Erbil Citadel | قەڵای هەولێر

Erbil Citadel (Hawler castle) was built on a historic mound known as a “tell.” This mound was formed because people lived in the same place for thousands of years, rebuilding their homes on top of earlier structures. Over time, the level of the ground gradually rose. Evidence of settlement on the mound dates back to the 5th millennium BCE, and there may have been settlements there even earlier.
Erbil appears in ancient sources under names such as Urbilum, Urbil, and Arbela. UNESCO states that these names appear in various forms in ancient written sources.

During the Assyrian Empire, Erbil was known as Arbela and became an important political and religious center.

Throughout history, the area came under the influence and rule of various states and empires. During the Sasanian period and later throughout the Islamic era, Erbil remained an important city in the region.

In 1258 CE, the Mongols captured Erbil, and afterward the city’s importance declined for a period of time.

On June 21, 2014, the Erbil Citadel was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. UNESCO recognizes the citadel’s importance as a rare example of an ancient settlement that developed through multiple historical layers built on top of one another.