Konuralp: A Town Between Antiquity and Today (Türkiye)

Abstract

The Anatolian geography comprises several historic buildings as components of our cultural heritage and also many urban/rural patterns which were constituted by these monuments. Konuralp is one of the most important settlement with its 2000 years history which is located on the 8 km. north of Düzce province on the western Black Sea region in Türkiye. Its history goes back to before Christ. The city’s first name “Hypios” was changed as “Kieros” and later the name turned into “Prusias” in the period of 1st. Prusias (3rd. Century B.C.) who was the king of Bithynia. After the Roman Emperor governance on this region about 74 A.D., the city was called as “Prusias ad Hypium” which signifies “Prusias on Hypium river”. The city was under the Byzantium ascendancy until the conquest of Turkish commander “Osman Gazi” in 1323 who gave the control to the commander “Konur Alp Bey”. In Ottoman period, “Üskübü” became the new name of the town but after the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, the town name was changed lastly as “Konuralp” but the inhabitants still call the town as Üskübü and also as “Kasaba” which means “town”. With its 6.000 residents, today the town cultural heritage is comprised of traditional architecture and the Greek/Roman ruins. Its Antique Theatre is located in the center of the town and has an important place with its upper cavea and scena walls which was dated to early Ancient Roman period. Besides, the ramparts from Roman and Byzantine times, a gate which was a part of the ramparts known as “Atlı Kapı”, the ruins of Byzantine and Ottoman Aqueduct are observable monumental buildings in the town. The vernacular houses in traditional architecture still exist in the danger of extinction because of urbanization policies but there are many examples of those traditional buildings which were constructed in wooden frame systems with brick or wooden filling wall systems.