Category: Culture/Art

  • Fall of Jerusalem

    Fall of Jerusalem

    The Fall of Jerusalem during the Ottoman Empire occurred in 1917 during World War I. The Ottoman Empire, which was aligned with the Central Powers, was engaged in conflict with the Allied Powers, including British forces in the Middle East. Jerusalem, a city of significant religious and historical importance, was part of the Ottoman Empire at that time.

    In 1917, General Edmund Allenby led British and Empire forces in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign against the Ottoman forces. The campaign aimed to capture strategic territories in the Middle East, including Jerusalem. On December 9, 1917, British forces approached Jerusalem, and the Ottoman garrison in the city, under the command of Mayor Hussein al-Husseini, surrendered to the British without significant resistance.

    General Allenby, in a symbolic gesture, entered Jerusalem on foot through the Jaffa Gate on December 11, 1917. This event marked the end of Ottoman rule in Jerusalem after centuries of control. The fall of Jerusalem was a pivotal moment in the Middle Eastern theater of World War I, and it had significant implications for the subsequent geopolitical developments in the region.

    After the fall of Jerusalem, the British Mandate for Palestine was established, and the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to govern the territory. The fall of Jerusalem is remembered for its historical, cultural, and religious significance, as the city holds sacred sites for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

    The Battle of Jerusalem occurred in Palestine Campaign during World War I between British Empire against the Ottoman Empire. Fighting for the city developed from 17 November, continuing until surrender of the Holy city in 30 December 1917. After the fall of Ottoman ‘Gaza Line’ between Beersheba and Gaza in October-November 1917. Ottoman retreated north and form defensive line between Aqaba in the Red Sea and Jafa in mediterranean coast. Port cty of Aqaba quickly fell to the British backed Hashemite rebels in July. Whle the Ottomans defended itself fron two front attack from British advance in Sinai and Hashemite rebel attack from Hejaz.

    This series of battles was successfully fought by the British Empire’s XX Corps, XXI Corps,Desert Mounted Corps and Hashemite rebels against strong opposition from the Yildirim Army Group’s Seventh Army in the Judean Hills and the Eighth Army north of Jaffa on the Mediterranean coast. The loss of Jaffa and Jerusalem, constituted a grave setback for the Ottoman Empire.

    Fall of Jerusalem ottoman history

    Clip taken from :
    The Great Arab Revolt (2016)
    Son Mektup (2015)
    Gelibolu (2005)
    Çanakkale 1915 (2015)
    Gallipoli (2015)
    Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
    The Water Diviner (2014)
    Gallipoli (1981)
    The Lighthorsemen (1987)
    Адмиралъ (2008)
    The Russian Revolution (2017)
    Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
    Dschihad für den Kaiser (2016)
    Wonder Woman (2017)
    Flyboys (2006)

  • Featured review on Aurora’s Sunrise

    Featured review on Aurora’s Sunrise

    It is good to see that following review has been featured on IMDb:

    Auroras Sunrise

    Not real story , all lies as usual.

    This movie is full of lies.

    I wish they made a movie about Artin Agopyan.:)))))

    This film does not reflect reality in any way , but it is also quite biased. The theme is quite boring.it is not clear for what purpose it was written it doesn’t give anything to the viewer. I do not recommend this movie to anyone, which has no artistic value, has ridiculous content and is boring and was made just for in order to manipulate what really happened in the past. It is truly sad for humanity that such a film was made to serve certain interests groups by misleading people’s feelings. Again this film does not reflect reality in any way.

    nihalfoley

  • A Cultural Product From Ottoman Palace Festivities to Today: Nahıl

    A Cultural Product From Ottoman Palace Festivities to Today: Nahıl

    Tree has great importance in Turkish culture. With the belief of Shamanism, tree is entered daily life and accepted as a tool of communication. All the meanings that the tree of life encompasses are reflected on traditions. Tree of life is used as a motive in architecture and handicrafts of Anatolian realm in Turkish culture before and after Islam.

    A new interpretation of tree is observed in the festivities and weddings organised in the Ottoman Empire with the use of three dimensional nahıls in different sizes.

    nahillarin gecidi

    Nahıl is an object which is used in weddings and festivals resembling a palm tree with its conic shape getting thinner as it goes upwards and is decorated with ornaments in different shapes.

    The meaning ascribed to nahıl coincides with the meaning ascribed to the tree. Nahıls which draw all the attention to themselves are important indicators in terms of sharing power and beauty with the society.

    Historians mention the existence and technical features of nahıls in small and large scales. Nahıls on which the power of sovereignty is also reflected have begun to be forgotten with the collapse of Ottoman Empire.

    nahil ornegi

    The traces of nahıl are found, though rarely, in Turkey and it is used in plain forms as a sign of wedding ceremonies. As a reflection of an almost forgotten cultural tradition, nahıl makers (Nahılbents) of today strive to keep alive this tradition.

