AFUW-ACT
Inc. Meeting Report
for September 2009
Topic:TRAVELS IN TURKEY
Speaker: Elizabeth Cowan
The language spoken in east Turkey is a Mongol language and it is a
country very different to west Turkey. Elizabeth traveled from Trabzen
to Ezzucan and out to Kars where there was snow on the ranges. Armenia
is to the east; there are 11 border countries to Turkey. Mt Ararat was
visible from Arensa.
There are some very dry parts of the country but irrigation has been
very much part of life there. The group visited what is reputed to be
the birthplace of Abraham and traveled up the Euphrates River to near
Mt Nebron. Man in 40BC thought of himself as god so raised height of
statues. Dyarbaka is Kurdish territory; it is a poor area where services
are not good and the area is cold and windswept. It is a very rural
area, very traditional and not much mechanisation. The women wear headscarves
and follow traditional values. The mullahs encourage people to have
children so there is a massive migration to the big cities. Elizabeth
showed us many pictures of churches and mosques some dating back to
the 11th century many with frescos thought to have been drawn in the
4th century. There were some wonderful stone carvings at Isak Pash built
in 18th century looking towards Mt Ararat. The Museum had beautiful
bronze and, gold objects as well as jewelry and mirrors. On the Trishan
Plateau many beautiful rock
carvings and stelae from 15 - 11 BC were to be seen. The Tigris River
has been dammed in many places, which concerned the locals. The Great
Mosque in Diabuck has many beautiful mosaics.
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