Akşehir

Infobox Settlement
settlement_type = District
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone= EET
utc_offset=+2


map_caption =Location of PAGENAME within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
official_name = Akşehir


image_caption = Nasreddin Hodja park in Akşehir
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =
map c
Turkey
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = Konya
population_total = 114918
population_urban = 60226
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 =
area_total_km2 =
latd = 38
latm = 21
latNS = N
longd = 31
longm = 25
longEW = E
elevation_m = 1025
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 42xxx
area_code = 0332
blank_info = 42|blank_name=Licence plate
leader_title=
leader_name =
website = [http://www.aksehir.gov.tr/ www.aksehir.gov.tr]

Akşehir is a town and district of Konya Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 114,918 of which 60,226 live in the town of Akşehir.cite web|url=http://www.die.gov.tr/nufus_sayimi/2000tablo5.xls|title=Census 2000, Key statistics for urban areas of Turkey|accessdate=2008-03-22|author=Turkish Statistical Institute|format=XLS|language=Turkish] [cite web|url=http://www.xist.org/cntry/turkey.aspx?levels=Ic%20Anadolu|title=Statistical information on Turkey's administrative units|accessdate=2008-03-22|author=GeoHive|language=English] The town was known in the Roman and Byzantine Empires as Philomelium (Latin language) and Philomelion (Greek language) respectively.

The town is situated at the edge of a fertile plain, on the north side of the Sultan Dagh.1911]

History

Philomelion was probably a Pergamenian foundation on the great Graeco-Roman Highway from Ephesus to the east, and to its townsmen the Smyrniotes wrote the letter that describes the martyrdom of Polycarp. Cicero, on his way to Cilicia, dated some of his extant correspondence there; and the place played a considerable part in the frontier wars between the Byzantine emperors and the Sultanate of Rum. It became an important Seljuk town, and late in the 14th century passed into Ottoman hands. There Bayezid Yilderim is said by Ali of Yezd to have died after his defeat at Angora.

Modern times

The town's landmarks include the alleged tomb of Nasreddin Hodja, the house used as headquarters by the Turkish Army during the last phase of the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), other monuments and old Turkish houses.

Between 5 July - 10 July each year, commemorations with concerts and other social activities are held to the memory of Akşehir's famous resident that was Nasreddin Hodja.

With its rich architectural heritage, Akşehir is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions. [cite web|url=http://www.historic-towns.org/documents/members/turkey.doc|title=Historic Towns of Turkey|accessdate=2008-03-22|author=The European Association of Historic Towns and Regions|language=English|format=DOC]

Name

The name "Akşehir" literally means "white city" in Turkish. It is a compound of two Turkish words, namely "ak", "white", and "şehir", "town". The word "şehir" comes from Persian "shahr", "town".

In English usage other spellings of the name include Ak-Shehr, Ak-Shahr, Akshehr, Akshahr, Akshehir, and Aqshahr.

Notable People From Akşehir

* Nasreddin Hodja
* Ali Kirca
* Aykut Karaman
* Meltem Cumbul
* Lutfi Kibiroglu
* Tarik Bugra
* Ozgu Namal

Notes

References

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External links

* [http://www.aksehir.gov.tr/ District governor's official website] tr icon
* [http://www.aksehir.bel.tr/ District municipality's official website] tr icon