Mardin Turkey, Mardin History, About Mardin

The first settlements in Mardin date back 4.000 years. The region was ruled by the Hurrians, Mitannians, Hittites, Assyrians and Urartians. The city was ruled by Persians, Macedonians, Seleucians, Romans, Sasanians, Byzantines; Arabs in the 7th century, Hamdani Dynasty in the 9th century, Seljuks in the 11th century and then Artuqids, Ilhanlılar, Karakoyunlular, Akkoyunlular. It was included in Ottoman lands in 1517.

Ammianus Marcellinus, who lived in the 4th century, says there was a castle in Mardin called Mazide. The Syrians called it Marde and the Arabs Maridini. Mardin is probably derived from these words. Mardin has a rich history and culture. It is an urban site and a unique outdoor museum. Some old works in the city are: The Hamdanians built Mardin Castle in 975-976. The castle is on a rock hill at 1180/1200m. It is also famous because it is very difficult to capture. Only some walls remain. Some castle remains from the Artuqid and Akkoyunlu periods are in the castle.

The Ulu Mosque was built during the Artuqid and Akkoyunlu periods. The Ulu Mosque was built in 1170 by Artuqid Sultan Necmettin Ilgazi. It has many decorations and a minaret with scripts. The Şehidiye Mosque was built by Melik Mansur Nasreddin in 1214. Its minaret, added in 1916, is attractive.

The Melik Mahmud Mosque was built in 1367. It is one of the city’s most important mosques. The Reyhaniye Mosque and the Arabian Mosque are also in the city. They were built in the 16th century.

The Hacı Ömer Mosque was built in the 18th century. The madrasahs are the most important buildings in the city. The Zinciriye Madrasah was built in 1385 by Artuqid Melik Necmeddin İsa. It has two floors and includes a court, mosque, tomb and other sections.

The Kasimiye Madrasah was started at the end of the Artuqids period but finished during the Kasım period. The madrasah has two floors and includes a courtyard, mosque, and tomb. Rıdvaniye Madrasah, also called Hatuniye and Sitti Radviyye Madrasah, was built by Artuqid Sultan Kudbeddin İlgazi between 1176-1185.

The madrasah has two floors and includes a courtyard, cloisters, a mosque and a tomb. Şehidiye Madrasah was built by Artuqid ruler Necmeddin Ghazi between 1239 and 1259. It has a small mosque with two naves and a courtyard with cloisters and two sheds.

The most important Christian structure in Mardin is the Deyrülzafaran Monastery, 5km from the city. The monastery is the centre of the ancient Syrian community. Before, Syrians was Christian. The monastery was built in the 4th century. It has three floors and is built around a courtyard. It has been expanded over time and repaired in the 18th century. There are three churches and a chapel, a cemetery with the graves of 52 Syrian patricians, a ceremony section within the monastery and a guesthouse.

There are also many other important buildings in the city, including old mosques, madrassas, bathhouses, inns, small dervish lodges, tombs, fountains, monasteries, churches, and houses.

Mardin Museum is in an old building and is a must-see.

Midyat county is an important place to visit because of its architecture and silver engraving.