Homer’s Iliad translated into Kurdish

ÇANAKKALE - Dogan News Agency

The five parts of Homer’s famous epic ‘Iliad’ will be published in a book both in Kurdish and Greek languages. The book will be released next mont.

The 2,800-year old “Iliad” epic of Homer is being translated into Kurdish in efforts that have been ongoing for three years by the Çanakkale Troy Foundation archaeologist Fecri Polat and Turkish teacher Kamuran Demir.

The ancient Greek epic, which tells the story of the Troy War, is being translated in the northwestern province of Çanakkale, where the ancient city of Troy is located.

Polat, who works for the Troy Foundation as an archeologist and his Turkish teacher friend from İzmir, began working three years ago to publish the Ilıad epic in the Kurdish language. They have finished
the translation of the first four and the 24th part, which is the last part, of the epic. The five parts of the epic will be published in a book to be released next month.

The book “Destana İlyadaye” will be in Kurdish and Greek, the original language of the epic. The foreword written by German archaeologist on Iliad and Homer will be translated into Kurdish.

Speaking about the works, Polat said that the Ilıad epic was well known in the world and it had been translated into more than 30 languages so far.

“When starting the project, our friends working for the Kurdish Institute hesitated saying that Kurdish would be able to support the epic since it has a heavy lexicon. Most people said it was a dream but we worked without hesitation. Actually, the Iliad has many phrases that any language could not support in translation.

Dengbej tradition 

“These phrases were written in dengbej (traditional Kurdish epic story) tradition. The language supported it word to word because both epics are the result of the same tradition. The Iliad was orally transferred during the dark period of 400 years when written language died out. The dengbej tradition was improved to prevent Kurdish language from dying out and people told their epics orally. This is why Kurdish became the best language supporting the Iliad epic,” Polat said.

He noted that it would take five years to complete the epic.

January/09/2014

Bath tunnels of king’s daughters discovered under Turkey’s second largest castle

TOKAT - Doğan News Agency

The secret tunnels are located on the southern and northern façades of the castle and are approximately 100 meters long. Works will continue throughout the year to completely reveal the tunnels. AA photos

Two secret tunnels have been discovered under Turkey’s second largest castle, in the northern province of Tokat’s Niksar district. The tunnels date back to the Roman period, and it has been claimed that one of the tunnels was used by a Roman king’s daughters in order to go to the bath in the Çanakçi stream area.

The excavations are being carried out by the municipality in the 6.2 kilometer-wide Niksar Castle, which is Turkey’s second largest castle after Diyarbakır Castle. The tunnels are located in the southern and northern facades of the castle and are approximately 100 meters long.

The earth masses in the tunnels have been removed, but work was subsequently halted as permission for the excavations expired and the number of staff was insufficient.

The 100 meter tunnel in the northern façade is said to have been used by the king’s daughters to reach the Roman bath near the castle. Niksar Mayor Duran Yadigar, who has inspected both tunnels, said works in the castle unearthed the entrance of the tunnels. “One tunnel goes to the stream below the castle. We have also excavated a parallel tunnel used by the king’s daughters. When the works are completed, the two tunnels in the south and north of the Niksar Castle will be completely unearthed. The artistic features of the castle will be revealed,” Yadigar said.

The Niksar Castle could be included in the
UNESCO World Heritage List when completely
restored. AA photos

Requires attention

Yadigar added that once these structures are completely revealed, the castle will make a great contribution to cultural tourism in the region. “We expect the Culture and Tourism Ministry to be interested in the Niksar Castle.

A quarter of the castle’s western section has been restored. Once it is completely restored, this place could be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and we could present the value of the Black Sea region to the world. I ask the relevant officials to show an interest in these tunnels,” Yadigar said.
Halis Şahin of the Tokat Museum, who provided information about the excavations, said works to reveal the Roman era tunnels would continue throughout the year.

