Gaziantep
[key], city, capital of Gaziantep prov., S Turkey. Gaziantep is an
important trading and manufacturing center known for its textiles, pistachio
nuts, copperware, and furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. An ancient
Hittite city, it was occupied (8th cent. b.c.) by Sargon of
Assyria. It occupied a strategic position in the Crusades and was taken by
Saladin in 1183. It was the center of Turkish resistance (1920–21) to
the French occupation of the region. After a long siege it was captured by
the French, but was returned to Turkey in 1921. For its heroic resistance
the city was awarded the title of Gazi, which means
“Warrior for the Faith” or “Veteran,” and from
that time has been known as Gaziantep.
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