Delal
Encyclopedia
Delal or Pira Delal also Pirdí Delal ("The Bridge Delal" in Kurdish
), informally known also as Pira Berî (Stone Bridge), is an ancient bridge
in the town of Zakho
, in southern Kurdistan (Iraq)
The bridge is 114 metres long and 15.5 metres high.
and it means "the dearest" (though not in an esthetic sense, but more of something that's unique).
The name reflects the way the bridge is seen among the local people as well as tourists.
, while the present structure appears to be from a later date.
One of the legends regarding construction of the bridge relates that the hands of the builder were amputated to ensure that the bridge would remain unique.
Kurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
), informally known also as Pira Berî (Stone Bridge), is an ancient bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
in the town of Zakho
Zakho
Zakho is a district and a town in Northern Iraq located a few kilometers from the Iraqi-Turkish border.Zakho is a province of the Dohuk Governorate. The city has 200,000 inhabitants. It may have originally begun on a small island in the Little Khabur which currently flows through the city...
, in southern Kurdistan (Iraq)
The bridge is 114 metres long and 15.5 metres high.
Etymology
The name Delal is Assyrian and "Pira Delal" is KurdishKurdish language
Kurdish is a dialect continuum spoken by the Kurds in western Asia. It is part of the Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of Indo-European languages....
and it means "the dearest" (though not in an esthetic sense, but more of something that's unique).
The name reflects the way the bridge is seen among the local people as well as tourists.
History
Pira Delal is believed to have been first built during the Roman eraRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, while the present structure appears to be from a later date.
One of the legends regarding construction of the bridge relates that the hands of the builder were amputated to ensure that the bridge would remain unique.