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* The only city in the world located on two continents is
Istanbul, which has been the capital of three great
empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman for more than 2,000
years |
* The world’s oldest known settlement is
in Catalhoyuk in central Anatolia, Turkey, and dates back
to 6,500 BC |
* St Nicolas – the original Santa Claus –
was born in Patara in Turkey and has a church dedicated to
him in Demre. |
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* The Virgin Mary spent her last days in
Selcuk, İzmir, near the ancient city of Ephesus. |
* Leonardo da Vinci drew designs for a
bridge over the Golden Horn, an inlet at mouth of the
Bosphorus, that was never built.
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* Julius Caesar proclaimed his celebrated
words “Veni. Vedi, Veci” (I came, I saw, I conquered) in
Turkey when he defeated Pontus, a formidable Kingdom in
the Black Sea Region of Turkey. |
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* Aesop – famous for his fables and
parables – was born in Anatolia. |
* The first known University in history is in Harran,
Southeast Turkey. |
* Homer (Homeros) was
born in Izmir on the west coast of Turkey and he depicted
Troy, which is north of Izmir, in his Epic the Iliad |
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* The smallpox vaccination was introduced
to England and Europe from Turkey by Lady Montague in the
early 19th century (after Turkish physicians saved her
son’s life). |
* Part of Turkey’s south
western shore was a wedding gift from Mark Antony to
Cleopatra. |
* Alexander the Great conquered a large territory in what
is now Turkey and cut the Gordion Knot in the Phrygian
capital (Gordium) not far from Turkey's present-day
capital (Ankara). |
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* One of the seven wonders, The Temple of Artemis at
Ephesus (today only base ruins remained in Selcuk, Izmir) |
* One of the seven wonders, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
today only base ruins remained in Bodrum, Mugla |
* The word "turquoise" derives from the
French word for Turkish (Turquois), the beautiful
colour of waters of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern
Turkish coast. |
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* The first coins ever minted were done
so at Sardis, near İzmir, the capital of the ancient
Kingdom of Lycia, at the end of the seventh century B.C. |
* According to the Legend of Great Flood, after the
withdrawal of the waters, Noah's Ark
landed on Mount Ağrı in eastern Anatolia |
* Anatolia is the birthplace of many historical figures
such as the Phrygian King Midas, the
father of history Herodotus and
St Paul. |
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* One of the first most accurate world maps were drawn by
the well-known Turkish cartographer and navigator
Piri Reis in 16th century. |
* Contrary to popular opinion, tulip
originated not in Holland but on the Asian steppes. The
Turks first gave the Dutch their famous tulips that
started the craze for the flower in England and the
Netherlands. There is a period of elegance and amusement
in 18th century is named "The Tulip Age" in Ottoman Empire. |
* The Seven Churches referred in the
Book of Revelation are all found in
Turkey: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia and Laodicea |
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* The most valuable silk carpet in the world is in the
Mevlana Museum in Konya, Turkey. Marco Polo's
journeys in the thirteenth centuries took him here, and he
remarked that the "best and handsomest of rugs" were to be
found in Turkey. |
* The first man ever to fly was Turkish.
Using two wings, Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi flew from the
Galata Tower over the Bosphorus to land in Uskudar in the
17th century. |
* Gobekli Tepe /Sanliurfa is the oldest human-made place
of worship yet discovered.Dated to 7500 - 6000 BC.
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* The number of archaeological excavations going on in
Turkey every year is at least 150 |
* The Amazons originated in Turkey's Northeastern region |
* Anatolia is the location of the first known beauty
contest, judged by Paris, with Aphrodite, Hera and Athena
as leading participants |
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* World's first known bank is Teple of Sard Artemis
located Salihli/Manisa.Banking task were fulfilled by
priest of temple. |
*The oldest known shipwreck in the world was excavated in
Kas. The shipwreck is on display now in Bodrum Underwater
Archaeology Museum. |
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