Kirkuk Iraq: Exploring Ancient History Of Northern Mesopotamia

Kirkuk, Iraq sits near foot of Zagros Mountains in Kurdistan region, 270 km north of Baghdad, oldest part clustered around citadel built on ancient tell or mound near Khasa River. During period of Assyrian prominence 9th–10th century BCE city was called Arrapha. Kirkuk’s citadel much of which still in existence dates back to 3000 BC, home to diverse population of Kurds, Iraqi Turkmens and Arabs, major centre of Iraq’s petroleum industry with oil pipeline connections to Tripoli Lebanon and Yumurtalik Turkish coast.

Arrapha And Names Of Warmth And Bones

Ancient name of Kirkuk was Hurrian Arrapha or Arrapkha Akkadian Arrapḫa Arabic أررابخا عرفة. During Parthian era Korkura Corcura Ancient Greek Κόρκυρα mentioned by Ptolemy believed to refer either to Kirkuk or to site of Baba Gurgur 4.5 kilometres from city. Since Seleucid Empire it was known as karkā d-ḇeṯ slōḵ which means Citadel of House of Seleucid in Mesopotamian Aramaic lingua franca of Fertile Crescent in that era. Region around Kirkuk was known historically in Eastern Aramaic and Syriac Assyrian sources as Beth Garmai Syriac ܒܝܬܓܪܡܝ. Name may be of Syriac origin meaning house of bones thought to be reference to bones of slaughtered Achaemenids after decisive Macedonian victory in Battle of Gaugamela. Alternative explanation derived from people possibly Assyrian or Persian tribe. In Parthian and Sassanid periods as Garmakan Land of Warmth or Hot Land Persian Garm means warm. After 7th century Muslim writers used name Kirkheni Syriac for citadel to refer to city. Others used variant Bajermi corruption of Aramaic B’th Garmayeh or Jermakan corruption of Persian Garmakan. In 1948 Arrapha became name of residential area in Kirkuk built by North Oil Company as settlement for workers.

It is suggested Kirkuk was one of places occupied by Neanderthals based on archeological findings in Shanidar Cave settlement. Large amount of pottery shards dating to Ubaid period were also excavated from several tells in city. Later excavations in 2000 carried out by Kirkuk Directorate of Antiquity in northern sides revealed walls built by thick adobe bricks with semicircular abutments. Topography, climate, construction materials, absence of orthogonal grids, consideration of civil aesthetics and social segregation in citadel showed evidence site is descent of ancient Mesopotamian cities like Erbil Citadel and many others that shared similar appearance. Excavation reveals significant ancient structures province dating back 4,000 years.

From Sargon To Shapur: Millennia On The Khasa

Ancient Arrapkha was part of Sargon of Akkad’s Akkadian Empire 2335–2154 BC and city exposed to raids of Lullubi during Naram-Sin’s reign. Later city occupied around 2150 BC by language isolate speaking Zagros Mountains dwellers known as Gutian people by Semitic and Sumerian of Mesopotamians. Arraphkha was capital of short-lived Guti kingdom Gutium. Gutians driven from Mesopotamia by Neo-Sumerian Empire circa 2115 BC. By about 2400 BC Hurrians expanded southward from Caucasus and assumed control of settlement of Arrapha site of present-day Kirkuk in northern Mesopotamia from Assyrians. Cities to north like Ashur, Arbela modern Erbil and Arrapha modern Kirkuk were also extant in what was to be called Assyria from 25th century BC however at this stage Sumerian-ruled administrative centers.

Arrapkha became part of Old Assyrian Empire c.2025–1750 BC before Hammurabi briefly subjected Assyria to short-lived Babylonian Empire after which again part of Assyria circa 1725 BC. However by middle of 2nd millennium Indo-Aryan Mittani of Anatolia formed ruling class over Hurrians and began to expand into Hurri-Mittani Empire. In 1450s they attacked Assyria sacking Assur and bringing cities of Gasur and Arrapkha under control. From c.1450 to 1393 BC kings of Assyria paid tribute to kingdom of Mittani. Middle Assyrian Empire 1365–1020 BC overthrew Hurri-Mitanni in mid 14th century BC. Arrapha became part of Assyria proper with Hurrian population driven away. In 11th and 10th centuries BC city rose to prominence becoming important city in Assyria until fall of Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–605 BC. Under Medes Cyaxares might have settled Sagartians in Assyrian cities of Arbela and Arrapha probably as reward for help in capture of Nineveh.

