15 Questions and Answers About Ankara: The Capital, Anıtkabir and Thousands of Years of History

Ankara is often introduced as Turkey’s capital, but its story stretches far beyond government buildings and busy city streets. Ancient civilizations, Roman monuments, traces of the War of Independence and the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk all come together here.

Why was Ankara chosen as the capital? What do the lions at Anıtkabir represent? And what really happened during the Battle of Ankara?

Here are 15 questions that reveal the history, legends and lesser-known details behind the city.

1. Why Did Ankara Become the Capital of Turkey?

Ankara became the centre of the Turkish national struggle during the War of Independence. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the Representative Committee arrived in the city on 27 December 1919. Its location in central Anatolia, away from the Allied occupation forces concentrated around Istanbul, made it a strategically important base for the national movement.

The Grand National Assembly of Turkey opened in Ankara on 23 April 1920. From there, the struggle for independence was organised and directed.

Ankara was officially declared the capital on 13 October 1923, just sixteen days before the proclamation of the Republic on 29 October. The decision reflected more than geography. Ankara had become the political heart of the new national movement, and the choice signalled a new beginning for the country.

2. When Did Ankara Officially Become the Capital?

Ankara officially became the capital of Turkey on 13 October 1923.

The date is important because it came before the Republic was proclaimed on 29 October 1923. Ankara was already serving as the centre of the national movement and the seat of the Grand National Assembly.

The decision also marked a shift away from Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire, towards a new political centre in Anatolia.

3. What Does the Name Ankara Mean?

The origins of Ankara’s name are not entirely certain. In ancient sources, the city appears under forms such as Ankyra or Ancyra. The Greek word ankyrā means “anchor,” which has inspired several stories about the name.

One popular legend connects the city with King Midas of Phrygia, who is said to have discovered an anchor and established a settlement at the site. Other accounts also link the name to an anchor associated with the Galatians.

These stories are part of Ankara’s cultural heritage, but they should be understood as legends rather than proven historical explanations. The precise origin of the name remains debated.

4. Who Designed Anıtkabir?

Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was designed by Turkish architects Emin Onat and Orhan Arda.

Their project was selected following an architectural competition. Construction began on 9 October 1944, and the complex was developed in stages. Atatürk’s remains were transferred to Anıtkabir on 10 November 1953, the tenth anniversary of his death.

The architecture combines monumental scale with references to Anatolian history. Its long approaches, stone surfaces, ceremonial spaces and carefully balanced forms create a setting intended to convey both respect and national identity.

Anıtkabir is not simply a monument. It is also a place where visitors encounter the history of the Republic and the political transformation that shaped modern Turkey.

5. Why Was Rasattepe Chosen for Anıtkabir?

Anıtkabir stands on a hill formerly known as Rasattepe, which is also called Anıttepe today.

Its elevated position offered a prominent and visible location within Ankara. The hill also had historical significance, including traces of Phrygian burial mounds. These features contributed to the site's suitability for a national monument.

The location gives Anıtkabir a commanding presence above the surrounding city. As visitors approach the complex, the transition from ordinary urban surroundings to its broad ceremonial spaces becomes part of the experience.

6. Why Are There 24 Lions on the Road to Anıtkabir?

The road leading towards Anıtkabir's ceremonial area is known as the Lion Road. Along it stand 24 stone lion statues, arranged in two rows of 12.

The lions were inspired by Hittite art, reflecting the importance of Anatolia's ancient civilizations in the monument's design.

A popular interpretation connects the 24 lions with the 24 Oghuz Turkic tribes. However, this association should not automatically be treated as a definitively documented explanation for the statues.

The lions create a measured rhythm along the route. Their stillness and repeated forms encourage visitors to slow down as they approach Atatürk's mausoleum.

7. Is It True That the Stones on the Lion Road Make Visitors Bow Their Heads?

A popular story claims that the spacing or arrangement of the paving stones on the Lion Road encourages visitors to lower their heads as they walk towards Anıtkabir, symbolically expressing respect for Atatürk.

It is a memorable story, but there is no clear official evidence establishing this as the road's intended design purpose. It is therefore best understood as a popular interpretation rather than a confirmed architectural fact.

What is clear is that the route has a deliberate ceremonial character. Its length, the rows of lions and the transition towards the monumental complex create a solemn approach.

8. Why Does Ankara Have Three Famous Parliament Buildings?

Ankara's parliamentary history is closely associated with three major buildings.

The First Grand National Assembly Building housed the assembly when it opened on 23 April 1920, during the War of Independence. Today, it serves as the Museum of the War of Independence (Kurtuluş Savaşı Müzesi).

The Second Grand National Assembly Building later served as the seat of parliament. It now houses the Republic Museum (Cumhuriyet Müzesi), where visitors can learn about the early years of the Republic.

The current Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is the modern parliamentary complex where the country's legislature operates today.

Together, these buildings trace the evolution of Turkey's political institutions, from the struggle for independence to the modern Republic.

