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CANAKKALE
Canakkale, which is one of the most important
touristical spots of Turkey, is located along the
dardanelles strait at the north-west part of Turkiye.
The city has always been strategically important due to
the reason of being a crossing point for armies, traders,
migrating people since before history.
The city of Canakkale lends
its name to the strait, which is also known as
dardanelles, whose shores touch both Europe and Asia
continents, while connecting the sea of Marmara to the
Aegean Sea. Anyone who controlled this gateway,
commanded a highly strategic area. This strategic
importance has stimulated the popularity of canakkale
province as the homeland of many civilizations and
critical battles throughout the centruies. Some
Archaeologists claim that there are about 200 ancient
sites in the province of Canakkale, where many of them
waiting to be excavated.
The Canakkale province
became the ground for two very important battles in
history. One of them is the mythological war of Troy,
which Homer immortalized in his Iliad. Archaeological
excavations in the ancient Troy (Troia) have proved that
there had been nine separate periods of settlement (3000
BC- 400 AD). Here, one can see the ruins of city walls
in addition to the Wooden Horse of Troy. The other
important battle can be considered as the Battle of
Canakkale, the so called Gallipoli Campaign, which took
place during World War I when Turkish troops under the
command of Ataturk maintained the defense of the region
against enemy forces. To honor the 500,000 soldiers who
gave their lives at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), this gallipoli
peninsula has been converted a national park of
remembrance. There are several memorial monuments in
surroundings of natural beauty of the Gallipoli
Peninsula.
Hellespont is the ancient
name for this strait. The history of the area can be
traced back to 3000 B.C. According to the mythology, the
children of King Athamas, Phryxus and Helle, were sent
away by their step mother, Nephele, the goddess of cloud.
They were mounted on a flying ram with a golden fleece.
While they were flying over the straits, Pincess Helle
fell off the ram into the water. Thus, the name
Hellespont appeared. Phryxus flew to the Colchis, where
he sacrificed the ram to the Zeus and hung its golden
fleece on a tree, to be guarded by a fierce dragon.
Another commonly told story
of the region is about the towns ‘ Abydose ’ on the
Asian shore and ‘ Sestus ’ on the European shore.
Leander was a handsome youth from Abydos, who was in
love with Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite. Every night,
he was swimming from Abydos to Sestus to see her. One
night there was a terrible storm and he had never
arrived. Hero, asuming that Leander had drowned, threw
herself into the sea.
Troy (Truva), also called
Ilium, is located at Hissarlik on the east side of the
river Scamander, where the straits join with the Age an
Sea. Wooden Horse and the Archilles' Hell come from
here. Troy is famous for several reasons. It is a site
that was continually occupied from the early Bronze Age
to early Byzantine times. It is also associated with the
sagas of the Trojan War written by Homer in ‘ the iliad
and odyssey ’, which is the well-known in European
literature. Homer immortalized Truva (Troy) in his
stories of King Priam, Hector, Paris and the beautiful
Helen. Archaelogical digs have revealled nine cities
with various ruins of city walls, typical house-
foundations, a temple and a theather. A symbolic wooden
Trojan horse commemorates the legandary war. Historical
port, Alexandria – Troas, was constructed during 3rd
century B. C., and St. Paul had visited here two times,
and his third missioner voyage to Assos was started from
here.
The excavations of Troy can
be traced back to 1870s, which can be considered as
another historical event by its own. From 1988 onwards,
excavations have been directed by Professor Manfred
Korfman of Tubingen University in Germany.
Apollo Smintheus Temple,
where first episode of Iliad epic emerged, is located
around Gulpinar village. Temple ruins and pieces of art
revealed from the temple can be visited in here.
Furthermore, Zeus’s Cavern, can be visited on the front
side of a cliff, which is at the upper side of Adatepe
Village of Kucukkuyu.
Other familiar historical
names can be stated as follow ; Neandria, Alexandria-Troas,
Assos, Chryse, Dardonos and Lampsakos. The traces of
several civilizations can be found in the province of
Canakkale. The persians were here in the 5th century
B.C.; the persian King Xerves built his bridge of boats
across the narrowest point of Dardanelles to land
100.000 troops on Thrace as part of his planned conquest
of Europe. Alexander the Great began his eastern
campaign by crossing the strait. The Romans took over
the area between 2 B.C until 395 A.D., later on the
Byzantine Empire ruled the area. There were Arab and
Crusader invasions in the following centuries. The
Karasiogullari, a Turkish tribe, came into the area in
the 14 th century and made Balikesir their capital. In
the 15th century, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror built
citadels on both banks of the strait and founded the
city of Canakkale.
