Mardin history

Foundation and Ancient Roots

The history of Mardin stretches back centuries, making it one of the oldest settled cities in Upper Mesopotamia. Although the exact date of its foundation is lost in time, archaeological evidence suggests that people have lived here since the Bronze Age. In ancient sources, the city is mentioned under the name Marida or Marde, which translates from Aramaic and Syriac as "fortresses". This name perfectly reflects the essence of the city, which grew around an impregnable citadel atop a rock.

Over millennia, this region passed from hand to hand: from the Hurrians and Assyrians to the Persians, Romans, and Byzantines. Each of these peoples contributed to the strengthening and development of the settlement, which served as an important strategic outpost.

Key Factors of Development

The transformation of Mardin into a significant centre of the ancient and medieval world was driven by a unique combination of several factors:

• Geographic Location: The city is situated on a high rocky hill overlooking the plains of Mesopotamia. This made it a natural fortress (the "Eagle's Nest") that was extremely difficult to capture, ensuring safety for residents and rulers alike.
• Trade Routes: Mardin was located at the intersection of vital caravan routes, including the famous Silk Road. This contributed to the prosperity of trade and the influx of goods from both East and West.
• Political Frontier: For a long time, the city served as a buffer zone and frontier fortress between great empires — the Roman (later Byzantine) and the Persian, attracting military garrisons and resources for the construction of fortifications.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

From the very beginning of its existence, Mardin formed as a unique "melting pot" of cultures. The economy of the early city was built not only on transit trade but also on agriculture in the fertile valleys at the foot of the mountain, as well as on craftsmanship.

A special role in the city's cultural code was played by stone architecture. Due to a lack of timber and an abundance of limestone, local masters have perfected the art of stone processing since ancient times, creating the unique appearance of the city that has been preserved to this day. Religious life was also rich: pagan cults, Zoroastrianism, and later various branches of Christianity (especially the Syriac Orthodox tradition) and Islam coexisted peacefully here, laying the foundation for Mardin's multi-confessional character.

Major Historical Milestones

• 640 AD — The Arab commander Iyad ibn Ganm conquered the city, incorporating it into the Islamic Caliphate and bringing Islam to the region.
• 1102 — Mardin became the capital of the Artuqid dynasty, marking the beginning of a "golden age" of architecture and the flourishing of crafts.
• 1176 — Construction began on the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), the minaret of which remains the main symbol of the city to this day.
• 1260 — Mongol troops led by Hulagu besieged the city, but the powerful fortress walls allowed Mardin to stand firm.
• 1394 — The famous conqueror Tamerlane unsuccessfully attempted to storm the citadel, eventually retreating from the impregnable fortress.
• 15th Century — The city came under the control of the Aq Qoyunlu Turkmen confederation, whose rulers built the famous Kasımiye Madrasa.
• 1517 — Sultan Selim I annexed Mardin to the Ottoman Empire, ensuring a long period of stability and peace for the region.
• 1923 — Following the proclamation of the Turkish Republic, Mardin received the status of the administrative centre of the province of the same name.
• 2000 — The historical part of the city and its unique cultural landscape were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Stages of Urban Evolution and Transformation

The development of Mardin is not merely a change of rulers, but a history of ingenious adaptation of complex mountain terrain to human needs. The city's appearance was shaped over centuries under the influence of climate, land scarcity, and cultural exchange, leading to unique urban solutions that still work today.

• Architecture of Social Respect: The main urban planning achievement was the implementation of cascading (terraced) construction. Houses on the mountain slope are positioned so that the shadow of one building does not fall on another, and the roof of a lower neighbour serves as an open courtyard for the upper one. This unwritten rule formed a unique environment of good neighbourliness, where personal space is inextricably linked with the public.
• The "Abbara" System and Urban Climate Control: To organize movement within the dense stone development, a network of abbaras — vaulted passages beneath residential houses — was created. These architectural elements solve two problems at once: they create additional living space on the upper floors and provide cool, wind-swept tunnels for pedestrians, offering relief from the heat.
• Craft Specialization of Quarters: The city's economy has shaped its physical appearance for centuries. Trading rows (arasta) were clearly zoned by types of crafts, a feature that remains today. A special place was taken by workshops for silver working (telkari) and soap making, turning the bazaar streets into centres of not only commerce but also production art.
• Division into Old and New City: In the second half of the 20th century, a strategic decision was made not to rebuild the historical centre for modern needs, but to move new development to the valley. The emergence of the Yenişehir district allowed "Old Mardin" to be preserved as an open-air museum, moving administrative buildings, multi-storey blocks, and noisy traffic outside the protected zone.
• Educational Driver of Change: The opening of the university became a catalyst for new transformation. The influx of students and the academic community breathed life into ancient mansions, which began to be massively restored as art galleries, boutique hotels, and cultural centres, turning the city from a simple tourist attraction into a vibrant creative space.

