Ganja, Azerbaijan
| Ganja Gəncə |
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Azerbaijan | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Eldar Azizov | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 110 km2 (42.5 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | +408 m (1,339 ft) | ||
| Population (2009)census data[1] | |||
| - Total | 313,000 | ||
| Time zone | GMT+4 (UTC+4) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | GMT+5 (UTC+5) | ||
| Website | www.ganca.net | ||
Ganja (Azerbaijani: Gəncə) is Azerbaijan's second-largest city with a population of around 313 ,000.[2][3][4] It was named Elizavetpol (Russian: Елизаветполь) in the Russian Empire, and Kirovabad (Russian: Кировабад) in the USSR.
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History
Origin of the name
Modern historians believe that the name Ganja (گنجه / Ganjeh) derives from the New Persian ganj (گنج: "treasure, treasury") and suggests that the city existed in pre-Islamic times and was likely founded in the fifth century A.D.[5] The area in which Ganja is located was known as Arran from the ninth to twelfth century; its urban population spoke mainly in the Persian language.[6][7]
Pre-1500
According to medieval Arab sources, the city of Ganja was founded in 859-60 by Mohammad b. Khaled b. Yazid b. Mazyad, the Arab governor of the region in the reign of the caliph Al-Mutawakkil, and so-called because of a treasure unearthed there. According to the legend, the Arab governor had a dream where a voice told him that there was a treasure hidden under one of the three hills around the area where he camped. The voice told him to unearth it and use the money to found a city. He did so and informed the caliph about the money and the city. Caliph made Mohammad the hereditary governor of the city on a condition that he would give the money he found to the caliph.[8]
Foundation of the city by Arabs is confirmed by the medieval Armenian historian Movses Kagankatvatsi, who mentions that the city of Ganja was founded in 846-47 in the canton of Arshakashen by the son of Khazr Patgos, “a furious and merciless man”.[9]
Historically an important city of the South Caucasus, Ganja has been part of Sassanid empire, Great Seljuk Empire, Atabegs of Azerbaijan, Khwarezmid Empire, Il-Khans,[10] Timurids,[11] Jalayirids,[12] Qara Qoyunlu,[13] Ak Koyunlu,[14][15] and the Ganja Khanate. Ganja is also the birthplace of the famous poet Nizami.
The people of Ganja experienced a temporary cultural decline after an earthquake in 1139, when the city was taken by king Demetre I of Georgia and its gates taken as trophies, and again after the Mongol invasion in 1231. The city was revived after the Safavids came to power. City was also managed by Ottomans between 1578–1603 and 1724-1735.
16th-19th centuries
For a short period, Ganja was renamed Abbasabad by Shah Abbas after war against the Ottomans. He build a new city 8 km to the southwest of the old one, but the name changed back to Ganja during the time[16] During the Safavid rule, it was the capital of the Karabakh (Ganja) beylerbey,[17] one of the four such administrative units and principalities.[18] In 1747, Ganja became the center of the Ganja Khanate.
According to the October 1813 Gulistan Treaty, the Ganja Khanate, together with most of Azerbaijan and Georgia, was recognized as part of Russian Empire after Persia's defeat in the Persia-Russia wars except Persian occupation between 1826-1827.[19] It was renamed Elizavetpol (Russian: Елизаветполь) after the wife of Alexander I of Russia, Elizabeth, and in 1868 became the capital of Elizavetpol Governorate.[20] Elizavetpol was an uyezd of Tiflis Governorate before 1868.
20th century
In 1918, Ganja became the temporary capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, at which point it was renamed Ganja again, until Baku was recaptured from the British backed Centrocaspian Dictatorship. In April 1920, the Red Army occupied Azerbaijan. In May 1920, Ganja was the scene of an abortive anti-Soviet rebellion, during which the city was heavily damaged by fighting between the insurgents and the Red Army.[21] In 1935, Joseph Stalin renamed the city Kirovabad after Sergei Kirov.[22] In 1991, Azerbaijan re-established its independence, and the ancient name of the city was given back.[23]
Administrative organization
Ganja is divided into:
- Kəpəz Rayon, with about 160,000 people
- Nizami Rayon, with about 140,000 people
Economy
The economy of Ganja is partially agricultural, partially tourist based, with some industries in operation. Ore minerals extracted from nearby mines supply Ganja's metallurgical industries, which produces copper and alumina.[24] There are porcelain, silk and footwear industries. Other industries process food, grapes and cotton from the surrounding farmlands.
The city has one of the largest textile conglomerates in Azerbaijan and famous for fabric named Ganja silk, which received the highest marks markets of neighboring countries and Middle East.[23][25]
Buildings, landmarks and museums
Statues depicting scenes from the works of Nizami, near the Nezami Mausoleum.
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Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
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In the 11th century, a local blacksmith named Ibrahim produced the well known the Gates of Ganja.[23]
- Nizami Mausoleum, built in honor of Nezami Ganjavi, stands just outside the city of Ganja, Azerbaijan. It attracts nearly 35000 visitors per year.[26]
- Shah Abbas Caravanserai, At present it is in use of the Ganja State Humanitarian college
- Juma (Shah Abbas) Mosque, the mosque was under construction in 1606 under the project of Sheikh Baahaddin Mahammad Amilin mosque and currently is biggest mosque of the city.
