Turkish opposition and government discuss trial of military coup leaders
European Capital of Culture 2010 “Istanbul” – Turkey (Turkish:Turkiye)’s main opposition party and the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, held a meeting over a constitutional amendment that will pave the way to bring the leaders of the military coup in 1980 before the courts. (UPDATED)
The Blue Mosque / Sultanahmet Camii
kadhine ’s photo
The Blue Mosque / Sultanahmet Camii
Ahmadinejad tells Obama to stay out of Iran’s affairs, likens him to Bush
European Capital of Culture 2010 “Istanbul” – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama not to interfere in Tehran’s affairs, according to reports on Thursday. (UPDATED)
South Carolina governor admits affair
A role for Turkey France can accept
PARIS – On the European stage, Turkey (Turkish:Turkiye) is often on the sharp end of the wit. This is perhaps no more true anywhere than in France, where President Sarkozy’s opposition to Turkey (Turkish:Turkiye)’s EU aspirations is unmistakable. Offstage, however, France knows Turkey (Turkish:Turkiye)’s role is more central to the success of the whole troupe, as one top Sarkozy adviser reveals in an interview
Xanthos
Having being remained independent till the invasions of the Persians in 4292 B.C,Xanthos tried hard to defend against the invasions;however, upon realizing the remote victory the people of Xanthos first murdered their women then commited suicide as a whole.Afterwards 80 family imigrating to the region refounded the city but approximately 100 years later the city was totally destroyed by a great fire. Reesatblished city thenceforth strengtened its connection with west and became an important center.Still the city can not be saved from misfortune. Upon resisting to the taxes of the Roman Brutus, the city was ruined and the people were dragged into war. And Xanthos became the city of catastrophe.
The city was founded around center of Lycia and outside it, were the remnants of Roman city center. Roman theater and the findings at the west side of the theater still attracts the visitors. Harpy memorial on the rocks is one of the most important traces. Only the duplication of the work of art, the original of which is on exhibit in British Museum in England,can be seen in the region.
Xanthos (Greek: Ξάνθος) was the name of a city in ancient Lycia, the site of present day Kınık, Antalya province, Turkey, and of the river on which the city is situated. In early sources, "Xanthos" is used synonymously for Lycia as a whole.
The site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 1988.
Xanthos is the Greek appellation of the name of the city of Arñna, of Lycian origin. The Hittite and Luwian name of the city is given as Arinna. The Romans called the city Xanthus, as all the Greek -os suffixes were changed to -us in Latin. Xanthos was a center of culture and commerce for the Lycians, and later for the Persians, Macedonians, Greeks, and Romans who in turn conquered the city and occupied the adjacent territory.
Xanthos is mentioned by numerous ancient Greek and Roman writers. Strabo notes Xanthos as the largest city in Lycia. Both Herodotus and Appian describe the conquest of the city by Harpagus on behalf of the Persian Empire, in approximately 540 BC. According to Heredotus, the Persians met and defeated a small Lycian army in the flatlands to the north of the city. After the encounter, the Lycians retreated into the city which was besieged by Hapargus. The Lycians destroyed their own Xanthos acropolis, killed their wives, children, and slaves, then proceeded on a suicidal attack against the superior Persian troops. Thus, the entire population of Xanthos perished but for 80 families who were absent during the fighting.
During the Persian occupation, a local leadership was installed at Xanthos, which by 520 BC was already minting its own coins. By 516 BC, Xanthos was included in the first nomos of Darius I in the tribute list. Xanthos’ fortunes were tied to Lycia’s as Lycia changed sides during the Greco-Persian Wars, archeological digs demonstrate that Xanthos was destroyed in approximately 475 BC-470 BC, whether by the Athenian Kimon or by the Persians is open to debate. As we have no reference to this destruction in either Persian or Greek sources, some scholars attribute the destruction to natural or accidental causes.
In the final decades of the 5th century BC, Xanthos conquered nearby Telmessos and incorporated it into Lycia.
Reports on the city’s surrender to Alexander the Great differ: Arrian reports a peaceful surrender, but Appian claims that the city was sacked. After Alexander’s death, the city changed hands among his rival heirs; Diodorus notes the capture of Xanthos by Ptolemy I Soter from Antigonos. Appian, Dio Cassius, and Plutarch each report that city was once again destroyed in the Roman Civil Wars, circa 42 BC, by Brutus, but Appian notes that it was rebuilt under Marc Antony. Remains of a Roman amphitheater remain on the site. Marinos reports that there was a school of grammarians at Xanthos in late antiquity.
The archeological excavations at Xanthos have yielded many texts in Lycian and Greek, including several bilingual texts that are useful in the decipherment of Lycian.
The River Xanthos
Strabo reports the original name of the river as Sibros or Sirbis. During the Persian invasion the river is called Sirbe which means "yellow" like the Greek word "xanthos", which also means yellow. The river usually has a yellow hue because of the soil in the alluvial base of the valley. Today the site of Xanthos overlooks the modern Turkish village of Kınık.
A Greek legend is that the river was created by the birth pangs of Leto, whose temple, at the Letoon, is on the west bank of the river a few kilometers south of Xanthos. The Letoon has been excavated in the 20th century, and has yielded numerous Lycian, Greek, and Aramaic texts. A notable trilingual text, known as the Letoon trilingual, in all three languages was found and has been found to contain a reference to king Artaxerxes. The Letoon has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tatil VI
incubo78 (Back in Town) ’s photo
Tatil VI
Turkish military rules out prosecution over alleged anti-AKP plan
European Capital of Culture 2010 “Istanbul” – The Turkish military ruled out Wednesday the prosecution of a senior navy officer suspected of allegedly drafting an anti-government plan, and denied the existence of such a document. (UPDATED)
Strange and unknown -
maistora ’s photo
- but beautiful plant; I guess something tropicali
Edited Jun-09: Now I know – this is most probably Albizzia julibrissin (acacia rosa di costantinopoli)
Strange and unknown -
Every minute you cut from your shower is roughly 5 gallons of water. The less time your shower takes, the lower your impact on the environment.
