Mardin

Mardin (Kurdish: Mêrdîn‎,[3] Arabic: ماردين‎, Syriac: ܡܪܕܝܢ‎, romanized: Merdīn[4][5]) is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for the Artuqid 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.[6] The old town of the city is under the protection of UNESCO, which forbids new constructions to preserve its façade.[7] Demographically, a 2013 study showed that although Kurds are the provincial majority, within the city itself the population is split evenly between Kurds and Arabs.[8] Historically, as a rich cultural hub with traces "from Muslim, Syriac, Yakubi, Chaldean, Nesturi, Yezidi, Jewish, Kurdish, Arab, Chechen, and Armenian influences", Mardin has been promoted as an "open-air museum".[9]

This article is about the city. For other uses, see Mardin (disambiguation).
Mardin
Metropolitan municipality
The old city of Mardin
Mardin
Location of Mardin within Turkey.
Coordinates: 37°19′0″N 40°44′16″E
Country Turkey
RegionSoutheastern Anatolia
ProvinceMardin
Government
 • Elected MayorAhmet Türk (deposed) (HDP)
 • Acting Mayor (Governor of Mardin Province)Mustafa Yaman
Area
 • District969.06 km2 (374.16 sq mi)
Elevation
1,083 m (3,553 ft)
Population
 (2012)[2]
 • Urban
86,948
 • District
139,254
 • District density140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code
47x xx
Area code(s)0482
Vehicle registration47
Websitewww.mardin.gov.tr
www.mardin.bel.tr
www.mardinimiz.net

History
Close-up of the old town
Another detail of the old town

Antiquity and etymology
Further information: Upper Mesopotamia

The territory of Mardin and Karaca Dağ was known as Izalla in the Late Bronze Age (variously: KURAzalzi, KURAzalli, KURIzalla), and originally part of a Hurrian kingdom. The city and its surrounds were absorbed into Assyria proper during the Middle Assyrian Empire (1365–1020 BC), and then again during the Neo Assyrian Empire (911–605 BC).[10] The ancient name was rendered as Izalā in Old Persian, and during the Achaemenid Empire (546–332 BCE) according to the Behistun Inscription it was still regarded as an integral part of the geo-political entity of Assyria (Achaemenid Assyria, Athura).[11] It survived into the Assyrian Christian period as the name of Mt. Izala (Izla), on which in the early 4th century AD stood the monastery of Nisibis, housing seventy monks.[12] In the Roman period, the city itself was known as Marida (Merida),[13][14] from a Syriac/Assyrian Neo-Aramaic language name translating to "fortress".[15][16]

Between c.150 BC and 250 AD (apart from a brief Roman intervention when it became a part of Assyria (Roman province) it was part of the Neo-Assyrian kingdom of Osroene.[17] In the late 3rd century AD Shapur II conquered Mardin and Osroene into the Sassanid Empire (224–651 AD) after which the region became part of the province of Assuristan.

Medieval history
Mardin, 1690

Byzantine Izala fell to the Seljuks in the 11th century. During the Artuqid period, many of Mardin's historic buildings were constructed, including several mosques, palaces, madrassas and khans. Mardin served as the capital of one of the two Artuqid branches during the 11th and 12th centuries. The lands of the Artukid dynasty fell to the Mongol invasion sometime between 1235 and 1243, but the Artuqids continued to govern as vassals of the Mongol Empire.[18] During the battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, the Artuqid governor revolted against Mongol rule. Hulagu's general and Chupan's ancestor, Koke-Ilge of the Jalayir, stormed the city and Hulegu appointed the rebel's son, al-Nasir, governor of Mardin. Although, Hulagu suspected the latter's loyalty for a while, thereafter the Artuqids remained loyal unlike nomadic Bedouin and Kurd tribes in the south western frontier. The Mongol Ilkhanids considered them important allies. For this loyalty they showed, Artuqids were given more lands in 1298 and 1304. Mardin later passed to the Aq Qoyunlu, a federation of Turkic tribes that controlled territory all the way to the Caspian Sea.

