The Ankara Atakule Tower looks out over the capitol of the Turkish Republic.
This area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age: first the Hattis, and then the Hittites. After them the Phrygians, Lydians, and Persians came into power. Then the Galatians, after which it fell to the Romans, then the Byzantines, and then the Seljuks. After that, the Ottomans came in and controlled the area until the first World War. That's a lot of civilizations coming and going!
Kugulu ParkIt's a well-planned city, with parks and greenspace. The area enjoys hot and dry summers and cold, snowy winters.
Segmenler ParkAnkara was a major stop for caravans traveling the trade routes. The word Ankara comes from the ancient Greek word for Anchor. This modern city has proved to have the holding power of an anchor.
Kocatepe Mosque
So it sounds like Ankara was basically an ancient rest area for weary travelers - but it looks like a really really nice rest stop (travel plaza for easterners). Now if the Phrygians and Lydians occupied this place, where did the Dorians, Mixolydians and Locrians live? Also, it's no wonder that the Ottoman Empire came to an end because all of the inhabitants were always just sitting around with their feet up. (Wow! A bad music joke and a bad furniture joke! I guess you can tell it is late.) But seriously, it looks like it has a very unique and interesting flavor; the kind of place where Woody Wilkins (aka Condorman) could engage in a little cloak and dagger.
ReplyDeleteMust be late indeed - Woody's escapade was in Istanbul, not Ankara. Istanbul has a more eastern feel to it, but Ankara has been heavily influenced by the west, so it has a more European flair and feel. There are eastern elements obviously (the mosque being an obvious example), but the park and greenspace layout and much of the modern architecture is very western.
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