MARDİN

Mardin is a city in southeastern Turkey. Mardin is an Aramaic word and means "fortresss. it is known for its Arab-style architecture, and for its strategic location on a rocky mountain overlooking the plains of northern Syria. It has a very mixed population, Turks, Assyrians, Aramean-Syriac people, Arabs and Kurds all represent large groups.

For Mardin, religious and ethnic diversity is a situatin of great richness with remarkable opportunities for mutual understanding and for creating society.

The earliest settlers in Mardin were Assyrian Christians, arriving in the 3rd century AD. Most Syriac Orthodox churches and monasteries in the city, which are still active today, date from the 5th century AD, such as the Deyrülzafarân Monastery.

(Assyrian language is the closest language that Jesus Christ spoke.)

Another important church, Kırklar Church (Church of the 40 Martyrs), originally built in the name of Benham and Saro, the two sons of the Assyrian ruler who executed them because they chose to become Christian, dates from 569 AD.

Mardin remained a heavily Christian area during its control by Muslim Arabs between the seventh and twelfth centuries, and even during its use as a capital by the Artukid Turkish dynasty which ruled Eastern Anatolia and Northern Mesopotamia between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. The 12th century Sitti Radviyye Madrasa, the oldest of its kind in Anatolia, dates from this period.

The Kasımiye Madrasa was built by Sultan Kasım, son of the Akkoyunlu Sultan Cihangir, between 1457 and 1502.

Mosques of Mardin

The city was once a key location on the eastern Silk Road, resulting in markets and workshops. Art has been so important for Mardin from those times. Especially handicraft in silver and copper.

Settle life in and around Konya stars from prehistoric period. Within this period we can see the cultures of Neolithic calcolithic and early bronze era. Catalhoyuk is an ancient city of that period which is considered to be one of the first settlement areas in the world accommodating one of the earliest human communities.

Made up of mud houses, which were entered through holes in the roofs, this site is a real place of interest where you can feel the life prevailing, many years ago. The finds from the district, including the cult figures of the famous temple and the mother goddess, together with old frescoes, are now on display in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.

In the environs of Konya, there also exist sites which hold some remains from the Hittites. Ivriz is one, 168 kms east of Konya, which is one of the finest neo-Hittite reliefs in the country, representing a king and the fertility god of the time.

Konya was invaded by Lydians, Iskender and Byzantines. After the Malazgirt war in 1071, as well as a large part of Anatolia, Konya was taken from Byzantines by Seljuks. Konya ,from 1097 to 1277, the capital city of Seljuk state the city of science, art and culture since the 13th century.

One of the famous buildings in Konya is Karatay Madrasa, constructed in 1251, stands to the north of this hill, and is now a museum which holds the best examples of Seljuk tiles and ceramics.

KARATAY MADRASA

The Ince Minareli Madrasa with its fascinating monumental portal, the Sircali Medresse, and the Iplikci Mosque are other Seljuk works in the city.

İnce Minareli Madrasa

SIRÇALI MADRASA

The most famous building here is the Green Mausoleum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. The founder of sufism Celalettin Rumi, was the greatest spiritual master and poet of 13th century. His life style was based upon the holly Kuran and the prophet Muhammed. During his time Rumi is the ultimate symbol of tolerance, love and forgiveness. Thus he became one of the greatest teachers of universal love and peace.

Rumi utilisied reed flute, poet, music, and lyrics to call and collect people around his message. His messages are to make the people live in peace , harmony, respect and prosperity.

One of his most important saying:

Come, come, whoever you areWanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving,Ours is no caravan of despair,Even if you have broken your vow a thousand times,Come, yet again, come ...

Sufism and Sema (The Whirling Dervishes)

Sufism is simply the way, developed by sufists to reach God, to acquire his love and to purify and train oneself to be a perfect true humanbeing. The Sema represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to the "Perfect". Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth, and arrives at the "Perfect". He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, able to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.

Every year in December, ceremonies are held in Konya or the commemoration of Mevlana and the Whirling Dervishes. The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has market 2007 as the "Mevlana Year" to celebrate 800th anniversary of the birth of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Belhi-Rumi. This decisions was made because Rumi advocated tolerance, reason and access to knowledge through love. His mystical relationship withIslam produced masterpieces that have marked Islamic culture and religious beliefs beyond the borders ofTurkey. His work and thought remain universally relevant today in our world.

Seven Advice of Mevlana

In compassion and grace be like sun

In modesty and humility be like earth

In anger and fury be like dead

In generosity and helping others be like a river

In tolerance be like a sea

In concealing others' faults be like night

Either exists as you are or be as you look.