During the medieval period, the town (which retained significant Assyrian and Armenian populations) became the centre for episcopal sees of Armenian Apostolic, Armenian Catholic, Church of the East, Syriac Catholic, churches, as well as a stronghold of the Syriac Orthodox Church, whose patriarchal see was headquartered in the nearby Saffron Monastery from 1034 to 1924.[19] In 1451 the Kara Koyunlu besieged the castle of Mardin, damaging the city after their failed attempt to take the stronghold. About half a century later, in 1507, Ismail I of the Safavids succeeded to capture the city and the castle.[20]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
152610,000—    
192722,249+122.5%
194518,522−16.8%
195019,354+4.5%
195524,379+26.0%
1970 33,740+38.4%
1990 53,005+57.1%
2000 65,072+22.8%
2012 86,948+33.6%
Lush plains south of Mardin
Filigree art in Mardin, known as Telkârî

Ottoman Empire

A few years later in 1515, the city yielded to the Ottomans, who were bitter rivals of the Safavid dynasty, though the castle still remained under the control of Ismail I. One year later, the Ottomans under the leadership of Selim I besieged the city anew and eventually annexed it in 1517.[20] During this time, Mardin was administered by a governor directly appointed under the Ottoman Sultan's authority.

The city experienced a relatively tranquil period under Ottoman rule, without any significant conflicts or plights. This period of peace was finally halted when the Ottoman Empire came into conflict with the Khedivate of Egypt. During this time the city came under the rule of insurgents associated with the Milli clan. In 1835, the Milli tribe was subdued by the military troops of the Wāli of Diyarbekir Eyalet, Reşid Mehmed Pasha.[21] Between 1847 and 1865 the city's population suffered from a notable cholera epidemic, with the exact number of fatalities not known.[20] During World War I Mardin was one of the sites affected by the Armenian Genocide. On the eve of World War I, Mardin was home to over 12,000 Assyrians and over 7,500 Armenians.[22] During the armed conflicts and plights caused by the war, many were sent to the Ras al-'Ayn Camps, though some managed to escape to the Sinjar Mountain with help from local Chechens.[23] Kurds and Arabs of Mardin typically refer to these events as "fırman" (government order), while Syriacs call it "seyfo" (sword).[24] After the Armistice of Mudros Mardin was one of the Turkish cities that was not occupied by the troops of the Allied Powers.

Modern History

In 1923, with the founding of the Republic of Turkey, Mardin was made the administrative capital of a province named after it. Many Assyrian survivors of the violence, later on, left Mardin for nearby Qamishli in the 1940s after their conscription in the Turkish military became compulsory.[24] As the Turkish Government subdued the Sheikh Said Rebellion in 1925, the first and the fourteenth cavalry division were stationed in Mardin.[25]

Through a passed law in 2012 Mardin became a metropolitan municipality, which took office after the Turkish local elections in 2014.[26] The city has a significant Arab population.[27]

Ecclesiastical history

A bishopric of the Assyrian Church of the East was centered on the town when it was part of the Roman province of Assyria. It was a suffragan see of [Edessa], the provincial [metropolitan see].

It eventually became part of the Catholic Church in the late 17th century AD following a breakaway from the Assyrian Church, and is the (nominal) seat of three sees of the Catholic Church: the current Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Mardin and two (now) titular sees under the ancient name of the town :[28] former Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Mardin, now Titular see of Mardin only, and former Syriac Catholic Eparchy of Mardin and Amida, now titular see (initially as mere Eparchy).

Historical landmarks
Main post office building

Mardin has often been considered an open-air museum due to its historical architecture. Most buildings use the beige colored limestone rock which has been mined for centuries in quarries around the area.

