Erbil Citadel, Erbil

The Erbil Citadel, also known as Qelat, is a tell or occupied mound in Erbil, Iraq's Kurdistan Region, and the old city center. Since June 21, 2014, the citadel has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The citadel mound has been occupied since at least the 5th millennium BC, and maybe earlier. Around 2,300 BC, it first occurs in historical sources on the Ebla tablets, and it became particularly important during the Neo-Assyrian period. Erbil was a major Christian center during the Sassanian period and the Abbasid Caliphate. Erbil's status waned after the Mongols took the castle in 1258. The urban structure was dramatically altered during the twentieth century, resulting in the destruction of a number of residences and public structures. The High Commission for Erbil Citadel Revitalization (HCECR) was founded in 2007 to oversee the citadel's repair. In the same year, all residents were ejected from the citadel, except for one family, as part of a huge renovation effort. Various international teams have conducted archaeological study and restoration work at and around the tell since then, in collaboration with local specialists. Once the citadel is repaired, the government hopes to house 50 families there.

The buildings on top of the tell span a roughly oval space of 430 by 340 meters (1,410 ft 1,120 ft) with a total size of 102,000 square meters (1,100,000 sq ft). The Mulla Afandi Mosque is the sole religious structure that has survived. From the surrounding plain, the mound rises between 25 and 32 meters (82 and 105 feet). The citadel was divided into three districts or mahatmas when it was fully occupied: the Serai, the Takya, and the Topkhana, which ran east to west. The Serai area was home to prominent families; the Takya district was named after dervishes' dwellings, which were known as takyas; and the Topkhana district was home to craftsmen and farmers.

Location: Iraq