- Khan Bagi. The 17th century built garden
- Chokak Bath, center of the applied art
- The European bath of 19th century.
- The Albanian Church. Built in 17th century.
- The Albanian Church. Built in 18th century and currently, it is in use of the Ganja State Philharmonic Chamber.
- Russian Orthodox church.
Education
Ganja is home to four major institutes for post-secondary education.
- Ganja State University
- Azerbaijan State Agricultural Academy
- Azerbaijan Technological University
- Azerbaijan Teachers Institute, Ganja Branch
Transportation
Air
Ganja International Airport is the only airport in the city.[27] The airport is connected by bus to the city center.
Rail
Ganja sits on one of the Azerbaijani primary rail lines running East-West connecting the capital, Baku, with the rest of the country. The railway provides both human transportation and transport of goods and commodities such as oil and gravel.
Languages
About 99% of the population of Ganja speak Azerbaijani, only 1% of the population speak in other languages.
Miscellaneous
Sports
The city has one professional football team competing in the second-flight of Azerbaijani football - FK Gäncä, formlery known as Kəpəz Gəncə currently playing in the Azerbaijan First Division.[28]
Historic Armenian community
In addition to Persian- and Turkic-speaking Muslims, the city has had a numerically, economically and, culturally significant Armenian community.[29][30] Among the Armenians, the city is known as Gandzak (Գանձակ)[31][32][33] The name Gandzak derives from gandz (Arm. - գանձ), the loan word from Old Iranian, which means treasure or riches.[34][35] The city's historically important Christian figures include Kirakos Gandzaketsi, author of the History of the Armenians[36]), Armenian[37] philosopher Mkhitar Gosh[38] author of the Code of Laws that was used in Armenia, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and Armenian diasporan groups in Europe,[39] 13th century polymath Vardan Areveltsi[40] and Grigor Paron-Ter, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem. Among the modern time's prominent Armenian person's of the city were Russian-Armenian architect Karo Halabyan,[41] secretary of the Armenian SSR Communist Party Askanaz Mravyan,[42] Marshall Hovhannes Baghramyan,[43] and the Olympic champion Albert Azaryan.[44]
The founder of the Hethumid dynasty, Oshin of Lampron was an Armenian nakharar and lord of a castle near Ganja who fled to Cilicia in 1075 during the Seljuk invasion of Armenia.[45]
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
| City | Country |
|---|---|
| Derbent |  Russia |
| Rustavi |  Georgia |
| Newark, New Jersey |  United States |
| Izmir |  Turkey |
| Moscow | Russia |
| Kutaisi | Georgia |
| Kars | Turkey |
Notable people from Ganja
- Nizami Ganjavi, famous poet
- Mahsati Ganjavi, poetess
- Javad Khan, khan of Ganja Khanate
- Mirza Shafi Vazeh, classical poet,
- Israfil Mammadov, military commander
- Fikrat Amirov, composer
Pictures of Ganja
 The Nizami Ganjavi Monument in Ganja |
 Ganja archeological museum |
 Ganja city hall |
 Ganja city hall |
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Statue of Nizami Ganjavi in front of the crumbling Kyapas Hotel |
Ganja downtown |
Cavadxan St (formerly Ganja St and before that Sabir St!) |
 Shah Abbas Mosque |
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Area around Shah Abbas Mosque |
 Ganja's quirky 'Bottle House' (Huseynli St) |
 Nizami Mausoleum |
 Statues depicting scenes from the works of Nizami, near the Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum (Ganja) |
 Statues depicting scenes from the works of Nizami, near the Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum (Ganja) |
 Statues depicting scenes from the works of Nizami, near the Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum (Ganja) |
 Grave of the Javad Khan |
References
- ↑ Day.az
- ↑ Travel Guide to Azerbaijan
- ↑ The Ganja State Historical-Cultural reserve
- ↑ В Азербайджане численность населения достигла 8 млн. 922 тыс. человек (Russian)
- ↑ Encyclopedia Iranica, "Ganja", C. Edmund Bosworth
- ↑ История Востока. В 6 т. Т. 2. Восток в средние века. М., «Восточная литература», 2002. ISBN 5-02-017711-3 (History of the East. In 6 volumes. Volume 2. Moscow, publishing house of the Russian Academy of sciences «East literature»): The polyethnic population of Albania left-bank at this time is increasingly moving to the Persian language. Mainly this applies to cities of Aran and Shirvan, as begin from 9-10 centuries named two main areas in the territory of Azerbaijan. With regard to the rural population, it would seem, mostly retained for a long time, their old languages, related to modern Daghestanian family, especially Lezgin. (russian text: Пестрое в этническом плане население левобережнoй Албании в это время все больше переходит на персидский язык. Главным образом это относится к городам Арана и Ширвана, как стали в IX-Х вв. именоваться два главные области на территории Азербайджана. Что касается сельского населения, то оно, по-видимому, в основном сохраняло еще долгое время свои старые языки, родственные современным дагестанским, прежде всего лезгинскому.