  • Why didn’t Ottoman empire control whole Arabian peninsula?

    Why didn’t Ottoman empire control whole Arabian peninsula?

    It wasn’t worth it.

    The South-eastern part of the peninsula was inhabited by Arabs allied to the Turks, so no need for conquest.

    The Empire controlled the more densely inhabited areas of the West and East which were the largest trading establishments, included the holy islamic cities of Mecca and Medina and also much of the coastline and ports. Stationing troops in the middle of the desert to guard sand wasn’t really a good investment move. Had they attempted to do that, they would have succeeded but they would have to defend against raids from indomitable bedouin tribes which would drain manpower and resources best used elsewhere. Oil wasn’t a big thing back then.

    Instead the Ottomans traded with the bedouins coming and going to and fro. This way they got what the land had to offer without expending themselves.

    Christos Terzis

  • Timeline for Istanbul

    Timeline for Istanbul

    The occupants of Istanbul were the Greeks, prior to the Turks. However Istanbul had different inhabitants prior to the Greeks as well. A timeline for Istanbul is as follows:

    istanbul constantinople
    • 1930 – to date: Istanbul, a city in the Republic of Turkiye
    • 1923 -1930: Konstantiniyye, a city in the Republic of Turkiye
    • 1453 – 1923: Konstantiniyye, a city in the Ottoman Empire
    • 476 – 1453: Constantinople, a city in the Eastern Roman Empire
    • 330 – 476: Constantinople, a city in the Roman Empire
    • 272 – 330: Byzantium, a city in the Roman Empire
      Byzantium (Byzantion) was founded by Greek Megarians in the 7th century, BC and Chalcedon was also founded by Greek Megarians at about the same time. Two different cities on either side of the Bosphorus, the first evolved into Istanbul the other into Uskudar/Kadikoy, both now of “metropolitan” Istanbul.
    • BC 657 – 272:, Chalcedon (the city only at the Asian side of the Bosphorus), a city in the state of Megara
    • BC 1300: Lygos, a city hosting some Thracian people
    • Before BC 1300: Many ancient people have lived in this area. Most of them are unnamed due to lack of documentation. During the excavations of Marmaray tunnels, many artifacts have been found, some of which are dated back 6,000 BC.
    yenikapi marmaray kazilari
    marmaray dig reveals glasswork in ottoman 2011 11 24 l
    Marmaray dig reveals glasswork in ottoman, 2011-11-24
  • KEXP presents Gaye Su Akyol

    KEXP presents Gaye Su Akyol

    gaye su akyol

    KEXP presents Gaye Su Akyol performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded September 20, 2023

    Songs:
    Vurgunum Ama Acelesi Yok
    Böyle Olur Mu
    Martılar Öpüşür, Kediler Sevişir
    Love Buzz

    Gaye Su Akyol – Vocals
    Ali Güçlü Şimşek – Guitar
    Görkem Karabudak – Bass, Keyboard
    Berke Özcan – Drums

    Host: Darek Mazzone
    Audio Engineer: Kevin Suggs
    Audio Mixer: Görkem Karabudak
    Mastering: Matt Ogaz
    Cameras: Jim Beckmann, Carlos Cruz, Jonathan Jacobson, Scott Holpainen
    Editor: Jim Beckmann

    KEXP

    KEXP’s mission is to enrich your life by championing music and discovery. Our vision is a connected and compassionate world embracing curiosity and a shared love of music.

    KEXP is an international community of music lovers and music makers, and a nonprofit organization fostering relationship and community building through broadcast, online, and in-person music experiences. 

    Since our founding at the University of Washington in 1972, we’ve remained focused on championing music from all around the globe – spanning eras, styles and traditions. KEXP operates one of the most influential listener-supported music radio stations in the world, broadcasting at 90.3 KEXP-FM, Seattle and through our website and mobile apps. On KEXP’s YouTube channel, our world-renowned Live on KEXP sessions feature exclusive in-studio performances and interviews from emerging and established artists. From a public facility at Seattle Center, KEXP produces hundreds of live performances and music events each year, many of which are open to public audiences at no charge. 

    Gaye Su Akyol

    Gaye Su Akyol (born 30 January 1985) is a Turkish singer, painter and anthropologist.

    Biography
    Akyol’s father is the painter Muzaffer Akyol; her mother was a civil servant, but she passed away in 2014. She graduated from the anthropology department of Yeditepe University in 2007. After that she built her career as a painter with exhibitions both in Turkey and abroad. Before her solo career, she also performed in music bands Mai, Toz ve Toz and Seni Görmem İmkansız alongside Tuğçe Şenoğul.

    In 2017, she composed a few songs for the soundtrack of Red Istanbul a film directed by Ferzan Özpetek. In November 2023 they recorded their first performance for the Seattle radio station KEXP.

    Inspirations include singer-songwriter Selda Bağcan and the grunge band Nirvana.