Saqqez

Saqqez (Persian: سقز, also Romanized as Saghez, Saqqiz, and Sakīz) is a city in and capital of Saqqez County, Kurdistan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 131,348, in 31,336 families. Kurds' ancient Iranian ancestors have lived in Seqiz and surrounding areas since approximately 1000 B.C.. By the mid-seventh century B.C. the Scythians under Bartatua reached the summit of their might in western Asia, and the region of Saqqez was their political center. In pre-Islamic era, Seqiz and surrounding areas comprised a small country known as Sagapeni, which is believed to be related to the name of the ancient Iranian Sakas (Scythians) from which the name of the city is derived. At an altitude of 1,493 metres (4,898 feet),...