Dardanelles also played an
important role in the first world war . The eight month-long
struggle between the Allies and Turkish forces is known
as Gallipoli Campaign. Serious casualties were given on
both sides. Several countries have involved this battle
such as Turkey, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand,
France, and so on. Every year on April 25th ( The so
called Anzac Day ) , Gallipoli is invaded again not by
the Allied troops, but by their descendants, other
veterans, and tourists. The sounds of the riffle fire
ring out at Anzac Cove, but this time as a salute to
hereos by the Turkish Honor Guard.
When you reach galliboli
pennisula you can feel the spirit of the heroes from
several countries. Today galliboli pennisula is a
national park, which acts as an open air museum and is
open to all visitors who come to pay respect in many
memorials. The following words are quoted from Ataturk ,
the famous Turkish commander of Gallipoli and the
founders of modern Turkish Republic.
TROY
Troy (Truva, Troia, Tros),
which is one of the most important touristical spots of
Canakkale, It is located at the mount ‘Hisarlik’, where
the Dardanelles strait join with the Agean Sea. The
ancient city Troy is about 32 Km. away from the city of
Canakkale Turkey. Troy is a city which existed over 4000
years and known as the center of ancient civilizations.
Many years, people believed that it was the city in
tales and never existed until it was first found.
Different names, depending on the period, were given to
Troy such as Ilion or, in Latin, Ilium. Troy can be
considered as one of the world’s most important
archaeological sites because of its fame in the
literature giving tips about a critical early period in
the development of European civilization. Archaeologists
have been excavating here since the 1870's and have
found evidence of nine different settlements built on
top of each other at different periods since the Bronze
Age.
The ancient city Troy was
selected as the World Cultural Heritage by international
legislative bodies. Wooden Horse and the Archilles' Hell
come from here. Many years, people believed that it was
the city in tales and never existed until it was first
found. Troy is famous for several reasons. It is a site
that was continually occupied from the early Bronze Age
to early Byzantine times. It is also associated with the
sagas of the Trojan War written by Homer in ‘the iliad
and odyssey’, which is the foundation stones of European
literature. Homer immortalized Troy (Truva) in his
stories of King Priam, Hector, Paris and the beautiful
Helen.
The excavations in the site
can be traced back to 1870s, which can be considered as
another historical event by its own. From 1988 onwards,
excavations have been directed by Professor Manfred
Korfman of Tubingen University in Germany in the
sponsorhip of Daimler – Benz, who received the UNESCO "Media
Save Art" award in the area of sponsoring. Archaelogical
digs have revealled nine cities with various ruins of
city walls, typical house- foundations, a temple and a
theather. After nine cities were unearthed, those have
been subdivided into 46 strata. A symbolic wooden Trojan
horse commemorates the legandary war. Unfortunately the
famous Trojan treasures were stolen by Heinrich
Schliemann, the famous archaeologist, in his excavation
period in 1870s and now it is subject to the great
efforts of the Turkish Government to return back those
treasures from the Pushkin museum in Moscow.
In the history, Troy was
destroyed many times and rebuilt. Until now
archeologists have founded 9 level of Troy lebeled fron
I to IX. Perhaps many other levels are still hidden in
it. Nine cities or Nine layers of Troy are universally
accepted as Troy I (3000 – 2500 B.C.) Troy II (2500 –
2200 B.C.), Troy III ( 2200 – 2050 B.C. ), Troy IV (
2052 – 1900 B. C. ), Troy V ( 1900 – 1800 B. C. ), Troy
VI ( 1800 – 1300 B.C. ), Troy VI A ( 1300 – 1260 B.C. ),
Troy VII B 1 ( 1260 – 1190 B. C. ) : Troy VII B 2 (1190
– 110 B.C.) Troy VIII ( 700 – 350 B. C. ) Troy IX (350 –
400 A. D. )
In the Bronze age, Troy had
a great power because of its strategic location between
Europe and Asia. Between 3000 - 2000 B. C., Troy was a
cultural centre. After the Trojan War , the site was
apparently abondoned. About 700 B. C., Greek settlers
occupied the Troas. Troy was resettled and named Ilion (ilion)
. At the time, Ilium or Ilion was regarded as a 'sacred'
city which attracted pilgrims by the fame of its wars
and its woes, and by the shadow of ancient sanctity
resposing upon it. Alexander the Great ruled over the
area successively from the late 6th century B . C. .
