Darganata
Birata (2003-2017)
Dargan-Ata | |
|---|---|
  Darganata Location in Turkmenistan | |
| Coordinates: 40°29′N 62°10′E / 40.483°N 62.167°E / 40.483; 62.167 | |
| Country |  Turkmenistan |
| Province | Lebap Province |
| District | Darganata District |
| Population
(2010)
| |
| • Total | 21,465 |
Darganata is the capital city of Darganata DistrictinLebap ProvinceofTurkmenistan.
From 14 May 2003 to 27 November 2017, the city was called Birata.[1][2]
The name Darganata is of obscure origin. Atanyyazow speculates that dargan might be from an Arabic-origin root referring to "boat" or "hull" (the city is on the Amu Darya) but finds the suffix ata ("father") inexplicable.[3][4] Paul Brummell notes that the name could be interpreted as "Divided Ata Tribe"; this had prompted the renaming to Birata, meaning "United Ata Tribe"![5]
The place developed out of the Khorezm settlement of Dargan; however, the modern city lies about 3 km north.[5] Nothing exists of the ancient settlement except the wall-perimeter.[5]
On 27 July 2016, the erstwhile town was upgraded to a city; over a year later, on 5 November 2017, its Soviet-era name of Darganata was restored.
The Darganata Mausoleum (c. 14th c.) stands between the modern town and the walled perimeter of the ancient settlement; according to local tradition, it is the tomb of Abu Muslim.[5] However, this appears to be untrue since contemporary sources record that Muslim's mutilated body was thrown in the River Tigris.[6]
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