January/09/2014

Seljuk Museum set to open in central Anatolian province

KAYSERİ hürriyet daily news

Kayseri’s monumental Gevher Nesibe Madrasah has been turned into a museum showcasing the Seljuk civilization. The Seljuk Museum, featuring the latest technology, is set to open in February

The Gevher Nesibe Madrasah has been turned into a museum housing historic artifacts from the Seljuk civilization as well as offering digital applications. DHA photo

Restoration works have been completed in the Gevher Nesibe Madrasah in the central Anatolian province of Kayseri. The madrasah has been turned into a museum housing historic artifacts from the Seljuk civilization as well as offering digital applications.

According to a written statement made by the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, works have almost been completed in the museum. The Gevher Nesibe Madrasah, which was built in 1206 by the Anatolian Seljuk sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev upon the will of his sister Gevher Nesibe Sultan will serve as the Seljuk Museum, which is the first one in Turkey.

The madrasah, which is known as the world’s first medical center, has been restored by the General Directorate of Foundations within the scope of a project made by Erciyes University Faculty of Architecture. But the fact that the floors of the patient rooms in the madrasah were covered with parquet and electricity wires were fished through the walls have caused criticisms and reactions.

Hayrünnisa Gül, the wife of President Abdullah Gül, made a statement then, saying, “We receive guests from abroad. For example the Dutch queen came and we took her to Kayseri. But I could not take her to the Gevher Nesibe, I feel embarrassed because of parquets on the floor. But the guest should see the natural fabric of this place. This time I saw that Kayseri became conscious and they started restoring the madrasah. They removed the parquets.”

Because of such criticisms, the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality restored the Gevher Nesibe Madrasah to its original once again. Now, the madrasah is set to open in February as a museum. Guests will have the feeling of walking on water in the museum thanks to a technology, according to officials.

Some parts of the museum will focus on the Seljuk civilization and other parts have been organized as a medical museum, which highlights the healing features of the madrasah.

The Seljuk civilization part will display elements on the Seljuk city, architecture, art, science, dress and also have sections providing information about the Seljuks in Anatolia.

The other part of the museum will have sections where visitors will be provided information about diseases, treatment methods and tools, scholars, medicines, treatment with music, treatment with color and etc.

Latest technology

Besides the Seljuk ethnographic artifacts that will be displayed in the museum, there will also be areas including interactive and technological visuals. In this way, visitors will get information by trying, applying, listening and using the technological tools.

The Seljuk Museum also has holographic 3D visuals and augmented reality applications, which are rare in the world museums. Thanks to this equipment, visitors will feel as if they walking on water or dressing like the Seljuk sultans.

The museum is considered as the cutting edge of digital museum management.

January/08/2014

Museum dedicated to Islamic scholar Mevlana breaks visitor record

KONYA - Anadolu Agency

Konya’s Mevlana Museum, which is home to the tomb of the famous 13th century Islamic poet and mystic Mevlana Jalal ad-din Rumi, broke a new record last year with 2.93 million visitors

The Mevlana Museum hosts hundreds of thousands of guests every year. Home to the tomb of the 13th century mystic Rumi, the museum is among the most visited museums in Turkey.

The Mevlana Museum in the central Anatolian province of Konya, which draws people from all around the world every year, broke a new record last year with 2.93 million visitors.

The museum, which is home to the tomb of famous 13th century poet and mystic Mevlana Jalal ad-din Rumi, hosts hundreds of thousands of local and foreign guests every year. Having a significant potential in terms of history, culture and faith tourism, it is among the most visited museums in Turkey.

Visitor number increases every year

Tourists flock to Konya to visit the tomb of Rumi, who give the messages of love, peace and brotherhood in his peoms. The number of visitors was 1,565 million in 2012 and it reached 2.93 million with 33 percent increase.

Konya Museum Director Yusuf Benli said after Rumi died, his tomb began to be constructed in the place of the museum. He said with additions through time, the tomb took its current shape and it was turned into a museum in 1926.

Benli said the museum receives people from all over the world, with an increasing number every year, adding, “Last year’s figure was very good. Visitors come in different categories; those who come to the museum with regular tickets and the ones who make visits with the ministry’s campaigns or museum card. There are also some with institutional cards. Generally, the number of foreign visitors is over 450,000. The others are from Turkish provinces.”

