Gangra

Çankırı
Municipality
General view of Çankırı
Coat of arms
Çankırı Location in Turkey Show map of Turkey Çankırı Çankırı (Turkey Central Anatolia) Show map of Turkey Central Anatolia
Coordinates: 40°35′55″N 33°37′09″E / 40.59861°N 33.61917°E / 40.59861; 33.61917
Country	Turkey
Province	Çankırı
District	Çankırı
Government
• Mayor	İsmail Hakkı Esen (MHP)
Elevation	800 m (2,600 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]	90,564
Time zone	UTC+3 (TRT)
Area code	0376
Website	cankiri.bel.tr

Çankırı is a city in Turkey, about 140 km (87 mi) northeast of Ankara. It is situated about 800 m (2500 ft) above sea level. It is the seat of Çankırı Province and of Çankırı District.^[2] Its population is 90,564 (2021).^[1]

History

Çankırı was known in antiquity as Gangra (Greek: Γάγγρα), and later Germanicopolis (Greek: Γερμανικόπολις). The city has also been known as Changra, Kandari, Kanghari, or Kangri.^[3] Α town of Paphlagonia that appears to have been once the capital of Paphlagonia and a princely residence, for it is known from Strabo that Deiotarus Philadelphus (before 31 BC–5/6 AD), the last king of Paphlagonia, resided there.^[4] Notwithstanding this, Strabo describes it as only "a small town and a garrison".

According to 1st-century BC writer Alexander the Polyhistor^[5] the town was built by a goat herder who had found one of his goats straying there; but this origin is probably a mere philological speculation as gangra signifies "a goat" in the Paphlagonian language. Gangra was absorbed into the Roman province of Galatia upon the death of Deiotarus in 6/5 BC. The earlier town was built on the hill behind the modern city, on which are the ruins of a late fortress, while the Roman city occupied the site of the modern city.^[6] In the writings of the 2nd-century AD Greco-Roman writer Ptolemy, the city is referred to as Germanicopolis (Greek: Γερμανικόπολις).^[7][8] It was named Germanicopolis, after Germanicus or possibly the emperor Claudius, until the time of Caracalla. In Christian times, Gangra was the metropolitan see of Paphlagonia.^[6] Hypatios, bishop of Gangra, is considered a saint in the Orthodox Christian tradition. He was killed by Arians on his return from the Council of Nicaea (325 AD), in which he took part.

In the 4th century, the town was the scene of an important ecclesiastical synod, the Synod of Gangra. There is disagreement about the date of the synod, with dates varying from AD 341 to 376. The synodal letter states that twenty-one bishops assembled to take action concerning Eustathius of Sebaste^[9] and his followers. The synod issued twenty canons known as the Canons of Gangra; these were declared ecumenical by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Under these canons, the sect disowned marriage, disparaged the offices of the church, held conventicles of their own, wore a peculiar dress, denounced riches, and affected special sanctity. The synod condemned the Eustathian practices, declaring however that it was not virginity that was condemned, but the dishonouring of marriage; not poverty, but the disparagement of honest and benevolent wealth; not asceticism, but spiritual pride; not individual piety, but dishonouring the house of God.^[6]

In 1400-1401, after a synod the Patriarch Matthew I appointed George Kontophe as metropolitan of Gangra, following a request from its inhabitants, who were being threatened by the Turkomans.^[10]

Over the centuries the settlement witnessed the hegemony of many cultures and races, such as Hittites, Persians, ancient Greeks, Parthians, Pontic Greeks, Galatians, Romans, Byzantine Greeks, up to the Seljuks and finally the Ottoman Turks. Traces from its long past are still visible throughout the city. The continuity of the city's name from ancient times across languages is of note: Hangara for the Arabs, Gagra for the Jews and Tzungra or Kângıri or Çankıri for the Turks.

Demographics

As the administrative centre of Çankırı Province, Çankırı serves as the principal urban settlement of the surrounding region. The city has experienced periods of population growth and decline, reflecting broader migration trends in Central Anatolia and the movement of residents to larger urban centres such as Ankara and Istanbul.^[11]

Culture

Çankırı is widely associated with the traditional Yâran culture, a social institution rooted in the principles of solidarity, hospitality and community participation. The tradition is regarded as a local expression of the medieval Ahi culture of Anatolia and is maintained through organised gatherings known as Yâran meetings.^[12]

The city is also known for its traditional architecture, local cuisine and folk customs, which form an important part of the cultural heritage of Central Anatolia.^[13]

Tourism

Çankırı contains a number of historical, cultural and natural attractions. Among the most notable is the Çankırı Salt Cave, one of Turkey's largest rock salt deposits and a site that has been used for salt extraction since antiquity. ^[14]

Other attractions include Çankırı Castle, the medieval Taş Mescit, traditional Ottoman-era houses and the city's museums. The Yâran cultural tradition is also regarded as an important element of local cultural tourism.^[15][16]

Transport

Çankırı occupies a strategic location in north-central Turkey and is connected to neighbouring provinces by a network of highways and railways. The city lies approximately 150 km northeast of Ankara and is served by the Ankara–Karabük railway line. The nearest airport is Ankara Esenboğa Airport.^[17]

The city's position between Central Anatolia and the western Black Sea region has historically contributed to its role as a regional transportation and commercial centre.^[18]

Economy

Education

Higher education in the city is provided primarily by Çankırı Karatekin University, a public university established in 2007. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through numerous faculties, institutes and vocational schools and has become one of the city's leading educational institutions.^[19][20]

Archaeology

The area around Çankırı has yielded archaeological and palaeontological discoveries spanning millions of years. Excavations at the nearby Çorakyerler fossil locality have uncovered numerous Late Miocene animal fossils, making the site one of Turkey's most important palaeontological areas.^[21]

The wider region was inhabited during antiquity and formed part of ancient Paphlagonia, later coming under the control of the Kingdom of Pontus, Galatia, the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.^[22]

Climate

Çankırı has a dry summer continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dsa and Dsb) or a humid continental climate (Trewartha climate classification: Dca and Dcb). Other locations to the north of the city center feature more humid characteristics (Köppen climate classification: Dfa and Dfb). Summers are usually hot and dry and winters are cold and snowy. The rainiest month is May, while the driest month is July.

Notable people

• Ankaralı Namık (1976–2015), the bestselling of folk music artist and Ankara folk culture
• Ahmet Çakar (born 1962), the medical doctor, FIFA cockade old football referee and sport TV programme pundit

Mayors Of Çankırı Province

• 1977-1980 Necdet İpek MHP
• 1984-1989 Mustafa Kale ANAP
• 1989-1994 Raif Oktay DYP
• 1994-2002 Ahmet Bukan MHP
• 2002-2004 Namık Kemal Eryılmaz MHP
• 2004-2018 İrfan Dinç AK Party
• 2018-2019 Hüseyin Boz AK Party
• 2019-present İsmail Hakkı Esen MHP

Twin towns – sister cities

Çankırı does not currently maintain a widely published official list of internationally recognised sister cities.^[26]

See also

• Anatolian Tigers

References

Further reading

• Boğaç A. Ergene: "Local Court, Provincial Society and Justice in the Ottoman Empire, Legal Practice and Dispute Resolution in Çankırı and Kastamonu (1652–1744)". Studies in Islamic Law and Society, volume 17, Brill, Leiden, 2003. ISBN 90-04-12609-0.