After the Romans captured Troy in 85 B. C., it was
partially rebuilt. After the occupation of
Constantinopole ( Istanbul ), Troy lost its importance.
The famous Troijan war
which was written by Homer in
the iliad and odyssey.
This is the legendary war between the Greeks and the
people of Troy, which was narrated by Homer. Paris and
his brother Hector, the sons of King Priamos, visited
Menelaos, the King of Sparta. Paris seduced the
beautiful queen Helen of Sparta and abducted Helen away
to Troy in the dark of night with his ship. Later on,
King Menelaus get very angry and persuaded his brother
Agamemnon to lead an army against. In order to win
favorable winds for the journey, Agamemnon sacrificed
his daughter Iphigenia to Artemis. The winds came and
the fleet set sail for Trojan War, which lasted for ten
years. After the failure of The Spartans to capture the
Troy, a devious plan was decided. A big wooden horse
were built, which was filled with their best warriors.
Spartans was seen as giving up the siege of Troy and
returning back to their homes. The Trojans, who were
watching the situation from the towers went out of their
castle, victoriously shouting and took the horse into
the city as a war loot. Big celebrations were performed
at night by the people of Troy. When everybody get drunk
in Troy, the warriors inside the wooden horse got out
and attacked the soldiers of Troy. In a few hours time,
Troy was conquered by Spartans.
GALLIPOLI
Gallipoli Peninsula which
is located on the european side of the Canakkale
Province, can be considered as one of the most
attractive touristical spots particulary for Turkish,
Australian, New Zealland, English tourists.
To honor about 500.000
brave soldiers, who lost their lives on the holly lands
of the gallipoli peninsula ( gallipoli campaign) during
World War I, the southern half of the peninsula now acts
as a national park preserving that time in the history.
This is the spirit and sign of the peace that show ‘ no
war is cause for permanent hostilities but can serve as
a basis for friendships as well '.
Istanbul, which guarded
another narrow waterway, the Bosphorus, into the Black
Sea, was very vulnerable to seaward attack. Such action
had precedents: in 1807 a British squadron had forced
the Narrows only to be becalmed and eventually forced to
retreat before it could attack Istanbul. As recently as
the Italo-Turkish War of 1911-12, an Italian force had
attacked the Dardanelles and penetrated as far as the
defences of the Narrows. Even before the Ottoman Empire
entered the war on 31 October 1914, the possibility of a
Greek-Russian assault on the Dardanelles had been
canvassed.
By late 1914, the British
and French governments had agreed it was necessary to
gain control of the straits known as the Dardanelles
This would allow for co-ordinated deployment of Russian
and allied troops. They approved a naval campaign, aimed
at destroying or capturing Turkish fortifications along
the length of the Dardenelles in order to open a secure
passage for the navy on their way to Istanbul , capital
of the Ottoman Government. However, the role of small
Turkish mine-layer Nusrat by laying mines in the morning
of March 18th had changed the destiny of the naval
battle. During this operation three ships from the
Allied Fleet had been sunk and three badly damaged.
Almost eighteen battleships entered the straits such as
Queen Elizabeth, Lord Nelson, Agamemmon, Inflexible,
Ocean, Irresistible, Prince George and Majestic from
Britain and the Gaulois, Bouvet and Suffren from France.
Overall, three ships had been sunk and three more had
been severely damaged such as Bouvet, Irresistable, and
Ocean.
By April 1915 there had
been fighting in World War I for eight months. Britain
and France were facing Germany on the Western Front (northern
France and Belgium); Russia was fighting Germany and its
ally Austria-Hungary on the Eastern Front; Turkey was
supporting Germany.
The British and French
agreed to land troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula
separating Europe from Asia. The aim of this was for the
troops to move overland and attack the forts which were
overlooking the Dardanelles Strait, and to seize the
Turkish capital, Constantinople. Controlling the
Dardanelles would enable allied ships to provide
supplies to Russia, and put more pressure on the Eastern
Front. It might also take Turkey out of the war. Ships
alone had failed to take the Dardanelles. Therefore a
landing of troops by sea was now decided on.
