Produced for Middle East Eye
In pictures: Inside the Erbil Citadel, one of the world's oldest settlements
Situated in the heart of the modern city of Erbil in Iraq's Kurdistan, the Erbil Citadel is spread over 24 acres and reaches heights of around 100 feet. The area is said to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the world, with estimates dating the first foundations to around 6,000 years ago. The earliest mentions of something resembling the name of Erbil appear in Sumerian sources around 5,000 years ago, where it was known as Urbilum. The Akkadians, who spoke a Semitic language, referred to a place known as Arba-ilu, which meant 'four gods'. Today the area is an integral part of the modern city and home to a bustling array of museums, markets, and cultural landmarks.
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