Churches
Mor Hananyo Monastery
  • Meryemana (Virgin Mary) Church- A Syriac Catholic Church, built in 1895 as the Patriarchal Church, as the Syriac Catholic see was in Mardin up until the Assyrian Genocide.[29]
  • Red (Surp Kevork) Church- An Armenian Apostolic Church renovated in 2015[30][31]
  • Mor Yusuf (Surp Hovsep; St Joseph) Church - An Armenian Catholic Church[29]
  • Mor Behnam (Kırk Şehitler) Church - A Syriac Orthodox Church built in the name of Mor Behnam and Mort Saro, the son and daughter of a ruler; dates back to 569 AD[32]
  • Mor Hirmiz Church - A Chaldean Catholic Church in Mardin- It was once the Metropolitan cathedral of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Mardin, prior to it lapsing in 1941. Nevertheless, One Chaldean family remains to maintain it.[33]
  • Mor Mihail Church -A Syriac Orthodox Church located on the southern edge of Mardin.
  • Mor Simuni Church - A Syriac Orthodox Church with a large courtyard.[34]
  • Mor Petrus and Pavlus (SS. Peter and Paul) Church - A 160 year old Assyrian Protestant Church, recently renovated.[35]
  • Mor Cercis Church
  • Deyrü'z-Zafaran Monastery or The Monastery of St. Ananias is 5 kilometers southeast of the city. The Syriac Orthodox Saffron Monastery was founded in 493 AD and is one of the oldest monasteries in the world and the largest in Southern Turkey, alongside Mor Gabriel Monastery. From 1160 until 1932, it was the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, until the Patriarchate relocated to the Syrian capital Damascus. The site of the monastery itself is said to have been used as a temple by sun worshipers as long ago as 2000 BC.[36][37]

Mosques
The Great Mosque of Mardin
Zinciriye Medrese
Zinciriye Medrese
  • Great Mosque (Ulu Camii) - constructed in the 12th century by the ruler of the Artukid Turks, Qutb ad-din Ilghazi. It has a ribbed dome and a minaret that soars above the city. There were originally two minarets, but one collapsed many centuries ago.
  • Melik Mahmut Mosque - built in the 14th century and contains the tomb of its patron Melik Mahmut. It is known for its large gate which features elaborate stonework.
  • Abdüllatif Mosque (Latfiye Mosque) - built-in 1371 by the Artukid ruler Abdüllatif. Its minaret was destroyed by Tamerlane's army and rebuilt many centuries later in 1845 by the Ottoman Governor Gürcü Mehmet Pasha.
  • Şehidiye Medresse and Mosque - built-in 1214 by Artuk Aslan. It has an elaborate ribbed minaret and an adjoining madrassa.
  • Selsel Mosque
  • Necmettin Gazi Mosque
  • Kasım Tuğmaner Mosque
  • Reyhaniye Mosque - the second largest mosque in Mardin after Ulu Camii. Built-in the 15th century, it has a large courtyard and open hallway featuring a fountain.
  • Hamidiye Mosque (Zebuni Mosque) - built before the 15th century, it is named after its patron Şeyh Hamit Effendi.
  • Süleymanpaşa Mosque
  • Secaattin and Mehmet Mosque
  • Hamza-i Kebir Mosque
  • Şeyh Abdülaziz Mosque
  • Melik Eminettin el-Emin Mosque
  • Sıtra Zaviye Mosque
  • Şeyh Salih Mosque
  • Mahmut Türki Mosque
  • Sarı Mosque
  • Şeyh Çabuk Mosque - built in the 14th century and contains the tomb of its patron Şeyh Çabuk
  • Nizamettin Begaz Mosque
  • Kale Mosque
  • Dinari Mosque

Madrassas
  • Zinciriye Medrese (Sultan Isa Medrese) - constructed in 1385 by Najm ad-din Isa. The madrasa is part of a complex that includes a mosque and the tomb of Najm ad-din Isa.
  • Sitti Radviyye Medrese (Hatuniye Medrese) - built in the 12th century in the honor of Sitti Radviyye, the wife of Najm ad-din Alpi. There is a footprint that is claimed to be that of the Prophet Muhammad.
  • Kasımiye Medrese - construction started by the Artuqids and completed by the Aq Qoyunlu under Sultan Kasım. It has an adjoining Mosque and a Dervish lodge.

