Homyel
Encyclopedia
Gomel; also Homiel, Homel (Belarusian
, Russian
: Го́мель, ˈɣomʲelʲ (Bel.), ˈɡomʲɪlʲ (Rus.); translit
: Homieĺ) is the administrative center of Gomel Voblast and the second-largest city in Belarus
. It has a population of 482,652 (2009 census). Gomel is situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the right bank of Sozh
river, 302 km (188 mi) to the South-East from Minsk
, 534 km (332 mi) to the East from Brest
, 171 km (106 mi) to the South from Mogilev
, 237 km (147 mi) to the West from Bryansk
and 111 km (69 mi) to the North from Chernihiv
. The city's area is 121 km2.
river near the foot of the hill where the first settlement was founded. Other Belarusian cities' names are formed on these lines: for example, Minsk
's name is derived from the river Menka, Polotsk's — from the Palata
river, Vitebsk
's — from the Vitba river.
In historical sources from 1142 to the 16th century Gomel is named as Gom', Gomye, Gomey, Gomyi. Linguists think, that those forms of the city's name derive from ancient Slavic
word "gom" which means "hill".
In the historical note from 1142 Gomel is called "Gomiy".
The modern form of the city's name has been used only since 16th-17th centuries.
tribal union of Radimichs
. It laid on the banks of the Sozh
river and the Gomeyuk stream. Sozh's high left bank cut with canyons made a natural fortification. Some time Gomel was the capital of the Gomel Principality, then it went to the Principality of Chernigov. Gomel is first mentioned in the Hypatian Codex
under the year of 1142 as the territory of Chernigov princes. For some time Gomel was captured by Smolensk prince Rostislav Mstislavich but then was re-captured by Iziaslav III Davidovich after whose death it belonged to Sviatoslav Olgovich
and then to Sviatoslav's son Oleg. Under Oleg Gomel went to the Principality of Novhorod-Siverskyi
. The next owner of Gomel was Igor Svyatoslavich
— the hero of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign
". During this period the town was a fortificated point and the centre of volost
. In 12th-13th centuries the city's area was not less that 40 ha, it had various crafts developed and was connected by trading ways with the cities of Northern and Southern Rus'. From archeological data the city was badly damaged during the Mongol-Tatar assault in the first half of the 13th century.
. In 1335-1406 it was under the ownership of prince Patrikiy Narymuntovich and his sons, in 1406-1419 the city was ruled by Great Duke's deputies, in 1419-1435 it belonged to prince Svitrigaila
, in 1446-1452 to prince Vasiliy Yaroslavich, in 1452-1483 to Mozhaysk
prince Ivan Andreyevich, in 1483-1505 to his son Semyon, who transferred Gomel to the Grand Duchy of Moscow
. During the Second Muscovite-Lithuanian War of 1500-1503 Lithuania tried to return Gomel and other lands, transferred to Moscow, but suffered defeat and lost one third of its territory. In 1535 Lithuanian forces under Yu. Radzivill, Ya. Tarnovskiy and A. Nemira re-captured Gomel after the surrender of Moscow's deputy, D. Shchepin-Obolenskiy. In the same year Great Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Kęstutaitis
founded the Gomel Starostwo
. In reference to the peace agreement of 1537 Gomel together with its volost
remained a Lithuanian possession. In 1535-1565 Gomel is the centre of starostwo
, from 1565 Gomel is in the Rechitsa Powiat
of the Minsk Voivodeship
.
In 1560 the city's first coat of arms
was introduced.
In 1569 Gomel became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
. From this moment the city has become the arena of numerous attacks and battles between Ukrainian
Cossaks, Russia
and Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth. In 1572 Gomel Starostwo
was given to B. Sapega. At the beginning of 1570s Gomel was captured by the forces of Ivan the Terrible, but in 1576 it was re-captured by Yu. Radzivill. In 1581 Gomel was again attacked by Russian troops, and in 1595-1596 it was in the hands of Severyn Nalyvaiko
's Cossaks.