Benli noted the increase in the number of visitors was caused by people’s love for Rumi. “We are working to offer a more comfortable environment in the museum for guests.”

The museum receives visitors from various parts of the world from the Far East to Europe Benli said, adding their profile changed monthly.

He said they had hosted nearly 60,000 people during the Şeb-i Arus (the night of reunion) ceremonies. “The modernization of museums and new presentations trigger tourism,” he added.

Mevlana, who is also known as Rumi in Western countries, was born in Balkh, now part of Afghanistan, and passed away in Konya, Turkey, where he was laid to rest. During his 66 years of life, he left a legacy of major works of poetry and prose, including “The Quatrains” or “Rubaiyat,” “Divane-Shams,” the great work of Shams and “Fihe Ma Fi,” a collection of mystical sayings.

He is better known for his six-volume “Masnavi Ma’navi” (spiritual couplets), which is considered by many to be one of the greatest works of both Islamic mysticism and Persian literature.

January/09/2014

Edirne's historic spaces rearranged into cultural centers

EDİRNE - Anadolu Agency

The historic Macedonia Tower in Edirne will turn into a museum when the work is done. The city aims to become a cultural center in the Balkans.

Works have been continuing to turn historic structures in the northwestern province of Edirne, including the Macedonia Tower, into a museum.

Edirne Gov. Hasan Duruer said the Thracian city was a place of history, culture and tourism and that the municipality attached great importance to cultural and artistic events, as well as restorations and environmental arrangements.

“We will start working in the new year to rearrange some historic places. We will do some work in the Şükrü Paşa Museum. Works have also been carried out by the Abdi İbrahim company for the Health Museum. I have informed the prime minister about the situation of the Hıdırlık Bastion. Also, we have works for the Ottoman Civilization Museum,” he said.

As for the historic Macedonia Tower, Duruer said they had undertaken a project for the tower to become a museum. “On the other hand, some part of the Demircihan could serve as a museum,” he added.
Duruer said Edirne’s Kapıkule border gate was the second biggest in the world after the Mexican border gate in terms of passenger and vehicle entrance and exit and that many tourists from Greece and Bulgaria came to the city for shopping.

“Tourists mostly come to the city for New Year’s and Easter shopping. They also seek out historic artwork during their shopping. Our goal is to make Edirne the central city of the Balkans,” he said.    

Topkapı Palace welcoming more visitors with new works, changes

ISTANBUL - Anadolu Agency

Thanks to recent improvement works, 3.4 million people came to visit the Topkapı Palace in 2013. The most popular section of the palace was the seraglio.

Cultural authorities in Istanbul are reaping the fruits of their labors to improve Topkapı Palace, as 3.4 million people came to visit the former imperial palace last year, according to numbers from the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

The museum’s seraglio (harem) section, which is located inside the museum but visited with a different ticket, drew 1,030,491 people. In 2012, 3.3 million people visited the palace, while another 800,000 people visited the seraglio.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/topkapi-palace-welcoming-more-visitors-with-new-works-changes.aspx?pageID=238&nID=60587&NewsCatID=375

Miro Vakfı: İmzalar sahte

05/01/2014  RADİKAL

Miro İstanbul'da' sergisini inceleyen Miro Vakfı yetkilileri imzaların sahte olduğu sonucuna vardı. Eserler detaylı inceleme için İspanya'ya gidecek. Koleksiyonun sahibi Arete Sanat Galerisi ve sergi organizatörü Kült'le konuştuk.

Haber: ERKAN AKTUĞ - erkan.aktug@radikal.com.tr / Arşiv

http://www.radikal.com.tr/hayat/miro_vakfi_imzalar_sahte-1169301

Bookstore opens branch at historical port of Eminönü

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News

The Eminönü branch of the Istanbul Kitapçısı is named Katip Çelebi.

Istanbul’s historical Eminönü Port is now offering citizens the joy of reading books and drinking tea or coffee while waiting for the ferry at a new municipal-run bookstore that was recently opened at the site.

