Rising 2,150 meters above sea level in the Kahta district of Adıyaman, Turkey, Mount Nemrut may not be the tallest peak in the region—but it stands among the most significant archaeological and cultural landmarks in the world. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987, Mount Nemrut is home to colossal sculptures and stone terraces that date back to …
When you visit Anatolia—especially rural villages—you’re bound to be offered a warm bowl of tarhana soup. Known for its nutritional value, long shelf life, and deep cultural roots, tarhana has been a cornerstone of Anatolian cuisine for centuries. Today, it’s also embraced as part of the organic and natural food movement. In this article, we explore tarhana’s origin story, its …
Birth, marriage, and death, which constitute the three main stages of human life, are marked by different events, rituals, and traditions in all cultures and eras. For the Turks, with a history spanning thousands of years, death has been accompanied by various emotions and traditions. Among these, tombstones serve as crucial documents that also reveal the spiritual identities of Turkish …
Known as the memory of the World, Anatolia enlightens the present day with a history that spans thousands of years. Shaped by the Anatolian people, the art and culture is quite colorful. The Local Handcrafts in Anatolia live in workshops, cultural centers, fine art academies and non-governmental organizations. Some of the arts maintain their life and commercial activities through serial …
One of the prominent figures in archaeological collaboration between Turkey and Japan, Japanese archaeologist Sachihiro Omura, passed away last month in Kırşehir. Living in Turkey since 1972 and serving as the excavation director at Kalehöyük since 1985, Omura passed away at Kaman State Hospital, where he had been admitted due to illness. According to some sources, Omura was born in …
Hatay, a region often described as a cultural mosaic, has been home to many civilizations and diverse cultures over millennia. Known for its tolerance, multicultural fabric, and religious harmony, Hatay continues to captivate history lovers and travelers alike. One of its most impressive historical landmarks is the Titus Tunnel, located in the Samandağ district. This ancient Roman structure is not …
Politics, football, art, cinema, love, passion, anger, wealth, poverty, and history—Istanbul embodies all aspects of life and naturally becomes an indispensable setting in Turkish literature. Since the Tanzimat literary era, countless novels have been set in this culturally rich city. However, in some novels, Istanbul transcends its role as a backdrop and emerges as a central character—almost the protagonist of the story. …
Anatolia, a region shaped by civilizations dating back to the dawn of humanity, is a cultural melting pot. Among the many legacies embedded in its rich heritage, the influence of Byzantine (Eastern Roman) music on Classical Turkish Music—particularly the tradition that evolved during the Ottoman era—remains a subject of both academic debate and musical fascination. Despite nationalist arguments that sometimes obscure …
Origins of Homosexuality in the Ottoman Empire According to historical records, homosexuality in the Ottoman Empire began during the reign of Orhan Bey, nearly at the time of the state’s founding. Influences from the Byzantine and Persian worlds introduced these practices to the Anatolian region, and by Orhan Bey’s time, relationships between men had already taken root in various social …
Born in 1881 in Thessaloniki, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk continues to hold a special place in the hearts as the founder of modern Turkey. At a time when the Ottoman Empire, which had lasted for six centuries, was beginning to crumble due to various reasons such as politics, economy, and education, and when many parts of Anatolia were under occupation, Atatürk …