Location: Mardin
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What to do and see in Mardin, Mardin Province: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Mardin (Kurdish: Mêrdîn, Syriac: ܡܶܪܕܺܝܢ, Arabic/Ottoman Turkish: ماردين Mārdīn) is a city and multiple (former/titular) bishopric in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for the Artuqid (Artıklı or Artuklu in Turkish) architecture of its old city, and for its strategic location on a rocky hill near the Tigris River that rises steeply over the flat plains.
Restaurants in Mardin
1. Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 681 reviews
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
Ancient people of Mesopotamia, Syriacs In this article, we will try to explain the history of the Syriac community, whose origins belong to the fertile crescent and Mesopotamian geography. In the last half century, many studies have been done on the origins of the Assyrians, their traditions and customs, their lifestyles; it definitely proves that they are a people of the fertile crescent land. There are generally 2 basic views about the origins of the Assyrians. The first view bases the origins of the Syriacs on the Arameans, one of the ancient peoples of the fertile crescent. Advocates of this view say that the name Syriac comes from an aramean king. In addition, the name tells that the Aramaic people, who adopted Christianity in the 1st AD century, called themselves Syriacs. The reason is that they want to separate from the pagan arameans, who are their descendants. This is the view basically defended by the Jacobian, which are the biggest branch of the Syriacs today. turkey, Jacobians living in Syria and Iraq emigrated to the world in many countries. One of the main evidences of this view is that the language spoken by the Syriacs is the Aramaic language. Another view is the view that traces the origins of the Syriacs to the Assyrians. This view is adopted by Nestorian people living in Iran today. Akkads, Assyrians,Babylonians,Arameans …The languages of all these peoples are of sami origin and they could easily live together. According to the Nasturis, the Syriacs are a common nation formed by all races. The most evident evidence of this view is that the Assyrians established many cities in the regions where Syriacs live today and they were very influential in Mesopotamia geography. Before Christ, many archaeological inscriptions and evidence show that the origin of the Syriacs may be Assyrians. it is written in the sources that the lineage of the Syriacs went to 2500 BC to sam, Son of Noah, and Aram, son of Sam. after Rome accepted Christianity as an official religion in the 4th AD century.on the basic principles and belief systems of Christianity, consuls began to gather to determine decisions and principles..The first believers in Jesus were forced into various tortures, massacres and migrations by the Roman during the period of nearly 3 centuries until the Roman acceptance of Christianity as the official religion.The desire of Rome to control Christians through the councils may be considered as a cause of divergence of opinion for the churches(Nikea ,Istanbul, Ephesus).However, the Kalkedon Council is known as the consul, which caused the greatest division in the history of Christianity by the Roman, who wanted to control and use eastern Christianity and its churches.The main issues of separation were the principles of faith and the organization((Monothelitism -.Dyothelitism ) of the churches.In addition, the control of the eastern churches to the Istanbul church is another reason for the great differences.Eastern Churches; possession of worldly riches and the official who wants to base his love of earthly life he opposed the church's theses.There were Syriacs, Copts, Ethiopians and Syrians among these eastern churches that were separated in the first place.the Council of kadıköy was a harbinger of great separation among the Syriacs.Syriacs who opposed the council were pressured by the Roman and Western churches, and some of them were exiled and called nesturis.the reason they are called nesturis is because of bishop Nestorius.the Syriacs, oppressed by the Western churches and Rome, began to stand closer to the Parthians and Sassanids, where they lived in the same geography.but it was not easy for Syriacs to live their religion in this kingdom, where Zoroastrianism and Mithraism were adopted.in its simplest form, this separation was due to nesturios ' claims and views on diophysicity.the Jacobins , today called the ancient Orthodox Church and located in Turkey, Syria and Iraq, were at the beginning of the 6th AD century during the time of Emperor Anastasius and Queen Theodora, Jacobins acquired an official status and many churches and monasteries were established in mardin and around the region called tur abdin(Monothelitism ).the jacobins took these names from Jacob Baradaeus (Baradei), who lived in the 5th century.During the 5th,6th and 7th centuries, some of the Syriacs were supported by the Sassanids(nesturis-diophysite), and the other part was supported by Rome(jacobins-Monophysite).currently, nesturis call themselves Assyrians and usually live in the geography of iran.the jacobins, on the other hand, call themselves ancient Orthodox Syriacs and usually live in Turkey and Syria.some Syriacs who accepted the terms of the Chalcedonian consul and feared the Roman Emperor Marcianus are called the Melkite Church (malkoye melkit).the word malkoye melkit means adherents of the King. these Syriacs(malkoye melkit), now called Greek Orthodox, have translated their language from Syriac to Arabic.the Melkites, on the other hand, later experienced another division within themselves in the 8th century and established a Patriarchate in Lebanon called the Marunis.. again, the ancient people of Mesopotamia, called Chaldeans today, separated from the nesturis in the 15th century and formed the Catholic Syriacs.both the Crusades and the missionary activities that intensified in the later centuries brought 2 more divisions to the Syriacs.especially after the 17th century, the Syriac Catholic patriarchy was first established, and in the 19th century, Protestant Syriac Catholicism was established...
