MARDIN
The city is located on the slope of a hill looking down south to
the Mesopotamian plains. Mardin is on the rail and highway routes connecting Turkey
to Syria and Iraq. According to a hearsay, the history of the city dates
as far back as the Flood. The city lived under the rule of the Hurri-Mitani,
Hittites,
Surs, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs and the Seljuk
Turks. Later, the Mardin branch of the Artuklu Kingdom called "Tabaka
Ilgaziyye" was established and the city flourished during this time.
The city used to be known as "Marde" by the Persians, "Mardia" by the
Byzantine,
"Maridin" by the Arabs and "Merde-Merdo-Merdi" by the Syriac. These were
transformed into "Mardin" after the area was occupied by the Turks.
The fortress, Kasimiye Medresse, Zinciriye
Medresse
and Grand Mosque are important historical sites
around the city. Other historical assets in the area worth seeing include Dayrul-Zeferan Monastery and Harizm Medresse.
Dating from 1385, the Sultan Isa Medresse
is an interesting, beautiful Turkish monument with its magnificent carved
portal.
The Kasim Pasa Medresse, is also significant
for its dome of beautiful stonework and the Ulu (Grand) Mosque
with its well-decorated minaret, is another
sightseeing spot.
The best examples of Artutid architecture can
be seen at Kiziltepe, 21 kilometers south of Mardin, with the 13th century Ulu
Mosque
with its fine mihrap relief and beautifully
decorated portal.
At Hasankeyf which is on the borderline with Batman
province, you will see the ruins of the ancient 12th century capital of
the Artutids. The bridge which once connected the two parts of the city
over the Tigris (Dicle) river and the palace, are others. Hasankeyf will
be completely flooded when they will finish the nearby dam, a part of GAP
Project.
The 15th century Zeynel Bey Mausoleum nearby, is attractively decorated
with blue tiles.
Deyr'ul Zafaran Monastery is a Syriac monastery 9 kilometers to the
east of Mardin, built in the 9th century. At present, it is a visit place
and a shelter for impoverished Syriacs. The monastery used to be a religious
centre for the Syriac until 1932. One of the biggest of many monasteries
existing in the region, Deyr'ul Zafaran has 52 Syriac Patriarchs buried
here. The secret section for worshipping called "mahzen" is the oldest
part of the monastery. The monastery was enlarged with additional sections
built later. Around the structures which form a trinity with Deyr'ul Zafaran,
Church of Virgin Mary and Mar Yakup Monastery, there are three fortresses
built for protecting the trinity.
Mar Yakup Monastery derives its name from a priest (Marislium). It was
later known as "Marevgan Monastery". According to a hearsay, Marbinyamin,
one of the heralds of the east had the bones of his oldest disciple buried
here. The monastery was also knows as "Marhonesya" for a time.
The museum is housed in the former patriarchate constructed in 1895
by the Patriarch of Antakya, Ignatios Benham Banni.
Now restored to its original condition, the building houses collections
dating from 4000 BC up to the present day and representing the Assyrian,
Urartian, Hellenistic, Persian, Roman, Byzantine,
Seljuk, Artuklu and Ottoman
periods. Pottery, seals, cylinder seals, coins, lamps, figurines, teardrop
bottles, and jewelry are among the many and fascinating exhibits.
Mardin has preserved the old-style carving in its houses.
Since located in a volcanic area, the basic input used in local architecture
is easily workable calcareous rock. Houses
in Mardin, reflecting all features of a closed-in life style are surrounded
by 4 meters high walls and isolated from the street. These walls also provide
protection from harsh climatic conditions.
Houses have their separate sections
for males and females and mostly have no kitchen.
The most important feature of these houses
is the stone craftsmanship called "Midyat Work". Doors, windows and small
columns are dressed with arches and various motif. The central settlement
was given the status of urban site area in 1979. Above the house doors
are carved pictures of the Kaaba if the owner has
made the pilgrimage to Mecca,
and the door knockers have a distinctive form resembling the beaks of birds.
Often the lanes run through arched tunnels beneath the upper floors of
houses. Relief carvings of animals and fruit lend the city a dream-like
character, and the modern world seems to fade away.
Syrian Orthodox gold and silver smiths whose work is famous throughout
the country still practice their craft here, their workshops side by side
with those of Muslim copper smiths. Along
with the buildings themselves, it is to be hoped that this living culture
can also be preserved.
Having a provincial territory of 12,760 square kilometers, Mardin is
located in the area where the Southeastern Taurus Range meets the Arabian
platform to the south. The area called "Mardin-Midyat Passage" constitutes
a large part of the territory of the province.
The population is 646,826 (1997 Census). Mardin's administrative districts
are Dargecit, Derik, Kiziltepe, Mazidagi, Midyat, Nusaybin, Omerli, Savur
and Yesilli.
Upon the completion of GAP Project, 100,000 hectares
of land will be brought under irrigation in Mardin. Newly irrigated areas
will mainly grow cotton which is to be processed by enterprises in the
Organized Industrial Zone. Besides flour products, fruit processing and
seed production, Mardin will also process its local grapes. A part of the
phosphorus fertilizers which crop farming needs will be provided by the
fertilizer industries existing in the province.
Besides an organized Industrial Zone, Mardin also has a site for small
enterprises which provide employment to 1,140 persons with its approximately
190 work places. Finally, Mardin also has its Free Trade Zone.