Talking about Erbil, Hawler City

Arbil, also known as Erbil, Irbil and of course Hawler in Kurdish, along with other 2 cities, namely: Sulaimanya and Dohuk, constituting the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in the north of Iraq.

I said constitute the "KRG" but not Iraqi Kurdistan, or South Kurdistan, as this doesn't include too many other places, including Kirkuk, North and East Mosul, and other cities and towns.

The Arbil Governorate lies between 43, 45/22' longitudinal parallels, eastwards and 35, 37/15' latitudinal parallels, northwards.

Thus, it is situated south of the Great Kurdistan, north of Federal Iraq and in the middle of Kurdistan Region. Geographically, the city of Erbil extends over a vast plain, with 1300 ft. above sea level.

Arbil is a dividing line between Great Zab and Little Zab. The capital of Kurdistan, Arbil is 350 km off the Federal Iraqi metropolis, Baghdad. It is bounded by the city of Sulaimaniya in the east; Great Zab, cities of Mosul and Dohuk from the west; Kirkuk from the south and to the north there are Tukey-Iran borders.

Since the ancient eras, Erbil has been an administrative, military and commercial centre, maintaining its value and fame. Hence it is an old city, having names dating back to 4000 BC. In the Sumerian King's (Shulgi) writings it was known as (Urbillum); in the Babylonian and

Assyrian inscriptions, referred to as (Arbaello)-i.e. the four gods. Under the Babylonians, Ishtar Temple was centered there. In cuneiform manuscripts it was known as (Ay Kshan Klama) which means (Region Lady's Home). It was the temple housing Assyrian gods; therefore one can see sculpted pictures of King (Banipal 627-688 BC); many Assyrian kings' pictures who had lived in the region; besides a bronze-made statue of Ishtar goddess. Owing to the city's significance, the Assyrian King (Sennacherib 681-750 BC) stored its underground water in 22 km marble-built tunnel extending from Murtka village to Erbil. On the water spring gate Sennacherib wrote the following:

Erbil was the Assyrian Empire's Capital under Sargon of Akkad (705-721 BC). At that time Erbil had been at the peak of civilisational and constructional progress.

Following the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC, it became a part of the Medes's State; however, after the World War I, it became part of Iraq's lands.

Erbil witnessed many events and wars. The most well-known battle was (Arbella) in (331 BC) between Alexander of Macedonia and Dara III, the last Persian Emperor. Erbil is also designated as the city of Holako's Downfall, because all Holako's attempts to penetrate this city ended to a big failure and finally he pulled out his army (1235 A.D.)

Pre-Islamic Periods Witnessed by Erbil:

1. Sumerian Period.

2. Assyrian Period.

3. Persian Period.

4. Sasanid Period.

5. Safavid Period.

6. Parthian Period.

Post-Islam Principalities Ruling in Erbil:

1. Hazbanian Principality.

2. Baktakmina Principality.

3. Kurdish Mazinjan Principality.

Here is some old pictures of the Old Hawler city.