2. Mardin Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 159 reviews
3. KasImiye Medresesi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 251 reviews
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
build by akkoyunlu sultan prince kasim. Completed at the end of the 15th century and early 16th century. Anatolia is one of the first known madrasas in the open courtyard. continued uninterrupted education and training until the republican history
4. Dara Mesopotamia Ruins
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 347 reviews
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
Byzantine(the Eastern Roman Empire)garrison and border city Dara Dara ancient city-necropolis…(Mardin/Turkey) In official records, Dara, By the Roman Emperor Anastasius (AD 491-518) in 505-507, A garrison city was established to protect the eastern border of the empire to the Sassanids. The city is known as "Dara-Anastasiopolis" in the name of the founding emperor. There are different opinions about where the city's name comes from. Some sources said that the darius who was defeated in the Issos(İskenderun/Turkey) battle BC 333 between Alexander the Great and Darius III (Achaemenid Empire)died here after the war and the name dara came from here. some sources refer to the 3rd century BC. it is said to have been founded by King Arsaces of Parth in the second half of the century . According to another view, its strategic location, fertile land and rich because of its water resources, it was long before King of Parth 1. Founded by Tiridates (246-211 BC). The city walls are strengthened and raised by Justinian I (527-565 AD). The water cisterns and additional measures are taken against the sasani attacks.. The name of the city was changed to "Justiniana Nova" in AD 530 after a series of restoration works carried out by Emperor Justinian I. Ancient city of Dara ..it includes city walls, inner castle, bastions ,ditches ,defensive structures,cisterns,living areas,necropolis,agora,bridges. In 530 AD, it witnessed the victory of the emperor's generals Belisarius and Sittas over the Sassanids. the Sassanids are forced to flee. in some sources, it is said that the emperor built the small Hagia Sophia church((Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus) .in Istanbul in memory of this victory. Until 640, Dara changed hands several times.between the Sassanids and the Romans .Islamic armies conquer Dara in 640. the most important structures of the city are the necropolis section,agora,cisterns and city walls. 3 bridges were built over the river in the section where the stream, which has dried up today, passes through the middle of the city. a wide and smooth road and agora, about 100 meters long, were built on the edge of the river. there are water distribution systems and cisterns that allow huge water to be distributed and cleared to the city in the direction of the river's entrance. one of the most visited parts of the city, giant cisterns about 35 meters high, which are examples of magnificent Roman architecture today called dungeons, were built. in various sources,it is said that these giant structures were used as cisterns, warehouses or dungeons. the most important and most visited part of Dara is of course the necropolis section, which was built with 3 floors. in the necropolis area, there are sarcophagi and chamber type graves outside the 3-storey section.all structures of the area in general are constructed of limestone.in some sources, it is said that limestones extracted from the deep valley created for the necropolis were used in the construction of castle walls and other buildings. The lowest floor of the necropolis, which was built on 3 floors, contains a large number of human bones. it is said that these bones belong to the people who were killed in the city when the Sassanids took over the city. it is believed that the people living in the city buried the people killed by the Sassanids here, where they believed that the prophet ezekiel would resurrect them, as written in the Old Testament. On 2 floors of the 3-storey structure, there are carved Tomb types in the wall. the last floor is a section where different beliefs and ceremonies are held. soot and fire marks on the ceiling suggest that this place was previously used as an animal shelter and shelter. there is a 15-meter-high tunnel with a diameter of about 5 meters, which opens from the last floor to the Earth.it can be considered that the tunnel is used for two purposes.it can be assumed that people who have been due to an infectious disease since ancient times were lowered down the tunnel with the help of a rope from above and left behind.another reason may be that the smell of harmful and bad gas is thrown out of the place where the dead are buried. the most important part of the necropolis area is the relief figures made at the top of the entrance of the 3-storey building.these figures are the first and only ones in the world. these relief figures describe 2 events in the Old Testament. in the center of the sketches on the left is the prophet ezekiel ,in the lower corner are the bones of the people who will be resurrected,in the upper right and upper left corner are 4 Angels, and in the upper right corner is a hand(the hand of God). in the Old Testament, it is written that in the time of the apocalypse, ezekiel will resurrect people with the permission of God.this event is described in the relief. there are different opinions about the relief on the right side. in this relief, there is a man and perhaps a small baby and a pine tree or cypress tree.one of them describes the incident of the Prophet Moses and the burning bush. other sources say that the relief was virgin Mary and Jesus. the cypress tree is known in mythology as the tree that communicates between 2 worlds and brings good news to the Earth…
5. Kirklar Kilisesi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