With the Turks advancing
northwards in the Caucasus, Russia appealed for action
to relieve the pressure. The need was fleeting-Russian
forces soon drove the Turks back-but impetus had been
given to Churchill's concept of an attack on Turkey. The
tempting idea of inducing the Balkan states to join the
Allies and attack Austria-Hungary from the south-east,
never more than an illusion, was also influential. A
campaign in the Eastern Mediterranean might, moreover,
encourage Italy to enter the war on the Allied side.
These considerations were
reinforced by the limited nature of the intended action.
Despite the strong reservations of the commander of the
Eastern Mediterranean Squadron (Vice-Admiral Sackville
Carden), Churchill proposed a naval attack on the forts
guarding the Narrows. His plan had the attraction of not
requiring any substantial military forces for its
implementation. Nor would it entail any diminution in
Britain's naval position in the vital North Sea, since
only older battleships would be used. The War Council
approved the proposal on 15 January 1915.
Over the ensuing month
Hamilton prepared his plan for the landing-not an easy
task given the rugged nature of much of the peninsula's
coastline. He chose as his main focus the southern part
of the Gallipoli peninsula at Cape Helles and Sedd el
Bahr. While the 29th Division landed there on five
separate beaches, a subsidiary landing would be made by
the ANZAC Corps about twenty kilometres up the coast,
north of Gaba Tepe. The Australians and New Zealanders
would seize the southern part of the Sari Bair ridge
before advancing across the peninsula to Maidos, from
where they would mount a threat to the Kilid Bahr
plateau from the rear. The French division would
meanwhile make a temporary landing on the Asian shore at
Kum Kale to prevent Turkish gunners there bombarding the
troops landing at Helles. To divert Turkish attention,
the Royal Naval Division would make a feint attack at
Bulair, at the narrow neck of the peninsula.
The landings were
originally scheduled to take place on 23 April, but
weather conditions led to a delay of two days. The first
ashore were to be the ANZACs, who had moved forward to
Lemnos in early April. The 3rd Australian Brigade would
land before dawn and advance to Gun Ridge. Following
them, the 2nd Australian Brigade would occupy the Sari
Bair ridge as far as Hill 971. The 1st Australian
Division's remaining brigade would land by 9 a.m. as
divisional reserve
Australians landed on the
Gallipoli Peninsula, at Ari Burnu (soon renamed Anzac
Cove) before dawn on 25 April. The aim of the first wave
of 1,500 Australian troops was to secure the beach and
seize the high ground of the Third (or Gun) Ridge.
Control of this high ground was vital for success. Later
landings of the remaining 2,500 troops would then be
able to push their way inland towards the forts of the
Dardanelles. Finally, the remaining 21,000 Anzacs would
be sent ashore to move inland under the protection of
the first 4,000
Even if all had gone to
plan on the 25th, the force would have struggled to
secure its objectives, especially within the time
allotted. But the plan was thrown into disarray even
before the troops began landing. The Australian
spearhead was mistakenly directed about two kilometres
north of the envisaged landing place, nearer to Ari
Burnu at what was later named Anzac Cove and on a much
narrower front than envisaged in the plan. The reasons
for this have been hotly debated over the last eighty
years, with tides, faulty navigation by the landing
fleet, belated changes of orders all being canvassed. An
unauthorised alteration of direction northwards by one
of the midshipmen commanding a steamboat, which pulled
the whole line of tows in this direction, is the most
likely explanation.
Meanwhile, at Anzac, the
crisis had been surmounted. On the first night the
situation had looked so dangerous that Birdwood had
recommended evacuation, but this had been rejected by
Hamilton, who was conscious that there was no means of
carrying out such a plan. He could only urge the ANZACs
to dig in. As they did so the position was gradually
made more secure. Gaps in the line were plugged by
further units of the New Zealand and Australian Division
as they came ashore. As soon as possible, the original
landing units were pulled out of the line and
reorganised. Eventually Birdwood was able to establish
two divisional sectors: the New Zealand and Australian
Division took responsibility for the line north of
Courtney's Post, and the 1st Australian Division south
of it.
These preparations were
timely, for from the 27th Kemal, having received
reinforcements, began to intensify the pressure on the
besieged ANZACs. The deployment in the enclave of four
RND battalions at Anzac Cove bolstered the defences and
allowed the reorganisation of the 1st Australian
Division. It also raised the possibility of forcing back
the besiegers.