Politics

In the 2014 local elections, Ahmet Türk of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP)[38] was elected mayor of Mardin. However, on 21 November 2016 he was detained on terror charges after being dismissed from his post by Turkish authorities. A trustee was appointed as mayor instead.[39] In the Municipal elections in March 2019 Türk was re-elected. But he was dismissed from his post in August 2019, accused of supporting terrorism.[40] Mustafa Yaman, the Governor of Mardin Province was appointed as acting mayor.[41]

Economy

Historically, Mardin produced sesame.[42] Tourism is an important industry in Mardin.

Geology

During the late Permian ~250 mya the Afro-Arabian plate started opening up. The East African continental rift initiation is believed to have started around 27-31 million years ago with the beginning of the basaltic volcanism of the Afar Plume. This rift system would cause a contractional tectonic process to occur in which the Arabian Plate was pushed in a north-easterly direction towards the Eurasian plate. The divergence in the East African Rift would eventually cause the closure of the Tethys Ocean as the Arabian Plate made its first inception of collision with Eurasia between 25 and 23 million years ago, and complete closure around 10  mya and creation of the Mardin High.

Panorama of Mardin, with the Mesopotamian Plain opening to the right

Climate

Mardin has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold, wet, and occasionally snowy winters. Temperatures in summer usually increase to 40 °C (104 °F) due to Mardin being situated right next to the border of Syria. Snowfall is quite common between the months of December and March, snowing for a week or two. Mardin has over 3000 hours of sun per year. The highest recorded temperature is 42.5 °C (108.5 °F). The average rainfall is about 641.4  mm (25 inches) per year.

Mardin-Kızıltepe, with +48.8 °C (119.84 °F) on August 14, 1993, holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Turkey.[43]

Climate data for Mardin
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 7.4
(45.3)		 9.4
(48.9)		 14.5
(58.1)		 19.6
(67.3)		 26.4
(79.5)		 33.0
(91.4)		 38.1
(100.6)		 37.5
(99.5)		 33.8
(92.8)		 25.6
(78.1)		 17.1
(62.8)		 10.1
(50.2)		 22.7
(72.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 3.5
(38.3)		 4.9
(40.8)		 8.7
(47.7)		 14.4
(57.9)		 19.8
(67.6)		 25.4
(77.7)		 30.2
(86.4)		 29.6
(85.3)		 25.7
(78.3)		 18.7
(65.7)		 11.2
(52.2)		 5.0
(41.0)		 16.4
(61.6)
Average low °C (°F) −0.5
(31.1)		 0.4
(32.7)		 3.5
(38.3)		 8.3
(46.9)		 13.1
(55.6)		 18.2
(64.8)		 22.3
(72.1)		 21.6
(70.9)		 17.1
(62.8)		 11.3
(52.3)		 6.2
(43.2)		 1.2
(34.2)		 10.2
(50.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 99.8
(3.93)		 110.7
(4.36)		 94.6
(3.72)		 75.5
(2.97)		 37.7
(1.48)		 8.3
(0.33)		 3.3
(0.13)		 1.2
(0.05)		 4.1
(0.16)		 33.3
(1.31)		 68.7
(2.70)		 104.2
(4.10)		 641.4
(25.24)
Average rainy days 10.6 10.6 10.7 9.9 6.6 1.7 0.5 0.2 0.7 5.3 7.4 10.2 74.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours 139.5 142.8 189.1 222 310 375 396.8 368.9 315 238.7 174 136.4 3,008.2
Source: Devlet Meteoroloji İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü[44]

[45]

Notable locals

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey

Twin towns — Sister cities

Mardin is twinned with:

See also

References
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