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The province of
Gaziantep is one of the oldest culture centers of Southeastern Anatolian
Region. The history of the city extends to 4000 B.C years and most of
the civilizations were founded on the surrounding lands. The city is
located between Mesopotamia and Mediterranean and is at the intersection
point of the roads connecting east to south and north to west and is
also located on the historic Silk Road. The province of Gaziantep hosts
findings, creations and structures of Paleolithic, Neolithic and
Calceolithic Ages, Bronze Age, Hittite, Median, Asurian, Persian,
Alexander the Great, Selefkos, Roman, Byzantine, Abbasi and Seljuk
civilizations periods. Beside its cultural riches, Gaziantep is a
tourism paradise with its natural beauties, geography, rich variety of
food and shopping possibilities.
Belkıs / Zeugma
Belkıs / Zeugma
ancient city was founded by the general of Alexander the Great Seleukos
Nikator in 3rd century B.C at the banks of the Kızılırmak River, 10 km
east of Nizip district of Gaziantep, over an approximate area of 20
thousand acres.
The first name of the ancient city was Seleukeia
Euphrates. The ancient city had entered under the reign of Roman Empire
in 64 B.C and it was renamed as "Zeugma", which means "passage way" or "bridge".
The ancient city of Belkıs / Zeugma was an important Legion city in the
Roman and Byzantine Periods and was one of the most important four
cities of Commagene civilization.
At the skirts
of the ancient city facing the Fırat River the mansions of the wealthy
citizens was constructed and the floors of these houses were covered
with numerous mosaics with high art value. Numerous rock tombs are
located in the Necropolis and lots of tomb steles, statues and human
skeletons were discovered.
Dülük
This ancient
city was located 10 km south of Gaziantep city center. The ancient city
was located on the historical Silk Road. At the Şarklı Cave located in
the borders of this ancient city, tools made of stone were discovered
proving the settlement of the mankind in the region at 6000 B.C. The
ancient city is known as Doliche in the history and was the religious
center of Teşup, the master deity of Hittite civilization. Numerous rock
tombs and churches carved into rocks are available for visit at Dülük
village.
Rumkale
Rumkale (Hromgla)
Castle is located on a dominant hill covered with high and steep rocks
at the western shores of Fırat River, where Fırat river joins with
Merziman Creek at the Kasaba village of Yavuzeli District of Gazinatep
province. It is estimated that the Johannes, Apostle of Jesus Christ
live in the vicinity of Rumkale and try to spread Christianity in the
Roman period at this locality and also it is estimated that Johannes
hide his drafts of Holy Bible in a room carved in the rocks and later
this Bible of Johannes was taken to Beirut. The tomb of Johannes is
located in the castle and therefore the castle is a sacred place for
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