- ↑ Дьяконов, Игорь Михайлович. Книга воспоминаний. Издательство "Европейский дом", Санкт-Петербург, 1995., 1995. - ISBN 5-85733-042-4. cтр. 730-731 Igor Diakonov. The book of memoirs.
- ↑ V.Minorsky. A History of Shirvan and Derbent.
- ↑ History of the Caucasian Albanians by Movses Dasxuranci, C.J.F. Dowsett trans. (London 1961), chapter 21.
- ↑ Iran. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 17, 2007
- ↑ Timurid Dynasty. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 16, 2007
- ↑ Jalayirid. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 17, 2007
- ↑ Kara Koyunlu. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 15, 2007
- ↑ Ak Koyunlu. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 17, 2007
- ↑ Aznet.org: Ganja's History
- ↑ Seyyaf Sednik oqli Pashayev. "The Monuments of Ganja Khanate of the Period form 1606 - 1804". http://www.gitc.aznet.org/GenceDovletQorugu/knanates.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
- ↑ "Beglerbeg" in Cyclopædia dictionary, (ed. Ephraim Chambers), First Volume, London: Printed for J. and J. Knapton (and 18 others), 1728, p. 95 (accessed March 17, 2007)
- ↑ I.Petrushevskiy. Ocherki po istorii feodal'nikh otnosheniy d Azerbaijane i Armenii v XVI - nach. XIX vv., Leningrad, 1949, p. 122, in Russian
- ↑ John F. Baddeley, "The Russian conquest of the Caucasus", London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1908, p. 67, citing "Tsitsianoff's report to the Emperor: Akti, ix (supplement), p. 920".
- ↑ Елизаветпольская губерния (Elizavetpol Governorate) in Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (Russian)
- ↑ Leeuw, Charles Van Der (2000), Azerbaijan: A Quest For Identity, p. 124. St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0-312-21903-2.
- ↑ Gəncənin tarixi... (Azerbaijani)
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Ganja's History
- ↑ Ganja on Cities & Sites
- ↑ Gəncə Dövlət Universitetinin Riyaziyyat-İnformatika fakültəsi: GƏNCƏNİN TARİXİ (Azerbaijani)
- ↑ Nizami Gəncəvinin məqbərəsi uça bilər (Azerbaijani)
- ↑ Gəncə Beynəlxalq hava limanının açılış mərasimi (Azerbaijani)
- ↑ Гянджа сегодня (Russian)
- ↑ Soviet Census in 1926-1979, Newspaper Pravda Press, Moscow, 1983
- ↑ According to the 1892 official data, 10524 of 25758 inhabitants of the city were Armenians, there were 6 Armenian Apostolic (Gregorian) churches", Elizavetpol article, Brockauz and Efron Encyclopedia (in Russian)
- ↑ "the union of Georgian and Armenian armies near Gandzak", Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE)
- ↑ "Mkhitar Gosh was born in Gandzak", Mkhitar Gosh article, (BSE)
- ↑ "Gandzak (Ganja)" [jss.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/6/2/145.pdf The death of the last 'Abbasid Caliph': a contemporary Muslim account, by Boyle J. // Semitic Studies.1961; 6: 145-161
- ↑ Transactions of the Philological Society. B. Blackwell., 1956, p. 100
- ↑ Dictionary.Hayastan.com
- ↑ Kirakos, Gandzaketsi, History of the Armenians, New York: Sources of the Armenian Tradition, 1986.
- ↑ "Armenian philosopher, literary and public activist", Mkhitar Gosh at BSE
- ↑ Mkhitar Gosh at BSE
- ↑ "Despite the code of Gosh hadnt official character, it used in Armenia, as in the foreign countries, where there were Armenian population". Code of Laws by Gosh at Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE)
- ↑ (Armenian) Hovhannisyan, P. «Վարդան Արևելցի» (Vardan Areveltsi). Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia. vol. xi. Yerevan, Armenian SSR: Armenian Academy of Sciences, 1985, pp. 312-313.
- ↑ Alabyan at BSE
- ↑ Mravyan at BSE
- ↑ Baghramyan at BSE
- ↑ Azarian at BSE
- ↑ M. Setton, Kenneth; Robert Lee Wolff, Harry W. Hazard (1969). "XVIII: The Kingdom of Cilician Armenia". The later Crusades, 1189-1311 (A History of the Crusades, volume, II). Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 633. ISBN 0299048446. http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/History.CrusTwo.
External links
- Ganja - The memories of stones
- Ganja Automobile Factory
- Ganja at the Azerbaijan Development Gateway
- Historical Monuments of Ganja
- Nizami Ganjavi Museum of History and Ethnography of Ganja
- Ganja (as Gəncə) at GEOnet Names Server
- World Gazetteer: Azerbaijan – World-Gazetteer.com
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