Malatya (Armenian: Մալաթիա; Syro-Aramaic ܡܠܝܛܝܢܐ Malīṭīná; Kurdish: Meletî; Ancient Greek: Μελιτηνή) is a large city in North Kurdistan / Southeast Turkey / Western Armenia that has been a human settlement for thousands of years.
In Hittite, melid or milit means “honey”, offering a possible etymology for the name, which was mentioned in the contemporary sources of the time under several variations. The site of ancient Melitene lies a few kilometres from the modern city in what is now the village of Arslantepe. In Turkey, the city is renowned for its apricots, as up to 80% of the Turkish apricot production is provided by Malatya, giving Malatya the name kayısı diyarı (“apricot realm”).
The economy of the city of Malatya is dominated by agriculture, textile manufacturing, and construction and is the world leader in apricot production. Malatya Fair and Apricot Festivities has been held since 1978, every year in July, to promote Malatya and apricots and to convene the producers to meet one another. During the festivities, sports activities, concerts and apricot contests are organized. Near the Apricot Festivities, there are other annual activities in summer. Cherry Festivities at Yeşilyurt District of Malatya and Grape Festivities at Arapgir District are organized annually. Historically, Malatya also produced opium.
