Gerger | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 38°01′44″N 39°01′56″E / 38.02889°N 39.03222°E | |
Country | Turkey |
Province | Adıyaman |
District | Gerger |
Government | |
• Mayor | Erkan Aksoy[1] (AKP) |
Population (2021)[2] | 2,753 |
Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
Postal code | 02700 |
Website | www |
Gerger (Kurdish: Aldûş[3]) is a town of Adıyaman Province of Turkey. It is the seat of Gerger District.[4] It is mainly populated by Kurds of different tribal backgrounds and had a population of 2,753 in 2021.[2][5] The mayor is Erkan Aksoy (AKP).[1]
In the 11th century the town formed a defensive outpost for the Byzantine Empire together with the city of Edessa, Samosata, Ḥiṣn Manṣūr and Chasanara and seems to have had a considerable garrison.[6] After the Byzantines ruler over the region faded, the region around the Mor Bar Sauma monastery and Gerger became a base of power for local chiefs of Syrian and Armenian origin, and the town was under control of Constantine of Gerger.[7]
According to The Geographical Journal in 1896, Gerger had 750 inhabitants with most being Kurds, with the exception of few Ottoman officials and Armenians.[8]
In 2018, archaeologists discovered a cave which used during religious ceremonies by Christians during the Byzantine period. Cross figures found inside the cave.[9]