Erbil

Erbil (ancient Arbela) is an ancient city located in Upper Mesopotamia, in the basin of Büyük Zap Suyu, and mentioned in sources throughout both antiquity and the Islamic period.

Ancient Sources

In ancient sources, the city is particularly mentioned in connection with the great battle between Alexander the Great and the Persian king III. Darius. Historians like Pliny speak of the Arbelitis/Gaugamela war that occurred between Alexander and Darius; a village bearing this name and still known by the same name near Erbil exists today (Volume 1, p. 47). In another early record concerning Persian history, the Behistun (Bisotun) inscription stands out, which describes the ascension of I. Darius to the throne and the revolts against the Persians; this inscription, written in cuneiform and in three languages (Eski Persçe, Elamca, Babilce), is considered among the most important documents of the Persian Empire (Volume 1, p. 63).

Center of Christianity and Zoroastrianism

Erbil emerges as one of the important centers in the history of early Christianity and Zoroastrianism in late antiquity. It is recorded that council documents found in the Erbil Metropolitan Library were used in a chronicle that deals with the life stories of clerics who lived between AD 100-540/551; it is stated that this work also contains some information belonging to the period of I. Hüsrev, as the events it covers conclude around AD 540, but there are doubts about the authenticity of the work (Volume 1, pp. 53-54). Such works are considered valuable because they provide details about the Zoroastrian beliefs of the people residing primarily in Erbil and settlements along Büyük Zap Suyu, thereby shedding light on discussions regarding the relationship between Kurds and Zoroastrianism (Volume 1, p. 55). Another important source for the region's Christian history is the Mar Qardagh Tarihi, which focuses on a clergyman martyred during the persecutions of the II. Şapur period; this text contains information about the cultural world of the Adiabene region, extending from Nusaybin to Diyala Nehrine, and directly mentions the Kurds (Volume 1, p. 58).

Islamic Period

In the Islamic period, Erbil was a center that witnessed regional struggles. The Hasanveyhî ruler Hasanveyh defeated the army sent by the Büveyhî ruler Muizüddevle towards Şehrezor and moving from Musul, at a location west of Erbil (Volume 1, p. 120). In geographical sources, the city is directly associated with the lands inhabited by Kurds: According to what is cited from Mes'ûdî, the abodes of the Kurds are Bilad-ı Cebel, which encompasses the lands of Fars, along with Irak-ı Acem, Azerbaycan, Musul, and Erbil (Volume 2, p. 34). Erbil is mentioned in a neighboring position to Şehrezor, which is located between Hemedan in the Cibal region and whose entire population is stated to be Kurdish (Volume 2, p. 37). ed-Dımaşkî, on the other hand, records that the city of Erbil is located in Cezîre, its inhabitants are Kurdish, and the city was previously connected to Irak, and then to Musul (Volume 2, p. 64).