Van'ın Tarihçesi
The History of Van
The History and Origin of the Name of Van
The settlement history of Van is shaped around the large limestone rock located in the west of the city and known today as Van Castle. Although there are various opinions about the origin of the city's name, the most likely possibility is that it originated from the name "Biani" or "Vani" given to the region during the Urartian period. In ancient sources and local legends, the city's name is sometimes associated with imaginary figures believed to be its founders, and sometimes with the water resources in the region. These lands, which have been home to different civilizations for thousands of years, have reinforced their historical identity by being referred to with local references such as "City of the Sun" or "Mother and Daughter".
Ancient Period and Tuşpa, the Urartian Capital
Van gained its true glory in the 9th century BC when it became the capital of the Urartian Kingdom. The city, known as "Tuşpa" at that time, was fortified with palaces, temples and huge walls built on a steep castle rock. Despite the harsh climate and geographical structure of the region, the Urartians displayed advanced engineering skills and built the Shamran Canal to bring water to the city, and carved monumental tombs for their kings by carving rocks. During this period, Van became one of the most important centers of metal processing, stoneworking and military architecture in the Near East.
Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman-Byzantine Periods
After the collapse of the Urartian State, Van came under the rule of the Persian Empire and maintained its importance as a strategic province center. Cuneiform inscriptions belonging to the Persian king Xerxes, carved on the rocks in the castle, are the most concrete traces of this period. Later, with the expeditions of Alexander the Great, the city came under the influence of Hellenistic culture, and then the Roman and Sasanian empires, and became a border city that constantly changed hands between East and West. Van, which was a battleground between the Byzantine Empire and the Muslim Arabs in the Middle Ages, continued its existence as both a military castle and a regional religious center during this period.
Seljuk, Ottoman and Republican Periods: Van, which met with Turkish raids from the 11th century onwards, was enriched architecturally under the rule of states such as Seljuk, Ahlatshahs and Karakoyunlu, and gained a new face especially with the construction of mosques and tombs. The city, which entered the administration of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century, became the outermost castle and trade gate on the eastern border of the empire under the name of "Van Eyaleti". The city, which has a rich cultural texture where different beliefs have lived together for centuries, had to abandon its old settlement as a result of the occupation and great destruction during the First World War. Van, which was liberated on April 2, 1918, was moved to the plain where it is located today with the Republican period and was rebuilt as a modern city.