and visitors alike often refer to it informally as the capital of Kurdistan.
What happened to Diyarbakır in the 2023 earthquake?
The February 2023 earthquake struck the region and inflicted significant damage on historic structures within the old city. Ongoing restoration work has focused on stabilizing the fortress walls and repairing the densely built heritage quarter.
More in World Heritage Sites in Turkey 1-24
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