Dinar (District)

Dinar is a district affiliated with the province of Afyonkarahisar in Türkiye. This settlement, located 106 kilometers from the provincial center, is regarded as one of the oldest inhabited areas in Anatolia.

The known history of Dinar extends back to around 1200 BCE. Throughout history, the region has been home to numerous civilizations including the Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, and Turks. Dinar was incorporated into the Ottoman State in 1428 from the Germiyanids. The settlement became a kaza in 1908 and attained district status in 1924.

^{Remains of the Ancient Theatre (generated by AI)}

During antiquity, the cities of Kelainai and, during the Hellenistic period, Apameia were established in the region. Apameia was considered one of the most important trade centers after Ephesus during the Roman era. Excavations in the district have uncovered the remains of an ancient theatre with a capacity of 7,000 people and an ancient stadium. Additionally, coins bearing images of rivers were used in the region during antiquity.

^{Apameia (}Dinar Subgovernorship⁾

Dinar is recorded as the site of the first music competition in history. This contest took place between the gods Apollo and Marsyas, with King Midas serving as judge.

Dinar is situated at the source of the Big Menderes River. The Suçıkan Park in the district center marks the point where underground waters emerge through cracks in the rocks. These waters are fed by discharge from the Karakuyu Reservoir and form a tributary of the Menderes River. The region is also located at a junction where major road and railway lines converge.

^{Suçıkan Park (}Culture Portal⁾

The arrival of the İzmir-Aydın railway line in Dinar on 13 October 1889 accelerated the district’s economic and social development. During the War of Independence, Dinar was not occupied and served as a military supply center for provisions and ammunition. The district experienced an earthquake on 1 October 1995 and was subsequently rebuilt.