Erbil Citadel in Iraqi History
A brief history of the historic Erbil Citadel
Show key points
- The Erbil Citadel, located in the heart of Erbil, Iraq, spans 110,000 square meters and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 201
- Dating back about 6,000 years, the Citadel is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in human history.
- Its distinctive oval shape, handmade brick construction, and narrow, winding alleys reflect a preserved urban and architectural heritage.
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- The Citadel comprises three main neighborhoods: Saray, Hospice, and Tunjana, each serving different social and functional roles in the past.
- Historically, it housed temples, religious schools, and even astronomical observatories, with the temple of Ishtar marking its spiritual importance.
- Throughout time, it has witnessed the rule of numerous civilizations including the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Achaemenids, and Mongols.
- Restoration and excavation efforts, led by UNESCO and local authorities, continue to preserve the Citadel and uncover its hidden historical treasures.
The Erbil Citadel rises like a magical fortress on the skyline of Erbil in Mesopotamia, occupying the entire hill at the center of the city. Covering about 110,000 square meters, it is an important archaeological site where dozens of significant remains have been discovered. UNESCO inscribed it on the World Heritage List on June 21, 2014.
Restoration work continues on the ancient citadel despite the economic crisis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The citadel is one of the oldest human settlements in history and has passed through many eras and civilizations, including Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian. It was also subjected to attacks and occupations by other powers such as the Achaemenids and the Sassanids before the Islamic conquests.
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The importance of Erbil Citadel throughout history
The historical citadel of Erbil is a distinctive urban entity overlooking the modern city of Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Despite the passage of thousands of years, it has preserved its urban fabric and architectural character; its history stretches back roughly six thousand years.
The site dates to the Neolithic period, and pottery fragments from that era have been found on the slopes of the mound.
Description of Erbil Historical Citadel
The citadel rises about 28 to 32 meters and has an oval shape, covering an area of approximately 11 hectares. Handmade bricks are the primary building material, and the urban fabric consists of narrow, winding alleys and traditional single-unit houses arranged around a central courtyard.
Erbil Citadel interior design
The citadel comprises three main neighborhoods:
Saray: The eastern quarter, which includes government and administrative buildings and houses for the wealthy, the notable families and government officials.
Hospice: The second district, covering the central and northern parts of the citadel, which contained many buildings used for religious rituals.
Tunjana: The western quarter, traditionally inhabited by artisans. The name Tunjana refers to a cannon that was used to defend the citadel against attackers.
The most important feature of the historical Erbil Citadel
The mound topped by the citadel is the product of natural accumulations of the remains of successive civilizations over thousands of years, dating back to the period when people first began to settle the site. The citadel was once famous for a temple to the goddess Ishtar, which included a religious school and an astronomical observatory and sheltered priestesses of Ishtar who practiced divination.
In 521 BC, Darius I of the Achaemenid Empire reorganized his realm administratively and appointed a local governor for Erbil. Later, Darius III used Erbil as a base before his defeat by Alexander the Great of Macedon at the Battle of Gaugamela.
The citadel was a center for the Jewish community and later became the seat of Christian bishops. It was the scene of many battles between the Roman Empire and the Sassanids, who at times made it a regional capital. The fortress regained importance when Imad al-Din Zengi took control of it in 1126 AD, and after 1190 AD Sultan Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri became ruler and made Erbil a thriving cultural and educational center in the region.
In 1232 the Mongols attacked the city and caused widespread destruction, but they did not capture the citadel until 1258–1259 following negotiations.
Erbil Citadel in Contemporary History
In 2012 the Supreme Committee for the Conservation and Rehabilitation of the Citadel selected seven sites for excavation; the work continued until 2015.
The citadel now houses a Kurdish fashion house and a museum of precious stones. UNESCO has launched a restoration project planned for 25 years, renewable, providing technical assistance and advice. Work has restored the exterior façade and sections between the internal alleys of the citadel, but despite these excavations and restorations, the site still holds many secrets about the civilizations that used it as a center and headquarters over the centuries.