After the beginning of struggle against the Orthodox Christianity
in Lithuania the Orthodox
Nikolayevskiy Cathedral was closed by the order of Greek Catholic Eparch Josaphat Kuntsevych in 1621. In 1633 the city was besieged by the Cossaks of Bulgakov and Yermolin, in 1648 was captured by the Golovatskiy's Cossak detachment, in 1649 by Martyn Nebaba's detachment. After that Gomel got through several besieges in 1651 but in 1564 was captured by Ivan Zolotarenko's detachment. He and his sons had been holding the city till 1667 and then they began to serve under Alexis of Russia, however, after the Truce of Andrusovo Gomel at last returned to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, where it firth belonged to M. K. Radzivill and then till the annexation
by the Russian Empire
- to the Chartoryiskiy family. During the Great Northern War
Russian forces under Alexandr Danilovich Menshikov stood in Gomel.
In 1670 Gomel got the Magdeburg rights
.
Towards the middle of the 17th century the city came to crisis. It suffered a lot of damage, population severely decreased, a lot of crafts disappeared. Taxes were very high — in 1770 Gomel's inhabitants paid 20 752 złotys to the Polish exchequer and 3532 złotys to the army winter supply.
es. Public transportation is generally inexpensive ($14 monthly). Over 210 million passenger rides were registered in 2006. Taxi
services ($10 for a one-way intra-city ride) are available 24 hours a day. The city is an important railroad hub in the southeastern part of Belarus being positioned midway on the Minsk
-Kiev
railroad link. Strategic location of Gomel near the border with Russia and Ukraine provides a direct connection to the vast railroad network.
Gomel Airport
is located 8 kilometers north-east from the city.
Since 1990, P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University
and Homiel State Medical University
have been attracting many international students from countries around world, including United States, Germany, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran and Latin America. Homiel State Medical University provides classes in both English and Russian. Many famous scientists work here as senior lecturers.
with:
Belarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
, Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Го́мель, ˈɣomʲelʲ (Bel.), ˈɡomʲɪlʲ (Rus.); translit
Romanization of Belarusian
Romanization or Latinization of Belarusian is any system for transliterating written Belarusian from the Cyrillic alphabet to the Latin.Some of the standard systems for romanizing Belarusian:...
: Homieĺ) is the administrative center of Gomel Voblast and the second-largest city in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. It has a population of 482,652 (2009 census). Gomel is situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the right bank of Sozh
Sozh
Sozh is an international river flowing in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. It is a left bank tributary of the Dnieper River. Sozh passes through Gomel, the second largest city in Belarus....
river, 302 km (188 mi) to the South-East from Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, 534 km (332 mi) to the East from Brest
Brest, Belarus
Brest , formerly also Brest-on-the-Bug and Brest-Litovsk , is a city in Belarus at the border with Poland opposite the city of Terespol, where the Bug River and Mukhavets rivers meet...
, 171 km (106 mi) to the South from Mogilev
Mogilev
Mogilev is a city in eastern Belarus, about 76 km from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and 105 km from the border with Russia's Bryansk Oblast. It has more than 367,788 inhabitants...
, 237 km (147 mi) to the West from Bryansk
Bryansk
Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk...
and 111 km (69 mi) to the North from Chernihiv
Chernihiv
Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast...
. The city's area is 121 km2.
Name's origin
There are at least six versions of the origin of the city's name. One of the best known is that the name is derived from the name of Gomeyuk stream, which flowed into the SozhSozh
Sozh is an international river flowing in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. It is a left bank tributary of the Dnieper River. Sozh passes through Gomel, the second largest city in Belarus....
river near the foot of the hill where the first settlement was founded. Other Belarusian cities' names are formed on these lines: for example, Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
's name is derived from the river Menka, Polotsk's — from the Palata
Palata
Palata or Polota is a river in Belarus and Russia, a tributary of the Western Dvina river. Rising in Pskov Oblast of Russia and flowing through northern Belarus, it joins the Western Dvina at Polatsk....
river, Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
's — from the Vitba river.
In historical sources from 1142 to the 16th century Gomel is named as Gom', Gomye, Gomey, Gomyi. Linguists think, that those forms of the city's name derive from ancient Slavic
Slavic languages
The Slavic languages , a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup of Indo-European languages, have speakers in most of Eastern Europe, in much of the Balkans, in parts of Central Europe, and in the northern part of Asia.-Branches:Scholars traditionally divide Slavic...
word "gom" which means "hill".
