Eskisehir
Coordinates : 39°47′N, 30°31′E
Country : TURKEY
Region :Central Anatolia
Part :North East part of Central Anatolia
Province :Eskisehir
Administration
- Governor :Ph.D. Kadir KOÇDEMIR
Surface Area
Total :13,655 km² (5,3 sq mi)
Altitude :788 m (2.585 ft)
Population (2011)
Total :764.584
Time Zone :DAZD (+2)
Post Code :26xxx
Zone Code :(+90) 222
Plate No :26
Website : www.eskisehir.gov.tr
Eskisehir is the center of Eskisehir Province settled in Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The River Porsuk passes through Eskisehir. The city has two universities: Osmangazi University and Anadolu University, so it looks like a university city. According to the 2011 data, the total population of the Province is 764,584 (629,609 in the city center).
Eskisehir is famous for Met helva, Nuga helva, Hashasli cörek, Kalabak water, Cibörek and Lületasi (Meerschaum). Processible Meerschaum is only found in Eskisehir, so it is also called as “Eskisehir Stone”. The special shepherd’s dog akbas lives in Sivrihisar District of Eskisehir and it is also one of the important values of the province. Eskisehir is a developed city in art and culture with its art foundations and facilities. There are two symphony orchestras in Anadolu University and Greater City Municipality. Eskisehir had been under some civilizations such as Phrygia, Byzantine, Anatolian Seljuks and Ottoman Empire so far.
SUBJECT TITLES
1. ETYMOLOGY
2. HISTORY
2.1 Dorylaion
2.2 Midaion- Midas City
2.3 Roots of Greek and Roman Civilization
2.4 Religious Centre of Phrygian Civilization: Yazilikaya
2.5 The Phrygian Cap
2.6 Mother Goddess Cybele
2.7 Phrygian Inscriptions
2.8 Yazilikaya Platform
2.8.1. Phrygian Fortresses
2.8.2 The Uncompleted Monument
2.8.3 Monument with plant motifs (Hyacinth Monument)
2.8.4 Bahseyis Monument
2.8.5 Gerdekkaya Tomb Monument
2.8.6 Little Yazilikaya
2.9. Ottoman Empire was founded in Karacahisar
2.10 Eskisehir during the Independence War
2.11. Odunpazari Houses
3. GEOGRAPHY
3.1. Climate
3.2. Population
3.3. Underground Treasures
3.3.1. Kalabak Water
3.3.2. Meerschaum
3.3.3. Chalcedony Stone
3.3.4. Boron Mine
3.3.5. Thermal Resources
4. TRANSPORTATION
4.1. High Speed Train
4.2. Distances to the Important Cities
4.3. Transportation in City Center
5. ECONOMY AND INDUSTRY
5.1. Media
6. CULTURE AND ART
6.1. Theatres of Eskisehir
6.2. Haller Youth Centre
6.3. Museums of Eskisehir
6.3.1. Ataturk and Culture Museum
6.3.2. Ottoman House Museum
6.3.3. Glass Arts Museum
6.4. Traditional Hand Crafts
6.4.1. Sorkun Pottery
6.5. Traditional Cuisine
7. TOURISM
7.1. HISTORICAL PLACES
7.1.1 Kursunlu Mosque and Complex of Buildings
7.1.2 Seyyid Battal Gazi Turbah and Complex of Buildings
7.1.3. Sheikh Edebali Tomb
7.1.4. Sheikh Sahabettin Tomb
7.1.5. Yunus Emre Kulliye and Tomb
7.1.6. The house of Nasreddin Hodja
7.1.8. Alemsah Kumbeti
7.1.9 Ulucami (Emineddin_i Mikail Mosque)
7.1.10 The City Pessinus
7.2. Picnic Areas
7.2.1. Sakarya Basi
7.2.2. Balik Dami
7.3. Hunting And Fishing
8. EDUCATION
8.1. Primary Education
8.2. Secondary Education
8.3. Universities
8.3.1. Anadolu University
8.3.2. Eskisehir Osmangazi University
9. HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
10. SPORTS
10.1. Inonu Hang Glider and Parachute Camp
10.2. Eskisehirspor
11. LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
11.1. Administrative Management
11.2. Sister Cities
12. RESOURCES
1. ETYMOLOGY
The first settlement in Eskisehir (Dorylaion) took place on 3500 B.C. The city had been under the reign of Hittites, Phrygians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans. Eskisehir was founded by Phrygians in 1000 BC as a basic settlement at the banks of the Porsuk River. The city is located at a major crossroad in Turkey.
