Diyarbakir Castle in the Ligt of New Studies

Diyarbakir had been under the rule of different religions, cultures and states and It continued to be the area of interest of civilizations during each period of the history. Christianity and Islam in this city are two important religions prevailing. Romans, Parthians, Sassanids and Byzantine were dominant states of the region during pre-Islamic period. Islamic conquest in Diyarbakir took place in the course of Hz. Omar period. After the rule of Hulefâ-i Râşidîn, the Umayyads took over the administration. Diyarbakir was under their rule during that period. Abbasid period inscriptions are common in the region and seen as among one of the most common periods about inscriptions in Diyarbakir. Şeyhoğulları, Hamdanîs, Büveyîs are also among the ruling states in Diyarbakır. Mervanids were the leading dynasties with regards to their their services and domination of the region. The Great Seljuk State which was undoubtedly one of the largest state in Turkish and Islamic history and the states that were subject to it, Syrian Seljuks and Anatolian Seljuks; İnaloğulları, Nisânoğulları, Artukoğulları; Akkoyunlu and Ottoman Empire dominated Diyarbakır. In Diyarbakir, during Pre-Islamic and Islamic periods, constructions, repair and reconstruction continued uninterruptedly, that is why, Diyarbakir is a valuable treasure not only in respect to its old-history but also in terms of general history and Turkish history. Particularly during the Artukoğluları, a major public works were carried out on the castle walls. “Ulu Beden” (The great body) and “Yedi Kardesh” (the Seven Brothers) bastions (towers) were built and the walls were repaired during this period. “Ulu Beden” (The great body) and “Yedi Kardesh” (the Seven Brothers) bastions are masterpieces of Turkish art.There is an inner castle at the northeast end of the city, which has two main roads intersecting north-south and east-west intersect at the center, four main gates and secret passageways connected to these roads, which have been demolished or rebuilt with new buildings. Diyarbakir Castle, which was built in accordance with the topography of the land and fortified with 82 bastions, has a rectangular plan with rounded corners.In a part of the walls of Diyarbakır Castle, between 1930-1932, there were various demolitions. Approximately 200 m of the area around Harput Gate was destroyed by dynamite because it prevented air from entering the city. Albert Gabriel, who came to the city in 1932, convinced the authorities that the destruction was a mistake and prepared publications containing extensive information, documents, photographs and drawings about the walls. The walls have been repaired since the 1940s.