Çelebi

Amid the ongoing archaeological excavations to uncover Smyrna Agora and Smyrna Theater on an area between İzmir's Kadifekale and Kemeraltı districts, the traces from Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as various principalities and the Ottoman era, have come to light so far.

Minarets in the Mountains recounts a road trip Hussain and his family took in the summer of 2016 through the former Yugoslavia and Albania in search of Europe's indigenous Muslim communities, their history and heritage.

A dog has taken the internet by storm after photos circulated on social media showing it commuting on Istanbul's public transport.

The buzz began when someone posted a photo of the dog on the tram in Istanbul with the caption saying, "A security officer wanted to take the dog out, but it resisted. Then he said, 'Anybody bothered? Because if not, it will get off at Kabataş station'."

The history of Kibatos Castle, an important structure of the Byzantine period, which was discovered at a depth of about 3 meters in 2019 in the Marmara Sea, is being revealed through research.

In his wonderful "Book of Travel," famed Ottoman explorer Evliya Celebi (1611-1682) said that writers of all faiths regard Athens as the "home of wise men." Celebi sang the city's praises in a beautifully written paean after visiting Athens in 1668. He encountered a medieval city, where the Parthenon was still almost intact.

Adnan Çelebi, who has been a craftsman for 30 years in Avanos district of Cappadocia, has been making the world's smallest jugs for 15 years.

Metin Çelebi has been shaping and engraving jet stones, which is called "black gold" in the eastern province of Erzurum, for 43 years. He engraves traditional Turkish motifs on them, making rosaries and accessories before selling them to buyers. 

Guided by Evliya Çelebi's "Seyahatname" (Travel Book), an excavation team in the eastern province of Erzincan's Kemah district has succeeded to unearth the longest water tunnels and a millennium-old Turkish neighborhood. 

A fire during restoration works has caused serious damage to a historic 15th century Ottoman mosque in Didymoteicho, northeastern Greece, local officials said on March 22.

"For the moment there is no indication that arson was involved," Nathanail Rigas, head fireman of the Thrace region bordering Turkey, told AFP.

Today, March 25, is the anniversary of the birth of Evliya Çelebi, one of the greatest Ottoman men of letters. He is also one of the least-appreciated. As someone who has lived in Istanbul for many years, immersing myself of late in Evliya's life and work, I remain perplexed that he is scarcely celebrated in Turkey today.