 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (February 2019) |
Adile Ayda | |
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| Born | March 7, 1912 Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Died | October 5, 1992 (aged 80) |
| Resting place | Zincirlikuyu, İstanbul |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Citizenship | Turkish |
| Education | Lycée Notre Dame de Sion Istanbul |
| Alma mater | Ankara University, Law School |
| Spouse | Reşid Mazhar Ayda |
| Children | Gönül Pultar, Gülnur Ayda Üçok |
| Parent(s) | Kamile Rami Arsal, Sadri Maksudi |
Adile Ayda (7 March 1912 – 5 October 1992) was the first woman career diplomat of Turkey, but is today better remembered as an Etruscologist. She became interested in Etruscan studies while stationed in Rome as the Minister-Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy, did research on the subject during her stay in Italy and wrote down her findings in a number of books, in Turkish and in French. What is spectacular about her texts on Etruscans and renders them of interest is that she posits the Etruscans as Turkic, a proposition that is as controversial today as it was during her lifetime.
Ayda was also known in Turkey as an outspoken parliamentarian during her stint as a member of the Turkish Senate, which she had joined on appointment, as one of the small number of appointed senators, called "kontenjan senatörü" in Turkish, after her retirement from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ayda had an eventful professional life. She left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs soon after she joined it, and taught French literature first at the Ankara then Istanbul universities, penned a number of studies as an academic, in Turkish and in French, before returning once again to the Ministry.