In the historical note from 1142 Gomel is called "Gomiy".
The modern form of the city's name has been used only since 16th-17th centuries.
Gomel under Kievan Rus'
Gomel was founded at the end of the 1st millennium AD on the lands of the Eastern SlavicEast Slavs
The East Slavs are Slavic peoples speaking East Slavic languages. Formerly the main population of the medieval state of Kievan Rus, by the seventeenth century they evolved into the Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian peoples.-Sources:...
tribal union of Radimichs
Radimichs
The Radimichs , were a tribe of West Slavs of the last few centuries of the 1st millennium, which inhabited upper east parts of the Dnieper down the Sozh River and its tributaries...
. It laid on the banks of the Sozh
Sozh
Sozh is an international river flowing in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. It is a left bank tributary of the Dnieper River. Sozh passes through Gomel, the second largest city in Belarus....
river and the Gomeyuk stream. Sozh's high left bank cut with canyons made a natural fortification. Some time Gomel was the capital of the Gomel Principality, then it went to the Principality of Chernigov. Gomel is first mentioned in the Hypatian Codex
Hypatian Codex
The Hypatian Codex is a compendium of three chronicles: the Primary Chronicle, Kiev Chronicle, and Galician-Volhynian Chronicle. It is the most important source of historical data for southern Rus'...
under the year of 1142 as the territory of Chernigov princes. For some time Gomel was captured by Smolensk prince Rostislav Mstislavich but then was re-captured by Iziaslav III Davidovich after whose death it belonged to Sviatoslav Olgovich
Sviatoslav Olgovich
Sviatoslav Olgovich , Prince of Novgorod Novhorod-Siversky , Bilhorod Kyivsky and Chernihiv...
and then to Sviatoslav's son Oleg. Under Oleg Gomel went to the Principality of Novhorod-Siverskyi
Novhorod-Siverskyi
Novhorod-Siversky is a historic city in the Chernihiv Oblast of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Novhorod-Siversky Raion, and is situated on the bank of the Desna River, 330 km from the capital, Kiev, and 45 km south of the Russian border. Current estimated population:...
. The next owner of Gomel was Igor Svyatoslavich
Igor Svyatoslavich
Igor Svyatoslavich the Brave was a Rus’ prince...
— the hero of "The Tale of Igor's Campaign
The Tale of Igor's Campaign
The Tale of Igor's Campaign is an anonymous epic poem written in the Old East Slavic language.The title is occasionally translated as The Song of Igor's Campaign, The Lay of Igor's Campaign, and The Lay of...
". During this period the town was a fortificated point and the centre of volost
Volost
Volost was a traditional administrative subdivision in Eastern Europe.In earlier East Slavic history, volost was a name for the territory ruled by the knyaz, a principality; either as an absolute ruler or with varying degree of autonomy from the Velikiy Knyaz...
. In 12th-13th centuries the city's area was not less that 40 ha, it had various crafts developed and was connected by trading ways with the cities of Northern and Southern Rus'. From archeological data the city was badly damaged during the Mongol-Tatar assault in the first half of the 13th century.
Gomel under Great Duchy of Lithuania and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
In 1335 Gomel region was joined to the Great Duchy of Lithuania by AlgirdasAlgirdas
Algirdas was a monarch of medieval Lithuania. Algirdas ruled the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1345 to 1377, which chiefly meant monarch of Lithuanians and Ruthenians...
. In 1335-1406 it was under the ownership of prince Patrikiy Narymuntovich and his sons, in 1406-1419 the city was ruled by Great Duke's deputies, in 1419-1435 it belonged to prince Svitrigaila
Švitrigaila
Švitrigaila Švitrigaila Švitrigaila (ca 1370 – 10 February 1452; was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1430 to 1432. He spent most of his life in largely unsuccessful dynastic struggles against his cousins Vytautas and Sigismund Kęstutaitis.-Struggle against Vytautas:...
