Takab


Takab or Tekab also known as Tikan Tapa is a city and capital of Takab County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 43,702, in 10,078 families. The city's inhabitants are predominantly Iranian Azerbaijanis who speak the Azerbaijani language.
The famous historical complex Takht-e Soleyman is situated to the North-East of the city. Takht-e-Soleyman was one of Takab's oldest Zoroastrian fire temples during the Sassanid Dynasty and had the name Azargoshnasp.
The Karaftu Cave is also situated in Takab near Saqqez.

Etymology

Shiz is the ancient name used during Persian Empire for Takab. Takab means one narrow water way in Persian language. Tak means one or alone and Ab means water.
Takab was originally known as Tikan Təpə by its native Turkic Afshar people until 1941 when Iran's Academy of Persian Language and Literature officially changed it to Takab.
Afshar people are one of the Oghuz Turkic peoples. These originally nomadic Oghuz tribes moved from Central Asia and initially settled in Iranian Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan republic, and Eastern Turkey. Later some of them were relocated by the Safavids to Khorasan and Mazandaran. Today, they are variously grouped as a branch of the Turkmens or the Azerbaijanis.

People

The two predominant languages spoken in the city are Azerbayjani and kurdish, while the predominant religion is Shia Islam.

Culture

Takab has long been one of the centers for production of the famous Afshar rugs. Weaving in Takab flourished in the Safavid era.

Economy

The majority of residents of Takab earn their income from agriculture. Takab is home to the biggest gold mine in the entire country and one of the biggest in the Middle East.

Notable people