Zaro Aga

Zaro Aga (* supposedly around 1774/1777 in Mutki, Bitlis Province, † June 29, 1934 in Istanbul ) is one with 156 years of life to the people with the longest claimed lives in the world. His age is not substantiated and his birth is realistic to set in the 19th century.

Born during the Ottoman Empire in the East Anatolian village Gunde Meydan district Mutki near the Lake Van Zaro Aga worked in his youth as a construction worker, then in Istanbul as a porter and finally there last as a janitor. According to him, he supported himself by necessity a long time mainly of bread and onions and consumed no coffee, tobacco and alcohol. In the 20s and 30s of the 20th century, he was presented as a sensation on tours in Europe and America. At his autopsy tuberculosis and an enlarged heart were observed.

The indication of the year of birth goes back to papers of the man. These were, however, to no official documents. One of his sons claimed to be already 90 years old in 1918.

The man was allegedly married 13 times and had 25 children.

Interview with Abdullah Cevdet

In an interview that appeared in the İçtihat Dergisi on April 5, 1913 Zaro Agha told Abdullah Cevdet that he had survived ten Ottoman sultans. As a conscript, he attended the Russian - Ottoman war of 1828/29 part. He was never more than two or three days been sick.