, in 1446-1452 to prince Vasiliy Yaroslavich, in 1452-1483 to Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk
Mozhaysk is a town and the administrative center of Mozhaysky District of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located to the west from the Russian capital, on the historic road leading to Smolensk and then to Poland. Population:...
prince Ivan Andreyevich, in 1483-1505 to his son Semyon, who transferred Gomel to the Grand Duchy of Moscow
Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
. During the Second Muscovite-Lithuanian War of 1500-1503 Lithuania tried to return Gomel and other lands, transferred to Moscow, but suffered defeat and lost one third of its territory. In 1535 Lithuanian forces under Yu. Radzivill, Ya. Tarnovskiy and A. Nemira re-captured Gomel after the surrender of Moscow's deputy, D. Shchepin-Obolenskiy. In the same year Great Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Kęstutaitis
Sigismund Kestutaitis
Sigismund Kęstutaitis was the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1432 to 1440. Sigismund was his baptismal name; Sigismund's pagan Lithuanian birth name is unknown. He was son of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kęstutis and his wife Birutė....
founded the Gomel Starostwo
Starostwo
Starostwo , from the 14th century in the Polish Crown and later through the era of the joint state of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the partitions of Poland in 1795, referred to the crown lands administered by the official known as starosta...
. In reference to the peace agreement of 1537 Gomel together with its volost
Volost
Volost was a traditional administrative subdivision in Eastern Europe.In earlier East Slavic history, volost was a name for the territory ruled by the knyaz, a principality; either as an absolute ruler or with varying degree of autonomy from the Velikiy Knyaz...
remained a Lithuanian possession. In 1535-1565 Gomel is the centre of starostwo
Starostwo
Starostwo , from the 14th century in the Polish Crown and later through the era of the joint state of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the partitions of Poland in 1795, referred to the crown lands administered by the official known as starosta...
, from 1565 Gomel is in the Rechitsa Powiat
Powiat
A powiat is the second-level unit of local government and administration in Poland, equivalent to a county, district or prefecture in other countries. The term powiat is most often translated into English as "county", although other terms are also sometimes used...
of the Minsk Voivodeship
Minsk Voivodeship
Minsk Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413 and later in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth till the partitions of the Commonwealth in 1795...
.
In 1560 the city's first coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
was introduced.
In 1569 Gomel became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
. From this moment the city has become the arena of numerous attacks and battles between Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
Cossaks, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth. In 1572 Gomel Starostwo
Starostwo
Starostwo , from the 14th century in the Polish Crown and later through the era of the joint state of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the partitions of Poland in 1795, referred to the crown lands administered by the official known as starosta...
was given to B. Sapega. At the beginning of 1570s Gomel was captured by the forces of Ivan the Terrible, but in 1576 it was re-captured by Yu. Radzivill. In 1581 Gomel was again attacked by Russian troops, and in 1595-1596 it was in the hands of Severyn Nalyvaiko
Severyn Nalyvaiko
Severyn Nalyvaiko was a leader of the Ukrainian Cossacks who became a hero of Ukrainian folklore. He led the Nalyvaiko Uprising. The Decembrist poet Kondraty Ryleyev wrote a poem about him.-Biography:...
's Cossaks.
After the beginning of struggle against the Orthodox Christianity
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
in Lithuania the Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
Nikolayevskiy Cathedral was closed by the order of Greek Catholic Eparch Josaphat Kuntsevych in 1621. In 1633 the city was besieged by the Cossaks of Bulgakov and Yermolin, in 1648 was captured by the Golovatskiy's Cossak detachment, in 1649 by Martyn Nebaba's detachment. After that Gomel got through several besieges in 1651 but in 1564 was captured by Ivan Zolotarenko's detachment. He and his sons had been holding the city till 1667 and then they began to serve under Alexis of Russia, however, after the Truce of Andrusovo Gomel at last returned to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, where it firth belonged to M. K. Radzivill and then till the annexation
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
by the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
- to the Chartoryiskiy family. During the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
Russian forces under Alexandr Danilovich Menshikov stood in Gomel.
In 1670 Gomel got the Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg rights
Magdeburg Rights or Magdeburg Law were a set of German town laws regulating the degree of internal autonomy within cities and villages granted by a local ruler. Modelled and named after the laws of the German city of Magdeburg and developed during many centuries of the Holy Roman Empire, it was...
.
