Palu, Elazığ

Template: Infobox city in Turkey / Maintenance / County

Palu is a city and capital of the eponymous district in the Turkish province of Elazig, it is mainly inhabited by Sunni Muslims, who define themselves as Zaza Kurds. The district of Palu lies to the east of the province, bordering the province of Bingöl. In the city of Palu 9187 and throughout the county 20,377 people ( as of 2012).

History

The story Palus dates back to the time of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. King Šulmanu - ašared III. designate the area of Palu as the country Isua. He retired middle of the 9th century BC by Palu against the northern tribes and kingdoms such as Urartu. A little later the Urartian king Menua reached the area and left a stele in Eski Palu.

After the Urartians here were different peoples and empires. These included the Macedonians, the Parthians, the Sassanid Empire, the Armenians, Sophene, the Romans, the Byzantine Empire, the Arabs, the Kurds, the Dulkadir that Aq Qoyunlu and the Ottomans. Since the victory of the Ottomans in the 16th century over the Safavid some autonomous Kurdish principalities were established in eastern Anatolia. Palu was one of those principalities. As the Ottoman Empire lost the First World War on the side of the Central Powers, Palu in 1923 part of the new Republic of Turkey.

Geography

The River Murat, a source of the river Euphrates, flows from the north east of the county and is in the southwest of the Palus Keban Reservoir.

Attractions

• Castle of Palu: This castle was already used by King Menua. In his inscription he calls the country Sebeteria. The castle is situated on a high rock and is partially encircled by river Murat.
• Cemşit Bey Külliyesi: This Kulliye (Foundation) was established in the 16th century by the local rulers. The construction includes a mosque, a madrasa, a Türbe ( mausoleum ) and a Hazîre (cemetery).
• Küçük Cami ( Cami -i Sagir ): This small mosque is located in the old part of Palus and is partially collapsed. When it was built is unknown, but it is older than the Ulu Camii.
• Ulu Camii ( Cami -i Kebir ): The Great Mosque was built in 1852 and is in Eski Palu. Instead of a dome roof they had a flat roof, but that is collapsed today.
• Hamam: Palu has a hamam from 1619, which was built in the classical Ottoman style.
• Kilise: A church ruin probably the Byzantine period.
• Palu Köprüsü: This bridge over the River Murat comes after stories from the Roman era, but the architecture is reminiscent of the Seljuk style. Therefore, it is believed that they may ( 12th to 15th century ) dates from the time of Ortoqiden. Probably the Ortoqiden have repaired an old Roman bridge. The bridge is 156.50 m long and 3.5 m wide. 2010, the jumper has been renovated.

Famous people

• Melkon Gürdjian (1859-1915), writer and victims of the Armenian genocide