Page "Atil" Paragraph 2

Atil was located along the Volga delta at the northwestern corner of the Caspian Sea.

Following the defeat of the Khazars in the Second Khazar-Arab war, Atil became the capital of Khazaria.

The city is referred to as Khamlij in 9th century Arab sources, and the name Atil appears in the 10th century.

At its height, the city was a major center of trade, and consisted of three parts separated by the Volga.

The western part contained the administrative center of the city, with a court house and a large military garrison.

The eastern part of the city was built later and acted as the commercial center of the Atil, and had many public baths and shops.

Between them was an island on which stood the palaces of the Khazar Khagan and Bek.

The island was connected to one of the other parts of the city by a pontoon bridge.

According to Arab sources, one half of the city was referred to as Atil, while the other was named Khazaran.