2. HISTORY
2.1 Dorylaion
The Sarhöyük- Dorylaion Tumuli is as high as a large hill. Its diameter is 450 m and it is 18 m higher than the plain. Cylix implements, Roman glass, metal fragments and bullet shells from the National Independence War were collected from this area. Such interesting antique discoveries as sixteenth century Ottoman ceramics, Byzantine pieces, artifacts from Roman, Hellenistic and the entire Phrygian culture were found in this area. The Hittite and Assyrian Colony Period findings are parallel to those found at Kültepe in Central Anatolia, and those from the Early Bronze Age; that is to say, evidence from the third millennium has been observed in this area.
2.2 Midaion- Midas City
The Porsuk Valley is in the neighborhood of Karahöyük, next to the Porsuk River and on the fertile Alpu plain. Surface surveys, conducted by Ass. Prof. Nejat Bilgen proves that there has been a continuous settlement in this area since the Early Bronze Age. The city had coins minted in Roman Period. Abutments built in the same period were unearthed in excavations carried out by Eskisehir Archeology Museum. Tumuli bearing the name of king Midas are important.
Phrygian King Midas is the most famous king from the legend. His wish, “Whatever I touch should turn to gold”, was accepted, but touching his daughter, he became regretful. In another legend, Apollon who did not like Midas’ refereeing in a music composition creating and performing by himself and Pan punished Midas and gave him donkey ears. In another Midas legend, his daughter suffered from a skin ailment. After her treatment in thermal waters and subsequent recovery, he had baths built in the environs of Dorylaion.
2.3 Roots of Greek and Roman Civilization
Phrygians who dominated the region after the collapse of the Hittite Empire, around 1200BC, created a glamorous civilization. Besides being an agricultural society in general, stock farming was also quite developed, and the Phrygians were known as “a noble society breeding noble horses” by other societies. They produced original craft work such as carpentry, furniture-making, gold and silver embroidery, fibula (safety pins) and flute. In addition to all these, they formed the roots of the Greek and Roman Civilizations to come, with their music, architecture and sculpture.
2.4 Religious Centre of Phrygian Civilization: Yazilikaya
The Yazilikaya Ruin, suggested for addition to the “World Cultural and Natural heritage List”, is without comparison anywhere in the world.
The Phrygians, who constructed important buildings in the region, chose the ancient city of Yazilikaya as a religious centre. Yazilikaya is in the Yazilikaya Village of Han. It was a settlement on a rocky platform in the Early Bronze Age. There are also rock reliefs belonging to the Hittites and, although the society was affected by the forces of nature. Fortress walls, settlement areas, rock reliefs rock monuments, water cisterns, altars, snow fences, rock graves, stepped monuments, niches and ancient roads belonging to Phrygian Culture managed to survive to the modern era.
The Phrygians who believed that their goddess lived on bare rocks, conducted their religious ceremonies in front of rocks decorated as a temple. Yazilikaya, one of the most important rock monuments in the world, at a height of 17 meters on the eastern slopes of the Yazilikaya platform, was devoted to the mother goddess Cybele on behalf of King Midas by the Phrygians.
2.5 The Phrygian Cap
Bust of Attis were wearing a Phrygian cap. The Phrygian cap is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward. It was worn during antique times by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of Central Anatolia. In paintings and caricatures, it represents freedom and the search for liberty. The Phrygian cap that was known to be worn by King Midas to hide the donkey ears was given to him as a curse by Apollo. Its origin dates back to the Phrygians.
2.6 Mother Goddess Cybele
Cybele, called Kubaba by the Hittites, was the mother goddess in Anatolia since Neolitic and Chalcolithic periods. She was the goddess of nature, mountains and animals, dominator of cities and agriculture and protector of young girls. Cybele was the sole goddess of Anatolia. Phrygians called her Agdistis. The Phrygians are known to have adopted Anatolian culture through Cybele cult, and this has influenced Roman religion. According to divination, the war between the Carthaginians and the Romans caused Roman fatigue and disappointment and, in order to defeat Carthaginians, the mother Cybele idol had to be brought to Rome from Pessinus, the religious centre of the period. The Roman armies defeated the armies of king Hannibal and Carthage after the Cybele idol had been taken to Rome along with Phrygian priests on 4th April 204 BC.
2.7 Phrygian Inscriptions
The early Phrygian period inscriptions are found densely in Yazilikaya Phrygian Valley. Phrygian inscriptions are known to have been developed from the Phoenician alphabet, and influenced the Greeks when creating their alphabet. It was found that Phrygians played an important role in the spread of the Phoenician alphabet to the west. Early Phrygian Period inscriptions have not been fully deciphered yet.