An attack aimed at seizing
the Baby 700 feature was eventually mounted on the
evening of 2 May by the New Zealand and Australian
Division, with the RND battalions in support. But the
plan was too ambitious. Poorly prepared and coordinated—the
Otago Battalion in particular failed to make its start-line
in time—the assault failed.
The Gallipoli campaign was
a costly failure. While it is possible to point to
moments when tactical developments offered the promise
of success, the outcome was determined by strategic
factors. Essentially there were not enough men available
at the crucial moments.
Hamilton launched the
campaign with five divisions against a roughly
comparable Turkish force which enjoyed the advantage of
operating on interior lines. The rough parity was
sustained as the campaign progressed with the thirteen
Allied divisions eventually facing fourteen Turkish
divisions. The half-hearted approach in London, until
July 1915, ensured that the Allied build-up was always
too little too late. Inadequate leadership played a part
in the Allied failure, and many men were sacrificed in
futile attacks on strong positions, especially at Helles.
ASSOS
Assos, which is within
Ayvacyk province, is hosting to the native and foreign
tourists during four seasons. Acropolis is 238 m. high
from sea level. Athena Temple was constructed at the
same place during 6th century B. C.
This seaport is located on
the southern Troad, opposite the Island of Lesbos (due
south) is located near Cape Lectum. The position of the
harbor made it less susceptible to the northerlies, a
constant wind that made navigation difficult at certain
times of the year. The harbor was engineered and is not
a natural one, according to a reference from the
historian Strabo (Geography 13.1.57). Established about
1000 BCE by Aeolians from nearby Mitylene, the city
passed through history with the succession of rulers of
the Lydians, Persians, Pergamenes and Romans.
Assos is an ancient walled
city sitting on top of a hill overlooking the northern
Aegean Sea. An important stronghold during the time of
the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the city, unlike many of
the ancient sites in Turkey is still home to a thriving
community.
At the foot of the hill,
the seaside town of Assos (Behramkale), is built on a
narrow strip of land between the sea and steep cliffs.
Built entirely of local stone, the many houses and
hotels in the seaside village, create an atmosphere
unlike anywhere else in Turkey. During the summer, space
is at such a premium that vehicles have to be parked in
a specially built car park outside the village.
Besides protection of Biga
peninsula and Edremit Gulf, this Doric temple has been
restored to its former magnificence. You can wait and
stay for a while watching moon light on ruins of a
temple, or you can awake early in the morning and watch
the magnificent image of Edremit Gulf from the upper
part of the city while sun is slowly rising. And all of
these make one understand why Assos is paradise to be
visited for a perfect holiday. There are agoras, a
theater and a Gymnasium from hills streching out to the
sea. A bridge, a castle and a mosque, constructed during
Ottoman Sultan I. Murat during 14th century at the north
edge of the Acropolis can be seen. There was a small and
sweet port at lower side.
At 25 km. west of
Behramkale, in Gülpynar village, Chryse, a historical
city, in which Apollo Smintheus Temple constructed
during 2nd century B. C., is present. At 15 km. west of
Gülpynar, on a road which is lying throughout an
unsigned sharp rocks, there is Babakale with cute
village houses on the steep of the hill descending to
the sea.
Assos, the famous teaching
center of antiquity is 87 km south of Canakkale in
Ayvacik County. Aristotle, Plato's most famous student,
was invited to Assos and spent over three years living
and teaching there. He married the niece of Hermeia,
founded a school of philosophy and conducted his early
exploratory work in zoology, biology and botany The
acropolis of Assos (Behramkale) is 238 meters above sea
level. The Temple of Athena was constructed on this site
in the 6th century B.C. This Doric temple is being
restored to its former glory and role as guardian of the
Biga Peninsula and Gulf of Edremit. Linger to see the
moonlight scattered through the temple ruins, or rise
early for the gently awakening dawn over the acropolis.
Several changes had occured
in Assos since the first settlement in the early bronze
age about 3 rd millenium B.C. In the Hommer’s account,
it was claimed that the southern shores of Troad were
belong to Lelegians and they made their living as seamen
and pirates during the years of the Trojan wars. It was
claimed that the oldest name of the city was Pedasos and
the name Assos was derived from it. On the other hand,
Behram, the present name of the area, is a derivation of
Makhram, Byzantine official who came to Assos on duty.
Due to its strategic location by the sea, several
civilizations were inhabited around the site such as
Lydians, Persians, Gallians, Pergamons, Latinians,
Seljukians and the Ottomans.
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