A Fairy-Tale Place: Mardin - Part IV - Mystical Travel - Ephesus of Mesopotamia : Ancient City of Dara and the Dungeon

Ephesus of Mesopotamia : Ancient City of Dara and the Dungeon

^{Panaroma of The Ancient City of Dara}

Hello Steemian friends,

Unfortunately it is the last part of the this mystical travel and our last destination is the ancient city of Dara and the Dungeon...i hope you like my informations and pictures about these places. Well,let's begin then...

Ancient City of Dara

There are very few cities in the world full of legends, mystical and beautiful, and Mardin is one of them. Dara Ancient City, located in Oğuz Village, 30 km south of Mardin, witnesses the thousands of years of Mardin and Anatolia, and embraces the cultures of an ancient geography.

One of the most important settlements of Upper Mesopotamia in history, the Dara Ancient City was established as a garrison for military purposes to protect the eastern border of the Eastern Roman Empire against Sasanid . Dara ,the ancient city where spreads over a very large area is revealed the remains of the world's first water dam by the archaeological excavations.

^{Sasanid: A member of a dynasty of Persian kings of the third to seventh centuries}

Although it is rumored that the origin of the name of the ancient city, surrounded by 4 km of ramparts with structures cut into the rock, comes from Persian King Darius III, it is not known exactly when the city was founded. It is known that Dara, founded on a limestone bedrock and witnessing the struggle of the Romans and Persians, underwent Arab invasion in the 7th century and Ottoman rule in the 15th century. Yes i know, you are saying it smells like history at all...!

In addition to the remains of castles, bridges, water canals, water cisterns, churches, arastas , palaces, bazaars, dungeons, tombs, rock tombs and civil settlements, only 30% excavations ; in the vicinity of the village there are also cave houses dating back to the Late Roman period.

^{Arasta: 1.shops of the same trade built in a row 2.Ottoman Bazaar(and i don't know what the differences from a normal bazaar)}

Dara Ancient City, which is a magnificent history and culture treasure, is one of the most active modern and beautiful cities of its time near Nusaybin, and today it is making a journey towards rich history in Mardin. The best time to visit Dara, which you can visit under the guidance of children who live in there , is during the spring months. Don't visit in summer months! don't do it...!

Actually The Dara was the most impressive historical place for me in my journey.Because i felt the history deep inside my heart,my soul and i could also touch it.

The Dungeon

Actually there is not to much information about this structure so it is all known about it:

Even if this structure that is designed mostly to remain underground is recalled to as the "Dungeon" by locals,studying its architectural form and measurements proves it to be a storage/depot.

With excavations carried on during the recent years it was possible to reach its floor level.It also dates to A.D. 600.

Last Notes for the travellers of Mardin !

1.Take thin summer clothes and a white hat with you.
2.If you have an allergy of the sand take your pills with you.
3.If you want to travel everywhere without losing any time then hire a car in the airport,Kızıltepe.
4.While traveling take a backpack and get some water,chocolate and cracker.
5.Good luck and have a good travel !!!

All photos and drawings are belongs to me and for sale in HQ digital format for Steem/SBD, please contact if interested at discord @mnallica

only @originalcontent / @originalworks

Hi, i am Mustafa...I hope you enjoy my works my Steemian friends and if you like please resteem and upvote my works to support me...!!