Towards the middle of the 17th century the city came to crisis. It suffered a lot of damage, population severely decreased, a lot of crafts disappeared. Taxes were very high — in 1770 Gomel's inhabitants paid 20 752 złotys to the Polish exchequer and 3532 złotys to the army winter supply.
Transportation
Public transportation is represented by over 1,000 city buses and trolleybusTrolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es. Public transportation is generally inexpensive ($14 monthly). Over 210 million passenger rides were registered in 2006. Taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
services ($10 for a one-way intra-city ride) are available 24 hours a day. The city is an important railroad hub in the southeastern part of Belarus being positioned midway on the Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
-Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
railroad link. Strategic location of Gomel near the border with Russia and Ukraine provides a direct connection to the vast railroad network.
Gomel Airport
Gomel Airport
Gomel Airport is an airport located 3 km north-east from Gomel, the second-largest city in Belarus. It was opened in 1968.-Servicing Airlines:...
is located 8 kilometers north-east from the city.
Culture
- Gomel Regional Belarusian Drama Theatre
- Puppet Theatre
- Youth Theatre
- Gomel Regional Library
- Gomel PalaceGomel PalaceThe Rumyantsev-Paskevich Residence is the main place of historical importance in the city of Gomel, Belarus. The grounds of the residence stretch for 800 meters along the steep right bank of the Sozh River...
compound - Art Gallery
- Gomel State Circus
Educational center
Gomel is a well-known educational center. The following universities are located in Gomel:- Francysk Skaryna Homiel State UniversityFrancysk Skaryna Homiel State UniversityFrancisk Skorina Gomel State University is a university in Gomel, Belarus....
- Homiel State Medical UniversityHomiel State Medical UniversityHomiel State Medical University is a university in Gomel, Belarus....
- P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical UniversityP.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical UniversityP.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University is a university in Gomel, Belarus. The university is named after Pavel Sukhoi, Belarusian Soviet military aircraft constructor and designer....
- Belarusian State University of TransportBelarusian State University of TransportBelarusian State University of Transport is a university in Gomel, Belarus....
- Belarusian Trade-Economic University of Consumer CooperationBelarusian Trade-Economic University of Consumer CooperationBelarusian Trade-Economic University of Consumer Cooperation is a university in Gomel, Belarus....
(private school)
Since 1990, P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University
P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University
P.O. Sukhoy Homiel State Technical University is a university in Gomel, Belarus. The university is named after Pavel Sukhoi, Belarusian Soviet military aircraft constructor and designer....
and Homiel State Medical University
Homiel State Medical University
Homiel State Medical University is a university in Gomel, Belarus....
have been attracting many international students from countries around world, including United States, Germany, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran and Latin America. Homiel State Medical University provides classes in both English and Russian. Many famous scientists work here as senior lecturers.
People
- Leonid GeishtorLeonid GeishtorLeonid Grigorievich Geishtor is a Soviet-born Belarusian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Life and career:...
, Belarusian Olympic champion and world champion sprint canoer - Andrei GromykoAndrei GromykoAndrei Andreyevich Gromyko was a Soviet statesman during the Cold War. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet . Gromyko was responsible for many top decisions on Soviet foreign policy until he retired in 1987. In the West he was given the...
, a Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs (1957–1985) and Chairman of the PresidiumPresidium of the Supreme SovietThe Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was a Soviet governmental institution – a permanent body of the Supreme Soviets . This body was of the all-Union level , as well as in all Soviet republics and autonomous republics...
of the Supreme Soviet (1985–1988) - Iryna Yatchanka, Belarusian Olympic medal winner
- Sergei Kurek - famous Belarussian bluesman. Shared stage with such worldknown bluesgiants Charlie Musselwhite, Kim Willson(Fabulous Thunderbirds), Sonny Landreth.
- Sergei Sidorsky, Prime Minister of Belarus from 2003 until December 2010
- SeryogaSeryogaSergey Vasilyevich Parkhomenko is a popular Russian-Belarusian rapper and the owner of "KingRing" record label.-Career:Born in Gomel, Belarus, Seryoga grew up in a tough neighborhood. His music became a unique combination of Russian folk music with modern beats and original lyrics appealing to...
