Facts About Turkey

Did you know that Turkey…

is known as the Cradle of Civilization
borders three major seas (Black, Aegean, Mediterranean)
was known as Asia Minor (Anatolia)
is where the first Human Rights Declaration was stated in1463
is where Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot
is the birthplace of King Midas
has 70% of the population under 35
is where the train the Orient Express was destined
was the center of two empires (Byzantine and Ottoman)
provides the world with 70% of it’s hazelnuts
has a 650 year old shopping mall with 65 streets and 3500 shops
is the birthplace of Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus)
became a modern republic in 1923
is where Noah’s Ark landed
witnessed the first international treaty in 1284 B.C.
is where the world famous Iznik tiles originated
had two of the Seven Wonders of the World
has historical relics pertaining to three of the world’s major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
has the world’s most valuable silk carpet
provided water to the Garden of Eden from the Euphrates and Tigris
is the birthplace of the Apostle Paul
is where the Jews found refuge during the Inquisition in Europe
is the location of Troy where the Trojan wars were fought
had the world’s first Supreme Court woman judge
is a member of the UN since 1945
is one of few places where you can

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Old Testament History

Asiatic or Eastern Turkey is known as Anatolia and is as much associated with the Old Testament as New Testament history.  The land in eastern Turkey is as old as time.  Today the Tigris and Euphrates rivers originate from Turkey and were first named in relation to the “Garden of Eden.”

Mount Ararat is in the far eastern side of Turkey and is higher than any mountain in Europe.

Noah’s son’s sons trace their heritage and family names to areas in what is now Turkey. Japeth’s decendents that were in this region were Gomer, Gog, Magog, Madai, Mesech, Tiras, Javan, Tubal and Togarmah. Shem’s link to this area is found through Nahor, Terah, Abraham, Asshur, Aram, and Lud.

Ham’s lineage can also be traced to eastern Turkey through Cush, Heth and the Hittites, and Nimrod.

Many place names have faint resemblances to these figures and personalities today.  The oldest known city in the world (Catal Hoyuk) is located just outside of ancient Iconium, today called Konya, in central Anatolia and dates to 6000 B.C.  In this Mesopotamian region ancient stories, “Gilgemesh Epic;” ancient treaties, “Treaty of Kadesh;” and

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