Mardin Castle, the strategic fortress of many empires from the Persian Empire to the Ottoman Empire, has been a source of inspiration for many Muslim and Christian travelers in history.
MARDIN (IGFA) – 14 historical castles are trying to survive until today. While many castles are in danger of being demolished due to indifference, the authorities need to take action and start restoration work to bring the castles into tourism.
From Ibn Khaldun to Ibni Batuta, Evliya Celebi to Ibn-i Jubayr, From the Venetian Merchant Josaphat Barbaro, to the German Carten Niebuhr, from the Italian traveler Domenico Sestini to the author of Bezm u Rezm, one of the memoirs of the Mamluk period, Aziz bin Ardashir-i Esterbâdî, many Islamic and Christian travelers mentioned Mardin castles in their memoirs and books.
MARDIN CASTLE
Another name for Mardin Castle is “Eagle’s Nest”. It is a fortified place built on the upper cage of the zin, where a large part of the city rests. It is a very important castle that has experienced victories and some disappointments from time to time.
In AD 330, a king named Şad Buhari, who worshiped fire and worshiped the sun, came and stayed in Mardin castle. When the uncomfortable king is well during his stay in the castle, he built a pavilion and lives here for 12 years. Later, he brought many soldiers and civilians from his native Persia and Babylon and settled them in Mardin.
Thanks to the people brought, many advances were seen until AD 442. In M5.442, no survivors of the castle survived due to the plague epidemic. MS. Mardin Castle remained empty until 542. Hamdan Bin Al Hasan Nasır El Devle Bin Abdullah Bin Ham, one of the Hamdanids, made this natural castle, which had a dominant position for thousands of years, more sheltered with some additions in A.D.975-976. The height of the castle from the plain is about a thousand meters. Part of the castle is seated on steep rocks. In the places where the inclination is high, where people are likely to climb and descend, a city wall was built using this. A tower still stands in the southern part of the castle. Remains that were used as residences are observed in the castle.
Even Evliya Çelebi admired the Mardin castle
Evliya Çelebi, with his usual narrative feature, made the castle warehouses with a large amount of supplies and ammunition. The walls, which existed in the first half of the 19th century, are only found in some places today. The castle, which was besieged many times, provided its resistance that infuriated even Timur with the abundance of water cisterns and warehouses it contained. While standing tall, the city had six gates. These; Diyarbakır Gate in the west of the province, Savur Gate in the east, Bab-ı Şavt in the north, Bab-ı Hamara in the northwest, Bab-ı Zeytun in the southwest, and Bab-ı Cedid (New Gate) in the south. The strength of these gates is an important factor in the fact that the castle cannot be conquered for many years. The fame of Kartal Castle is so widespread that it has inspired many poets. When Mesopotamia, which witnessed what the castle lived through, called the magic wand of civilization and technique, this emerald plain drowned in light today. Someone looking south at night to the magnificent Kartal Castle thinks thousands of lights that shine on the mountain slopes as the stars of the sky.
Maiden’s Castle (Kal’at ül al Mara-Lorna-Jurekm): {2 }
Depends on the center. 5 km from the province. It is one of the three castles in the east that resemble a bow. It has undertaken a very important protective role in history. In the castle, there is a stone throne belonging to the king’s daughter, water cisterns, wells, caves and ruins. It is planned to implement the cable car project in Kal’at ul Mara with the aim of developing aviation sports in modern sense and revitalizing tourism.
{ 3} Erdemeşt Castle:
The castle on the hill between Bülbül Village and Arur Castle.
Anır Castle:
5 to Mardin km away, on the hill behind Deyrulzafaran Monastery.
Dara Castle (Daras Anastasiupolis):
The castle connected to the center is 30 km from the city of Mardin. east, rises on a pile-up hill within the famous Dara Ruins. While this is the most famous historical city of the Upper Mesopotamia Region, today it looks like a village.It has experienced a brilliant period in history as a very important civilization layer with its deep underground dungeon and university. The famous Iranian ruler Dara Yuvanish built the castle. The castle, which changed hands between the Persians and the Romans until the first years of AD, has preserved its characteristics.