An Architectural Symphony in Stone

The architectural appearance of Mardin defies classification within familiar European styles (Gothic or Baroque are not represented here in pure form). It is a unique synthesis of Mesopotamian, Arab, Seljuk, and Syriac traditions, where golden limestone serves as the main building material. The city is an open-air museum where every building is inscribed into the complex mountain landscape.

The Artuqid Era (12th–15th Centuries): The Golden Age of Architecture

It was during this period that the recognizable silhouette of the city was formed. The Artuqid dynasty brought monumentality and exquisite stone carving to the architecture, creating a style that can be described as Anatolian Medieval Islamic style.

• Characteristic Features: The use of ribbed domes, tall minarets with rich ornamentation, majestic portals with muqarnas (stalactite vaults), and open courtyards with iwans.
• Iconic Structures:
  • Great Mosque (Ulu Cami): The heart of the city. Its ribbed dome and minaret with unique stone carving have become the symbol of Mardin.
  • Zinciriye Madrasa (1385): A masterpiece of engineering with two domes and a monumental portal, located at the foot of the fortress.
  • Kasımiye Madrasa: A complex completed under the Aq Qoyunlu but started by the Artuqids, distinguished by strict geometry and the presence of an astronomical pool.

Syriac Orthodox Heritage (4th Century – Present)

Parallel to Islamic architecture, Christian architecture developed, represented by monasteries and churches. This style is characterized by austerity on the outside and a richness of detail on the inside, reminiscent of the early Christian and Byzantine traditions of the East.

• Characteristic Features: Massive walls resembling fortifications, stone altars with the finest carving, the use of Syriac inscriptions in decor, and specific lantern bell towers.
• Iconic Structures:
  • Deyrulzafaran Monastery (Saffron Monastery): One of the oldest religious centres in the world, built on the ruins of a Temple of the Sun. The architecture of the complex reflects layers of eras from Roman foundations to medieval superstructures.
  • Kırklar Church (Forty Martyrs): An example of exquisite masonry and preserved ancient interiors.

Ottoman Period and Civil Architecture (16th–19th Centuries)

After becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, the city was enriched with elements of the classical Ottoman style, adapted to local materials. However, the main achievement of this time was the development of residential construction — the famous Mardin mansions (konaks).

• Characteristic Features: Baroque influence in decorative elements (carving above windows, cornices) combined with traditional layout. Houses were built in steps, with high ceilings and thick walls for protection against the heat.
• Urban Planning Elements:
  • Latifiye Mosque: An example of late Ottoman architecture (1371, rebuilt in the 19th century) with a richly decorated entrance.
  • Covered Bazaars (Arasta): Trading streets with stone vaults protecting against the sun formed the commercial centre of the old city.
  • Post Office Building (Ptt Binası): A magnificent example of 19th-century civil architecture, originally built as a private mansion of the Şahtana family, demonstrating the pinnacle of masonry craftsmanship of that time.

Distinguished Personalities of Mardin

Mardin is the birthplace of many famous people, from medieval rulers whose names are carved in stone to modern scientists and artists who glorify the city on the world stage.

Historical Figures and Rulers

• Sultan Isa (Melik Najmeddin Isa) — Ruler of the Artuqid Dynasty (14th Century).
  The last ruler of Mardin from the Artuqid dynasty. His main legacy is the construction of the Zinciriye Madrasa (1385) — one of the most beautiful architectural complexes in the city, located at the foot of the fortress. Sultan Isa played a key role in shaping the architectural appearance of Mardin, fighting for the city's independence against Tamerlane's army.
• Sultan Qasim (Cihangir-oglu Kasim Pasha) — Ruler of the Aq Qoyunlu Dynasty (15th Century).
  Initiated the completion of the monumental Kasımiye Madrasa. This complex was conceived not only as a religious school but also as a centre of science with an astronomical observatory. Thanks to his patronage, Mardin received one of its most recognizable symbols.
• Mor Hananyo (Ananias) — Metropolitan and Saint of the Syriac Orthodox Church (8th Century).
  In 793, he organized a large-scale reconstruction of the ancient monastery, which bore his name for a long time (now known as Deyrulzafaran or the Saffron Monastery). His activities turned the abode into the spiritual and cultural centre of the region for many centuries.

Modern Figures in Science and Culture

• Aziz Sancar — Biochemist, Nobel Laureate.
  Born in the Savur district of Mardin province. In 2015, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for mechanistic studies of DNA repair. A museum dedicated to his life and achievements has been created in the city, and he himself is the pride of the region and an example for the youth.
• Murathan Mungan — Writer, Poet, and Playwright.
  Although born in Istanbul, he comes from an old Mardin family. His work is deeply imbued with the atmosphere and mythology of Mardin. Mungan's books (for example, "Paranın Cinleri") open the mystical and multicultural soul of the city to readers, making it popular among intellectual tourists.
• Ebru Baybara Demir — Chef and Social Entrepreneur.
  A world-renowned chef who has dedicated herself to reviving the culinary traditions of Mesopotamia. She opened a famous restaurant in a historic mansion in Mardin, attracting gastronomic tourists from all over the world, and implements social projects for the employment of local women.