Elly Shofia
Amadiya, or as some call it, Amedi, is a city in Kurdistan, Iraq. It is located almost 15 kilometers from the border with Türkiye.
This city was built on a flat rock hill in the Zab River valley.
The houses stand on a flat hill that is 1000 meters long and 550 meters wide. Besides being beautiful, a beautiful city also teaches about the harmony of life between religious communities.
This city has historical and religious stories. Founded in 3,000 BC, the city originally belonged to the Assyrian Empire, although the village was occupied by many other peoples after.
The city has a Mediterranean climate, with very hot summers. While winters are cool and wet, it snows occasionally.
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Standing on a Flat Mountain
Amadiya is built on a flat mountain with a beautiful view of the valley. The city is surrounded by hills overgrown with grass.
Built on a flat mountain, the topography of this city is unique. Currently, there are around 6,000 residents living in this city.
This plateau has been inhabited by the ancient Assyrians since 3,000 BC. Furthermore, the city is located 1,400 meters above sea level.
In this city, there is an ancient gate, namely the Bahdinan Gate, a stone gate as high as 14 meters which is still maintained today.
Home to Christians, Muslims, and Jews
Amadiya is home to Christians, Muslims, and Jews who live side by side. History says that this city was home to many powerful priests and Messiahs throughout the centuries.
Before the state of Israel was established, the majority of the population in this city were Kurdish Jews. Furthermore, they began moving to Israel in the early 1950s.
Currently, the city is inhabited by the majority of Muslims. However, one-third of the population is Christian, and the two religions live in peace.
A Christian in this city still lives and worships in the church. Residential areas and places of worship for Christians are on the west side.
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History of the City of Amadiya
The Amadiya region in the 16th century BC, the Amadiya region was part of the Kurda kingdom. Entirely inhabited by non-Semitic Subarians.
Many years later, in the 7th century, to be precise, the city was ruled by a pasha from the royal family of Abbas. Moreover, this happened after the expulsion of the caliphs from Baghdad.
This ruler was reputed to be from one of the wealthiest families in the region. However, by the 1160s, the city was inhabited by a large Jewish population.
Besides the history, historical evidence shows that Amadiya is the place where three of the most important priests in all of Persia started their journey. They go to Bethlehem to meet the newborn Jesus.