Forty Martyrs(Mor Behnam) Church- Syriac Ancients (Kadim) Orthodox Church Mor Behnam (Kırklar Kilisesi) church is one of the most significant historical sites in the old part of Mardin. It is located the Şar Neighbourhood of the city centre where nowadays many Christians are still living. This church was constructed in 569 B.C and consecrated in honor of Syriac Saint Behnam and his sister Saro. while Mardin Castle is being repaired one of the seven churches built it is considered. The part of the church belonging to the Shams(sun goddess), before the 6th century indicates that it is dated. The bones of forty martyrs (Turkey/Sivas 4 century) in this church in 1170 B.C It was named because it was brought. Church, three entrance doors, fine stone crafted with crafting, altars, four-hundred-year-old wooden doors, 1500 years of root painting curtains, bell tower in its wide courtyard and stone carving that is almost like lace there is a sofa with examples. Built in the name of Mor Behnam and his sister Saro and now known as the Forty Church, the church got both names from early Christian legends. The church, which also contains a Bible dating from 1230, is also the metropolitan church of Mardin. the Legend Saints Behnam, Sarah At the time [A.D. 352], persecution had forced some ascetics to move to the region of Nineveh. One of them, Mar mattai , settled on the mountain and quickly became famous for the power of healing with which he was gifted. Also Sanherib, King of Athor, whose daughter Sarah had been suffering from leprosy for years, learned of Mar Mattai and kept track of what the Christians were reporting about this wonder-working ascetic. One day, Sanherib’s son Behnam had a dream, which led him to search for Mār Mattai. While being on a hunting trip, Behnam found Mar Mattai, learned from him about Christ, and brought Mar Mattai to Athor, where the ascetic secretly healed the girl Sarah. In response to the healing miracle, also the sister learned of the Christian faith and was baptized. Since both of them refused to continue to worship the pagan deities, their father had the children executed. Shortly after having violently put his children to death, Sanherib fell sick. A dream motivated his wife to visit the burial site of their son Behnam, and in a subsequent dream Behnam sent his mother to Mar Mattai, for healing and conversion. Eventually, Sanherib himself converted and built a church and monastery for Mar Mattai on Mount ’Alpap. Behnam’s mother also ordered the construction of a monastery at Kökyata as well as of a cistern at the site where her children were buried. A few years later, a Christian traveller from Persia, who was on a pilgrimage journey to Jerusalem, stopped at the place, prayed there, and learned about the events surrounding the children’s martyrdom. This traveller, named Isaac, also had a dream in which Behnam appeared to him and requested that a house of prayer be erected at the site. Again with the support of Behnam’s mother, a monastery was built there. According to the legend, it was the monastery of Beth Gubbe, where according to tradition the relics of Mār Behnam and his sister Sarah are kept Forty Martyrs Legend The main plot of the story took place in 320, during the cold winter, when the Emperor ordered to sacrifice to the idols. Forty Christian soldiers, Legio XII Fulminata(melitene ), then spoke among the others and refused to fulfill the emperors' command. The commander tried to persuade them, promising them wealth or glory, but they remained firm in their faith in Christ. For their stubborn faith they were imprisoned, interrogated, cruelly tortured, and then Emperor had their garments removed and left them to stand in a frosty winter on a frozen lake near the city. And to make this torture even harder, there was a hot steam bath on the shore of the lake, which was supposed to tempt them to deny their faith. But the soldiers encouraged each other, and with a desire for Heaven they suffered with an unbreakable mind and heart, exalting God and praying: "Lord, forty soldiers are here in the battle for faith, ready to die for You, give grace to all the forty, the number which You consecrated with your holy fast, so that we conquer the crowns of glory." And the Lord truly heard their prayer and manifested his miraculous power. The guard, standing at the window of the spa house, suddenly saw an unusual blue light irradiating all the space where the martyrs stood, and it seemed to him as if the angels had flown from the heavens and were holding the crowns above the heads of the martyrs. Standing in astonishment at this scene, he noticed that they were only thirty-nine angels, while the martyrs were forty. And as he thought about this inconsistency, suddenly one of the forty, a young man overwhelmed by the pain, dashed down to the window and begged the guard standing there to let him in. He bowed before the altar of false gods and put himself in the warm water. His heart, however, did not endure this change and burst. Thus, in the desire to save his earthly life, he sacrificed eternally and lost the earthly one as well. The pagan guard saw this, and suddenly enlightened by the spirit of God, he believed. He quickly squeezed off his clothes, put down his armor, and with the confession of faith on his lips he stepped to the ice between the martyrs. At that very moment, the fortieth angel flew from heaven with the fortieth crown of glory. The frozen, crimped bodies of forty martyrs, still showing signs of life, were thrown into a great fire, burned and the ashes were cast into the river. Christians, however, collected the precious remains, and the relics were distributed throughout many cities; in this way, veneration of the Forty Martyrs became widespread, and numerous churches were erected in their honour.
6. Zinciriye Medresesi
7. Great Mosque of Mardin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 233 reviews
Reviewed By Chom914 - Istanbul, Turkey
Mardin is a magical city still preserving its thousand year heritage where many religions and people live harmoniously together. Beautiful architecture of the mosque where each stone tells a story and many more is visibly engraved to the amazing minaret. Amazing to find out the builders were Armenians which shows how peaceful and respectful the whole city is...
8. Sabanci City Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 145 reviews
Reviewed By umran2015 - Istanbul, Turkey
This museum makes very good summary about Mardin and it’s enviroment. When you come to Mardin its better to visit here first to understand where should you go and see. Also museum gives you many ideas about culture and history. Very rich culture and many monuments here so this museum created very profecional look and its a big gift for us.