2.8 Yazilikaya Platform
2.8.1. Phrygian Fortresses
Phrygian fortresses, where the noble military class lived, are heaped on the rocks in this region. Most of these were built strategically on hillsides, and all of the characteristic details of Phrygian Rock buildings (ramparts with crenel holes engraved on rocks, fortress entrances, hidden steps, important passages and suchlike) are features of these fortresses. Although they saw some changes from their original use in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Periods, Phrygian fortresses have survived until today.
2.8.2 The Uncompleted Monument
This monument is situated on the western slopes of the Ancient Yazilikaya Platform. Leaving uncompleted, it gives clues of Phrygian working methods in the building of monuments. It is understood that the rock were engraved from the top to the bottom, without using any scaffolding to build the monuments. Different from other rock monuments, its facing west is additionally important. Niches that constitute the base of this Phrygian monument were not engraved on the surface since it was uncompleted; however, it was engraved on its bottom left side. There is a lotus-pelmets motif on its frizz. Phrygian wooden architecture was imitated, and all such details were engraved on the rock monument. Gables and Niches and the form of a door are the main characteristics of the monument.
2.8.3 Monument with plant motifs (Hyacinth Monument)
This monument on the eastern slopes of the Yazilikaya Platform is called the Hyacinth Monument in archeology due to its stylized acroterium with plant motifs on it. Swastika motifs on it attract attention. Different from the other monuments, it has nothing more than a niche under the gable, which emphasizes the religious significance of niches for the Phrygians.
2.8.4 Bahseyis Monument
This monument is in Gökbahce Village in Seyitgazi. The rock is engraved in a three-dimensional way. A cavity in the middle of the door niche meets with a cavity opening to the upper part of the monument. This characteristic helps us to understand that it was a liquid alter (fountain monument) and a “Cult Monument”
2.8.5 Gerdekkaya Tomb Monument
This monument is located in Seyitgazi, Cukurca Village. It has the shape of a temple with two columns of the Doric Architectural style in Greek architecture. It is dated back to the Hellenistic Period. The monument was restored by Eskisehir Archeology Museum in 1991.
2.8.6 Little Yazilikaya
This is located 2 km from Yazilikaya Village to the North and 100 m from the Yazilikaya-Cukurca Road to the west. It is named “Little Yazilikaya” due to the Phrygian inscriptions on the upper side of the monument. Although it was not completed, an absolute niche was engraved on the monument due to the belief that the goddess Cybele was always watching over the Phrygians.
2.9. Ottoman Empire was founded in Karacahisar
Osman, the son of Ertugrul Gazi from the Kayi tribe of Oghuz Turks declared his “Beylik” (his own state) in KARACASEHIR/KARACAHISAR where the foundation centre of Ottoman Sovereignty was based and which lasted six hundred years over three continents. Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin KAYQUBAT III recognized the “Beylik” of Osman, the conqueror of Karacahisar, by sending him a flag, a drum and a horse tail.The first Khuthbah, read in the name of Osman Bey in Karacasehir Mosque by Dursun Fakih, is recognized as the foundation of the Ottoman Empire. Sultanönü Province was the first province. “Bacs” (a type of taxation) collected from marketplace trader in the Sicaksular quarter, was the first government tax, and the coins minted on behalf of Osman I were the first coinage of the Ottoman Empire.
2.10 Eskisehir during the Independence War
Eskisehir is one of the most important cities of the National Independence War. All of the major battles of the war took place either in the borders of the city or in the neighboring area. Ataturk thanked the city, which suffered great destruction because of the war, during his visits on 15 January 1923 in the following words:
“… In accordance with military operations, our army had to impose a sacrifice on Eskisehir and the people of Eskisehir… and as a result of this Eskisehir suffered calamity… and the people of this city stood up to it, congratulate you. As far as I see, the people in the city are enlightened and active. The lands are fertile. It will compensate its loses in a short time and will be proud of these sacrifices…”
2.11. Odunpazari Houses
This is the only place in Eskisehir where traditional 19th century houses haven’t been torn down in favor of newer buildings. In the oldest streets of the city, in a district called Odunpazari, wooden Ottoman style houses can be seen. They give some unique arcade and proof of traditional Ottoman architecture.
3. GEOGRAPHY
3.1. Climate
Eskisehir has a harsh, dry continental climate, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. Rainfall occurs mostly during the spring and autumn. Due to Eskisehir's high altitude and its dry summers, nightly temperatures in the summer months are cool. Precipitation levels are low, but precipitation can be observed throughout the year. According to the average temperature values recorded between the years of 1975 and 2010, the maximum temperature was recorded on 29th July, 2000 as 40.6C and the minimum temperature was recorded on 30th January, 2006 as -27C.
3.2. Population
According to the 2010 data, the total population of the Province is 764,584 (629,609 in the city center). 378.275 male population (336,803 in the city center) and 386.309 female population in the province (345,051 in the city center).