City history
From the ancient gates of Arbela to the vibrant modern streets of the Kurdistan Region, explore the enduring history of Erbil, Iraq.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"The etymology of this name is disputed among historians."
Arbela is recognized as the earliest documented name for the city, appearing frequently in ancient Mesopotamian records and historical texts associated with the Assyrian Empire's historical influence in the region.
Unknown
Commonly used in Greek and Assyrian historical texts.
Erbil
The current name used in both Kurdish and Arabic.
Chapter two
Iraq officially ceased the observance of daylight saving time to maintain a consistent schedule throughout the year, ending the practice of seasonal clock shifts.
Iraq formalized its standard time offset of UTC+3 to align with regional standards.
Chapter three
The site of the Erbil Citadel began human habitation long ago, establishing it as one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited locations in human history.
The Citadel of Erbil was formally inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its immense cultural and historical significance to all of humanity.
The Kurdish New Year, Nowruz, is a major cultural milestone celebrated annually, marking the arrival of spring and reinforcing historical Kurdish identity.