In AD 341 Zoroastrian Shapur II ordered massacre of all Assyrian Christians in Persian Sassanid Empire during persecution about 1,150 martyred in Arrapha. Arab Muslims fought Sassanid empire in 7th century conquering region part of Islamic Caliphate until tenth century. Then Hasanwayhid Kurds and Annazid Kurds from 1014 to 1120 AD then taken over by Seljuk Turks for many years. After divided empire collapsed city came under Abbasids rule once again Suleiman Shah governor until taken over by Mongols in 1258. After Mongol invasion Ilkhanate founded, Ilkhanid rule ended 1336 Ardalan took over despite being vassals of various Persia centred succeeding Turkic federations Qara Qoyunlu Aq Qoyunlu. After Battle of Chaldiran in 1514 city came under Soran Emirate control until taken over by Babanids in 1694. In 1851 direct control Ottoman Empire until World War I when Ottomans pushed out by British Empire. British occupied Kirkuk on 7 May 1918, Treaty of Lausanne 1923 failed to solve Mosul Vilayet question, League of Nations committee territory south of Brussels line belonged to Iraq, Treaty of Angora 1926 Kirkuk became part of Kingdom of Iraq.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Kirkuk Located In Northern Iraq?

Near foot Zagros Mountains Kurdistan region 270 km north of Baghdad elevation 350 m oldest part clustered around citadel built on ancient tell mound near Khasa River capital Kirkuk Governorate population 1249197 2024 diverse Kurds Iraqi Turkmens Arabs.

What Was Ancient Name Of Kirkuk?

Hurrian Arrapha Arrapkha Akkadian Arrapḫa Parthian Korkura Corcura mentioned Ptolemy referring Kirkuk or Baba Gurgur 4.5 km Seleucid karka d-beth slokh Citadel of House of Seleucid Aramaic lingua franca region Beth Garmai house of bones after Gaugamela Garmakan Land of Warmth Muslim Kirkheni Syriac citadel Bajermi Jermakan variants.

How Old Is Kirkuk Citadel And What Found?

Citadel dates back 3000 BC still in existence. Neanderthals suggested Shanidar Cave Ubaid period pottery shards several tells walls thick adobe bricks semicircular abutments topography climate materials absence orthogonal grids civil aesthetics social segregation descent of ancient Mesopotamian cities like Erbil Citadel excavation structures 4000 years.

Which Empires Ruled Kirkuk As Arrapha?

Sargon Akkadian 2335-2154 BC raids Lullubi Naram-Sin occupied 2150 BC Gutian Gutium driven Neo-Sumerian 2115 BC Old Assyrian 2025-1750 BC Hammurabi Babylonian brief again 1725 BC Mittani 1450s sacked Assur controlled Gasur Arrapha tribute 1450-1393 BC Middle Assyrian 1365-1020 BC Hurrian driven away rose 11th-10th until Neo-Assyrian 911-605 BC Achaemenid Athura 546-332 BC Macedonian 332-312 Seleucid 311-150 Parthian 150 BC-224 AD Beth Garmai capital c.160 BC-250 AD Sassanid Assuristan massacre 1150 Christians AD 341 Shapur II.

Why Is Kirkuk Significant Today Beyond History?

Major centre Iraq petroleum industry oil pipeline connections Tripoli Lebanon Yumurtalik Turkish coast in 1948 Arrapha residential area built by North Oil Company for workers diverse population shaped by demographic engineering Arabization disputed territory Article 140 2005 Constitution census referendum unresolved described as Jerusalem of Kurdistan small version of Iraq.

Kirkuk endures because it never stopped being Arrapha under other names. Tell of 3000 BC, adobe with semicircular abutments, Beth Garmai house of bones, Garmakan land of warmth, Kirkheni citadel — each name records who needed its position at foot of Zagros near Khasa. To see blue dome at citadel above oil field of Baba Gurgur is to see how northern Mesopotamia compresses 25th century BC administrative centre into petroleum hub without breaking continuity.