Sheki
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
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General Outline
One of the most ancient settlements and cultural centres of Azerbaijan, Sheki was founded more than 2700 years ago at the southern slopes of the Major Caucasus Mountains Chain (370 kilometres (230 miles) to the north-west from Baku).
There is a suggestion that the name of the town goes back to the ethnonim of the Saks, who reached the territory of Azerbaijan in the 7th century B.C. and peopled it for several centuries. In the medieval sources, the name of the town is found in various forms such as Sheke, Shaki, Shaka, Shakki, Shakne, Shaken, Shakkan, Shekin. For a long time the town was known under the name of Nukha.
Location
Sheki is situated in northern Azerbaijan on the southern part of the Greater Caucasus mountain range. 325 km (200 miles) from Baku.
Population
The total population of Sheki is 63,000
History
The original settlement dates back to the late Bronze Age. Sheki is famous for the 18th century summer palace, which housed the Khan. Sheki also played a major role as an important stop on the silk route.
During its millennial historical the town used to be devastated many times, so the most part of the historic and architectural monuments currently preserved are dated to the 16th-19th centuries. For many centuries, Sheki has been famous as the basic centre of silkworm-breeding. Located on the left bank of the river Kish, originally the town sited lower down the hill, however Sheki was moved to its present location after a devastating mud flood in 1772. As the new location was near the village of Nukha, the city became also known as Nukha, until 1960 when it reverted back to the name Sheki, after the Sak tribe.
Economy
Sheki's possesses a small silk industry and relies on its agricultural sector, which produces tobacco, grapes, cattle, nuts, grains and milk.
Nature
Mountains and oak trees surround Sheki. During the Soviet period, many ascended to Sheki to bathe in its numerous mineral springs.
Community
Sheki residents are known for their sweet tooth. Delicious sweets, like halva are made from old and secret recipes, which the residents keep well guarded. Residents of Sheki speak a little different which causes other visitors to smile upon hearing them talking. Sheki also has specific words like yaraf and yelpenek that do not exist in other distincts of Azerbaijan. Probably the most famous feature of Shekinians are their comic tales. Sheki's comic tales hero Haci Dayi is the subject of nearly all jokes here.
