| Akşehir | |
|---|---|
| — District — | |
| Nasreddin Hodja park in Akşehir | |
| Location of Akşehir within Turkey. | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Konya |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mustafa Baloğlu (AKP) |
| Elevation | 1,025 m (3,363 ft) |
| Population (2000)[1] | |
| • District | 114,918 |
| • Urban | 63,000 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 42xxx |
| Area code(s) | 0332 |
| Licence plate | 42 |
| Website | www.aksehir.gov.tr |
Akşehir (Ottoman Turkish: اقشهر) is a town and district of Konya Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 114,918 of which 63,000 live in the town of Akşehir.[1][2] The town was known in the Roman and Byzantine empires as Philomelium or Philomelion (Greek: Φιλομήλιον) respectively.
The town is situated at the edge of a fertile plain, on the north side of the Sultan Dagh.[3]
Contents |
| Climate data for Aksehir | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5 (41) |
7 (44) |
11 (51) |
16 (60) |
21 (69) |
25 (77) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
25 (77) |
18 (64) |
13 (55) |
7 (44) |
16.8 (62.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −2 (28) |
−1 (30) |
1 (33) |
5 (41) |
9 (48) |
12 (53) |
14 (57) |
14 (57) |
10 (50) |
6 (42) |
2 (35) |
0 (32) |
5.6 (42.2) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 71 (2.8) |
66 (2.6) |
69 (2.7) |
69 (2.7) |
56 (2.2) |
46 (1.8) |
18 (0.7) |
13 (0.5) |
18 (0.7) |
48 (1.9) |
56 (2.2) |
76 (3) |
605 (23.8) |
| Source: Weatherbase [4] | |||||||||||||
Philomelion was probably a Pergamenian foundation on the great Graeco-Roman Highway from Ephesus to the east, and to its townsmen the Smyrniotes wrote the letter that describes the martyrdom of Polycarp. Cicero, on his way to Cilicia, dated some of his extant correspondence there; and the place played a considerable part in the frontier wars between the Byzantine emperors and the Sultanate of Rum. It became an important Seljuk town, and late in the 14th century passed into Ottoman hands. There Bayexit I of the Ottoman Empire is said by Ali of Yezd to have died after his defeat at the Battle of Ankara.[3]
The town's landmarks include the alleged tomb of Nasreddin Hoca, the tomb of Seydi Mahmut, the house used as headquarters by the Turkish Army during the last phase of the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), other monuments and old Turkish houses.
Between 5 July - 10 July each year, commemorations with concerts and other social activities are held to the memory of Akşehir's famous resident, Nasreddin Hodja.
With its rich architectural heritage, Akşehir is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions.[5]
The name Akşehir literally means "white city" in Turkish. It is a compound of two Turkish words, namely ak, "white", and şehir, "town". The word şehir comes from Persian شهر shahr, "town".
In English usage other spellings of the name include Ak-Shehr, Ak-Shahr, Akshehr, Akshahr, Akshehir, and Aqshahr.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.