According to a written statement made by Kültür A.Ş, all products at the Istanbul Kitapçısı Katip Çelebi bookstore will feature a 25 percent discount until Dec. 28.

The bookstore also sells unique designs produced by “Hediyem Istanbul,” a new brand from Kültür A.Ş. that features items depicting cultural and artistic features of the city. “We are planning to carry the same concept to the Üsküdar, Beşiktaş and Kadıköy ports,” Kültür A.Ş. Director Nevzat Kütük said in a statement.

The bookstore is the sixth to be opened by Kültür A.Ş

Yunus Emre-Aşkın Sesi’nin galası Eskişehir’de yapıldı

Halk ozanı Yunus Emre'nin hayatını anlatan film, 10 Ocak'ta vizyonda.

05 Ocak 2014 Pazar 12:13 TRT 

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi (ESOGÜ) Kongre ve Kültür Merkezi’nde düzenlenen gala, yoğun bir katılımla Eskişehirlilerle buluştu. Filmin gösteriminden önce açılış konuşması yapan Eskişehir Valisi Güngör Azim Tuna, Yunus Emre’nin ‘Yer gök dolu bu aşktır, aşksız hiç nesne yoktur’ sözü ile başladı. Yunus Emre’nin sesinin gönül memleketinde hala yankı bulduğunu ifade eden Vali Tuna, "Bu aşkın sesi yankılanmaya devam edecek. Türk Dünyası 2013 Kültür Başkenti Eskişehir’de 8 asır önce yükselen manevi mimarımızın değerler dünyasını geleceğe taşımak için önce Yunus’un aşka çağıran sesine kulak vermeliyiz. Onun sözlerindeki derin ve ince manayı layıkıyla anlatmalı ve anlamalıyız. Bu gaye ile bilimin, sanatın hemen her türünden eserler verilmesi yönünde gayret veriyoruz. Tarihimizi, ana dilimizi, edebiyatımızı, kültür ve sanatımızı, gelenek ve göreneklerimizi gelecek kuşaklara aktarmak için ortam hazırladığımız Türk Dünyası Kültür Başkentliği uygulamasıyla bu çabamız devam etmektedir" dedi.
Film ile Yunus Emre’ye ve onun yaşadığı 13. yüzyıla uzanan bir iç yolculuk yaşanacağını da dile getiren Vali Tuna, "Yunus misali, başımızdan aşkın bir aşk ve onun erdiği güzelliklerin sırrına mazhar olmak ümidiyle, filmde emeği geçenleri tebrik ediyorum" şeklinde konuştu.

YUNUS'U DÜNYAYA ANLATMAKN İÇİN 
Ardından konuşma yapan, filmin yönetmeni, senaristi ve yapımcısı olan Kürşat Kızbaz, Eskişehir’de olmanın kendisi için çok anlamlı olduğunu belirtti. Bugüne kadar 63 ülke genelinde gösterimler yaptığını, ancak en çok Eskişehir’de heyecan yaşadığını anlatan Kızbaz, "İnanarak yola çıktığımız üretim yolculuğumuz, Türkiye’nin en değerli oyuncuları, teknik ekibi, akademisyenleri ve kurumlarının desteğiyle tamamlandı. Bugüne kadar filmleriyle 63 ülke üzerinde gösterimler yapan birisi olarak, herhalde hayatımda en heyecanlandığım gösterim burası oldu. Onun da nedeni, bu coğrafyada Yunus Emre’nin ayak izler vardı ve biz 800 yıl sonra onunla ilgili bir film yaptık. İlk defa onun evinde gösterdik. Şimdi durup baktığımızda Yunus’u dünyaya anlatmak için çok daha güçlüyüz. Bu geceye emek veren çok değerli ekip arkadaşlarıma teşekkür ediyorum" diye konuştu.
Ankara’da ve İstanbul’da da galası yapılacak olan film, Türkiye'de 10 Ocak’ta, Avrupa'da ise 16 Ocak’ta vizyona girecek