, rapper (who once challenged EminemEminemMarshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
to a one-on-one rapRappingRapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
competition) - Igor Polotsky, famous watchmaker
- Kanstantsin SiutsouKanstantsin SiutsouKanstantsin Sivtsov is a Belarusian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam team . He will ride for Team Sky in 2012.-Palmares:2004...
, professional road cyclist - Mikhail Grabovski, professional ice hockey player, currently with the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
- Harry and Bryna Danielovich, the parents of Kirk DouglasKirk DouglasKirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
emigrated from Gomel, although he was born in AmsterdamAmsterdam (city), New YorkAmsterdam is a city located in Montgomery County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 18,620. The name is derived from the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands....
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... - Yuri Sharapov and Elena Sharapova, the parents of Maria SharapovaMaria SharapovaMaria Yuryevna Sharapova ,. is a Russian professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. A US resident since 1994, Sharapova has won 24 WTA singles titles, including three Grand Slam singles titles at the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open...
, left Gomel after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986 - Mikhas Brusovanik, pioneer of Belorussian Rock MusicRock musicRock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, leader of the band AccentAccent (band)Accent was a Belarusian heavy metal band from the city of Minsk. The band played an important role in the development of contemporary music in Belarus.-Early years :...
and member of the band OtrazhenieOtrazhenie (band)Otrazhenie was a Belarusian heavy metal band from the city of Mozyr,the first professional independent Belarusian rock band whose music and lyrics inspired and instigated birth and development of Belorussian rock music.... - Aaron LebedeffAaron LebedeffAaron Lebedeff , a Yiddish theater star, was born in Homel, White Russia. In childhood he sang for the Hazzan, Borekh David. Having no interest in education, he was sent to learn a trade, but soon he ran away and began to play small roles in a Russian theaters in Boboysk, Minsk and other towns...
(1873–1960) Yiddish singer - Yuri ForemanYuri ForemanYuri Foreman is a Belarusian-born Israeli-American professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association super welterweight champion...
, the first Israeli boxing world champion - Dimitry Fomkin, World famous stunt bike rider
Twin towns and Sister cities
Gomel is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with:
| Chernihiv Chernihiv Chernihiv or Chernigov is a historic city in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Chernihiv Oblast , as well as of the surrounding Chernihivskyi Raion within the oblast... , Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia... Aberdeen Aberdeen Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of .... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... (since 1990) České Budějovice Ceské Budejovice České Budějovice is a city in the Czech Republic. It is the largest city in the South Bohemian Region and is the political and commercial capital of the region and centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of České Budějovice and of the University of South Bohemia and the Academy of Sciences... , Czech Republic Czech Republic The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest.... Greater Sudbury, Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... Sari Sari, Iran Sari is the provincial capital of Mazandaran and former capital of Iran , located in the north of Iran, between the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and southern coast of the Caspian Sea... , Iran Iran Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia... |
Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department... , Auvergne Auvergne (région) Auvergne is one of the 27 administrative regions of France. It comprises the 4 departments of Allier, Puy de Dome, Cantal and Haute Loire.The current administrative region of Auvergne is larger than the historical province of Auvergne, and includes provinces and areas that historically were not... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... Liepāja Liepaja Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port... , Latvia Latvia Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden... Bryansk Bryansk Bryansk is a city and the administrative center of Bryansk Oblast, Russia, located southwest of Moscow. Population: -History:The first written mention of Bryansk was in 1146, in the Hypatian Codex, as Debryansk... , Bryansk Oblast Bryansk Oblast Bryansk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Bryansk. Population: 1,278,087 .-History:... , Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... Radom Radom Radom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and... , Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
External links
- Photos on Radzima.org
- History of Gomel
- The Korma-Report (Korma-Studie) of the German Research Center Juelich (Forschungszentrum Jülich) published new data on internal radiation exposure of the inhabitants of a region close to gomel more than 20 years after the Chernobyl disasterChernobyl disasterThe Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
. The data show a significant decrease of the exposure. Resettlement may even be possible in prohibited areas provided that people comply with appropriate dietary rules. - Statistical information about Gomel
- Map of Gomel
- All about Gomel
- Real Estate in Gomel
- Infobelarus
- Gomel State Circus