Darganata

Darganata (formerly Birata) is the capital city of Darganata District in Lebap Province of Turkmenistan. It was upgraded to city status 27 July 2016 by Parliamentary Resolution No. 425-V, and its former name of Darganata was restored 5 November 2017 by Parliamentary Resolution No. 679-V.

Darganata
Birata (?-2017)
Dargan-Ata
Darganata
Location in Turkmenistan
Coordinates: 40°29′N 62°10′E
Country Turkmenistan
ProvinceLebap Province
DistrictDarganata District
Population
 (2010)
 • Total21,465

History

The city developed of the Khorezm settlement of Dargan; however the modern town lies about 3 km north.[1] Nothing exists of Dargan except the wall-perimeter, and the Darganata Mausoleum which is believed to house the tomb of Abu Muslim.[1][lower-alpha 1]

Etymology

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 (means "father") inexplicable.[3][4] Paul Brummell note Darganata to have been interpreted by some as "Divided Ata Tribe"; this prompted the renaming to Birata meaning "'United Ata Tribe."[1]

Notes
  1. This appears to be untrue - sources report that Abu Muslim's mutilated body was thrown in the river Tigris.[2]

References
  1. Brummell, Paul (2005). Turkmenistan. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-84162-144-9.
  2. Moscati, S. (2012-04-24), "Abū Muslim", Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Brill
  3. Frank, Allen J.; Touch-Werner, Jeren (October 20, 1999). Turkmen-English Dictionary (in English and Turkmen). Kensington, Maryland: Dunwoody Press. ISBN 978-1881265290.
  4. Atanyýazow, Soltanşa (1980). Түркменистаның Географик Атларының Дүшүндиришли Сөзлүги [Explanatory Dictionary of Geographic Names in Turkmenistan]. Ashgabat: Ылым. p. 136.



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