Darganata
Darganata
Birata (?-2017) Dargan-Ata | |
|---|---|
  Darganata Location in Turkmenistan | |
| Coordinates: 40°29′N 62°10′E / 40.483°N 62.167°E | |
| Country |  Turkmenistan |
| Province | Lebap Province |
| District | Darganata District |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 21,465 |
Darganata is the capital city of Darganata District in Lebap Province of Turkmenistan.
Prior to 27 November 2017, the city was called Birata.[1]
Etymology
The name Darganata is of obscure origin. Atanyyazow speculates that dargan might be from an Arabic-origin root referring to "boat" or "hull" (the city is on the Amu Darya) but finds the suffix ata ("father") inexplicable.[2][3] Paul Brummell notes that the name could be interpreted as "Divided Ata Tribe"; this had prompted the renaming to Birata, meaning "United Ata Tribe"![4]
History
The place developed out of the Khorezm settlement of Dargan; however, the modern city lies about 3 km north.[4] Nothing exists of the ancient settlement except the wall-perimeter.[4]
On 27 July 2016, the erstwhile town was upgraded to a city; over a year later, on 5 November 2017, its Soviet-era name of Darganata was restored.
Tourism
The Darganata Mausoleum (c. 14th c.) stands between the modern town and the walled perimeter of the ancient settlement; according to local tradition, it is the tomb of Abu Muslim.[4] However, this appears to be untrue since contemporary sources record that Muslim's mutilated body was thrown in the River Tigris.[5]
References
- ^ "Внесены изменения в административно-территориальное деление Лебапского велаята" [Changes to the administrative-territorial divisions in Lebap velayat] (in Russian). 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
- ^ Frank, Allen J.; Touch-Werner, Jeren (October 20, 1999). Turkmen-English Dictionary (in English and Turkmen). Kensington, Maryland: Dunwoody Press. ISBN 978-1881265290.
- ^ Atanyýazow, Soltanşa (1980). Түркменистаның Географик Атларының Дүшүндиришли Сөзлүги [Explanatory Dictionary of Geographic Names in Turkmenistan]. Ashgabat: Ылым. p. 136.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
- ^ Moscati, S. (2012-04-24), "Abū Muslim", Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Brill
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