Technology is rapidly evolving in the present day; even the concept of tape reminiscent of ancient times is unknown to today’s youth. For this reason, we need to explain what a long play record is to today’s youngsters who do not even know the tape in order to tell where the name of Unkapanı Plakçılar Çarşısı (Unkapanı Bazaar of Music …
Modern art was born by an urge to show the painter’s depth of imagination and firstborn of that philosophy. The trend was later integrated beyond paintings to other social spaces, with the aim of destroying traditional artistic confines. Historical, political, and social events play a major role in the formation of modern art, where the painter actually expresses his feelings …
Mehterân (in Ottoman Turkish) is the first and only band in the world that ever motivated the army with music. A look at history shows us that the band, which consisted of percussion and woodwind instruments, was called “Tuğ” in the Huns period and later that changed to “Mehter” after Fatih. The band existed to announce the voice to the …
Safranbolu is a typical and preserved Ottoman town in the northwestern part of Turkey. With its cobbled streets, narrow passes and centuries-old houses, the town is a popular destination for tourists in Karabük. It had been on the trade route between Black Sea and big cities like Constantinople in 17th. Century. Accumulating enough wealth, local traders built beautiful mansions, not …
Located in the Eastern Anatolia Region of our country, Muş is a very historic city. The Urartians were the first to establish civilization in the history of Muş back in the 2000s BC. Later, Assyrians, Scythians, Medes, Persians, and Macedonians acquired Muş. The city, which was pursued by the Romans for a period of time, later became one of the …
Gümüşhane acts as a bridge with East, South, and Central Anatolia. The city, located on the Silk Road, was named as land (hane) of silver (gümüş) at the time of the Romans, and its name remained as Gümüşhane. The Assyrians, Persians, Medes, Urartu, Macedonians, Pontus, and Romans ruled in these lands. It also served as an important city during the …
The word “Dalyan” traditionally refers to a large fishing weir built near coastal areas, lakes, and rivers. This tranquil town in the Ortaca district of Muğla takes its name from such traditional fishing structures found along the Dalyan River. In fact, the river itself likely inherited the name from these local practices. While fishing was once the region’s primary livelihood, …
“…There are many notable citizens and cavalrymen… The city has 17 neighborhoods. Its houses are connected, with gardens, and prosperous… Surrounded by roses, flower gardens, orchards, and fields, it is a city with abundant grains…” This observation comes from the famous traveler Evliya Çelebi in the 16th century. While Odunpazarı today looks very different from the thriving settlement described back …
In Bergama, there lies an ancient city where the most advanced medical techniques of its time were practiced, healing both body and mind: Asklepion. Located in the Bergama district of İzmir, this center is known as one of the most important health and healing temples of the Ancient Era. Dedicated to Asklepios, the god of medicine in Ancient Greece, Asklepion …
Few works in Turkish cultural history blur the boundary between scholarship and personal obsession as vividly as Reşad Ekrem Koçu’s İstanbul Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia of Istanbul). Begun in 1944 and left unfinished three decades later, the encyclopedia was envisioned as a definitive record of the city but grew into something far more eccentric: a mosaic of forgotten trades, neighborhood stories, eccentric …