9. Which Civilizations Lived in Ankara First?

Ankara's history reaches back thousands of years, and the region was inhabited long before the city became a capital.

The Hittites were among the major ancient civilizations of central Anatolia. The Phrygians later played an important role in the region's history, leaving archaeological remains and burial monuments in and around Ankara.

However, it would be misleading to say that either civilization definitively represents the very first settlement in the area. The history of human habitation is older and more complex than the surviving written records can fully explain.

Ankara's archaeological heritage reflects successive periods of settlement, cultural exchange and political change.

10. Who Built Ankara Castle?

The original builder and exact founding date of Ankara Castle remain unknown.

The castle is associated with the city's ancient history and was known during the Galatian period by the second century BCE. Over the centuries, it was repaired, expanded and adapted under different powers, including the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans.

Its walls and towers reflect these successive periods rather than a single construction phase.

Today, walking through the castle area offers a different perspective on Ankara. Narrow streets, traditional houses and views across the city reveal a historic neighbourhood that contrasts with the capital's modern districts.

11. Why Was Atatürk Forest Farm Established?

Atatürk Forest Farm (Atatürk Orman Çiftliği, commonly abbreviated as AOÇ) was established through initiatives that began in 1925.

It was intended to demonstrate modern agriculture and animal husbandry, support agricultural development and create a productive green space near the capital. The project also reflected the early Republic's interest in science-based farming and rural development.

The land presented practical challenges, and improvement work was part of the farm's development. However, it is an oversimplification to describe the entire area simply as a swamp that was transformed in one step.

AOÇ became an important symbol of the Republic's agricultural ambitions and remains a significant part of Ankara's urban and cultural history.

12. Why Is There a Roman-Era Column in Ulus?

The column commonly known as the Julianus Column stands in Ankara's Ulus district. It is generally associated with the visit of Roman Emperor Julian to the city in 362 CE.

The monument is also known locally as Belkıs Minaresi. Although its traditional association with Julian is widely repeated, the precise circumstances surrounding its construction and original purpose are not entirely certain.

The column is a reminder of Ankara's importance during the Roman period. Long before it became the capital of modern Turkey, the city occupied a place within the political and cultural world of the Roman Empire.

13. What Can You See at the Roman Baths of Ankara?

The Roman Baths are located in the Ulus area, along Çankırı Avenue. The complex dates to the third century CE and is associated with the reign of Emperor Caracalla, who ruled from 211 to 217 CE.

The baths were connected with the Roman tradition of public bathing and social life. They are also associated with the cult of Asclepius, the ancient god of healing.

The archaeological site contains the remains of the bath complex, allowing visitors to explore its layout and construction. Earlier traces, including evidence associated with the Phrygian period, have also been identified in the wider archaeological layers.

Rather than imagining the site as a complete building preserved from antiquity, visitors should expect open-air ruins and foundations that reveal how the complex once functioned.

14. Why Is the Temple of Augustus Important?

The Temple of Augustus stands in Ankara's Ulus district, beside Hacı Bayram Mosque. It is one of the city's most significant surviving monuments from the Roman period.

Its greatest historical importance lies in the inscription known as the Res Gestae Divi Augusti, meaning “The Deeds of the Divine Augustus.” The text records the achievements and public works of the first Roman emperor, Augustus.

The inscription survives in Latin and Ancient Greek versions. It is particularly valuable because the original inscription in Rome has not survived in its original form, making the Ankara copy an important source for understanding Roman imperial history.

The temple also illustrates the layers of history that define Ankara. A Roman monument, a later place of worship and the surrounding historic neighbourhood exist within the same urban landscape.

15. What Happened During the Battle of Ankara in 1402?

The Battle of Ankara took place on 28 July 1402 on the Çubuk Plain, near Ankara. It was fought between the Ottoman ruler Bayezid I, known as Yıldırım Bayezid, and the Central Asian conqueror Timur.

Timur's forces defeated the Ottoman army, and Bayezid was captured. The defeat had major consequences for the Ottoman state, contributing to a period of internal conflict and succession struggles known as the Ottoman Interregnum, or Fetret Devri.

The battle was a turning point in regional history. It interrupted Ottoman expansion and reshaped the political balance across Anatolia.

Today, the Çubuk area offers a reminder that the surroundings of Ankara have witnessed events whose consequences reached far beyond the city itself.

Discover Ankara Beyond Its Capital Status

Ankara is more than a city of ministries, universities and government offices. Its streets hold traces of the Hittites and Phrygians, Roman monuments, Ottoman-era neighbourhoods and the founding years of the Republic.

You can spend the morning exploring an ancient temple, walk through the old streets around Ankara Castle in the afternoon, and finish the day at Anıtkabir, where the story of modern Turkey takes centre stage.

The more you learn about Ankara, the clearer it becomes that the capital was not simply built for the future. It was shaped by a long and complex past.