Ancient citadel of Erbil Bashny.Net

In the heart of Iraqi Kurdistan is the fourth largest city in the country - Erbil. In the midst of the city is the ancient citadel, rising to a height of about 30 meters and is located on an area of ​​over 100 thousand square meters. m.

According to scientists, this citadel was built at least five thousand years BC, in order to protect from constant sieges. Permanent settlements on its territory settled on one millennium later. Mound fortress rises at an angle of 45 degrees. The fortress wall is the facades of houses built right next to each other. Just on the perimeter, there are about a hundred houses. Initially, the entrance to the city was only from the southern slope. Subsequently, there were added two inputs. Throughout the twentieth century the population of the citadel decreased consistently and according to the census of 1995, to approximately 500 houses here had 1,600 inhabitants.