Rabbat Castle:
15 km of Derik district. west of the village, within the boundaries of Hisaraltı Village. It has a history of thousands of years. It was repaired in the Artuklu period and exposed to some additions. It has 15 towers and 4 watchtowers on 4 corners. The height of the bastions is 15 meters. The castle has two gates in the east and west. The shelters built underground have also undertaken an important task in time, with soil piled up. Underground palace ruins, food warehouses.
Dermetinan Castle:
The castle is 20 km from Mazıdağı district. northwest and within the borders of Gümüşyuva Village. Timur, who decided to conquer Diyarbakır after Mardin, made discoveries on the land in order to dominate the strait opened in Mesopotamia from the Karadağ text, to block the aid roads of Mardin and Diyarbakır, to secure the passages of both sides, He ordered the conquest of Dermetinan Castle, which did not give passage. The conquest of the castle was not easy as expected. l50 m. The castle, which was built on the upper plain of a hill in height, made Timur busy for a long time. Another remarkable feature of Dermetinan Castle is a marble cemetery from the Byzantine period, with two seals on its door. Here, the original structure of the wall reliefs is very important. The castle was built by the Byzantines. Eight bastions and watchtowers, the only door opening to the north and water cisterns inside…
Zarzavan Castle-Sammachisacane
(on the Mardin-Diyarbakır highway): One of the most beautiful corners of the Silk Road 50 m in one. It was built on a high hill. The purpose of its construction is for the safety of those who are engaged in caravan trade. During Timur’s attempts to conquer Mardin, this castle was captured, those who resisted were killed and a ruin was left behind.
Savur Castle (Sauras):
The castle was built in one body on the upper plain of a high hill on which the town of Savur rests. It was built by the Romans considering the strategic rules of the time. Savur Castle, which was the scene of great conflicts between the Romans and the Arabs, constantly changed hands and remained a central castle for a long time. The castle stands with all its mystery in a dominant location, which is the lifeblood of the Silk Road
Aznavur Castle: The Castle,
14 km from the town of Nusaybin. is in the northeast. Aznavur Castle is on the summit of two pennies on a wide valley. Hamdan Bin A1 Hasan, Hasır Al-davla Bin Abdullah Bin Hamdan was built by Hamdan in Castle H.360-M.970. 400 m from east to west. length 30-60 m in width. ranges between. The floor of the plain where the castle was built is 800 m in the east and 300 m in the west. high. The castle is fortified with 14 bastions and two watchtowers. Its only gate opening to the south leads to the castle square, where the place of the castle body constitutes a feature worth seeing. Its tower dominating the Syrian Plain in the south is still standing.
Rahabdium-Hafemtay Castle:
The castle is 20 km from the town of Nusaybin. northeast. It was built by the Romans on a hill near the Syrian border. The Nusaybin – Midyat caravan road passed through the valley to the east of the hill. Hafemtay Castle, which served as the outpost of the Romans for the dangers from Syria, has been a subject of contention between the Arabs and the Romans for a long time. For this reason, his name is very bloody in history. The castle has a complete command over the Nusaybin Plain and the valley where the caravan route passes, and the Syrian Plain. Extending from south to north, the castle has 14 bastions, two watchtowers, the height of the walls reaching 1500 meters is 10, the bastions and the watchtower 20 meters. The entrance to the castle is from a single point from the south. In the castle square, water cisterns, food warehouses, some building remains and underground cellars are visible.
Merdis-Marin Castle:
The castle is 15 km from the town of Nusaybin. is in the northeast. Marin Castle is built on a high cliff above the old town of Merdis. Its circumference is 1500 meters.The gate to the south was protected by an iron gate in the past. To the east of the castle is the castle of the King of Merdis, under the castle there is a cellar carved into the rocks, 5 meters deep, 18 meters long and 5 meters wide, and besides this there is a cistern that does not decrease its water. Although there is no record of who built the castle, it is understood that it is a Byzantine work of construction and has been repaired many times in history. The bastion and walls of the castle have preserved their characteristics until today.
Haytam Castle (Turabdin-Dimitriyus):
Günyurdu – It is among the villages of Dibek. It is located to the east of Bagok (Izlo) mountain with an altitude of 1254, 500 m east of the service road. It was built in 351 AD by the son of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, Kustus. There is Basibrin Village connected to the castle. The castle changed hands a lot and it was occupied by a Turkish chief named Kör Halil, who was Uzun Hasan Begin’s maid in AD.1462. Today it looks like ruins. It is near Deyrulumur Monastery
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