Overview:

Dara Ancient City is an ancient city and archaeological site located in Mardin Province of Turkey. Located on the steep slopes of the Tur Abdin mountain range, the ruins of the city are thought to date back to the 5th century CE and are considered to be among the most impressive archaeological sites in the Middle East. The ruins of the city are made up of a collection of ancient monuments, including a palace, churches and monasteries, as well as a number of tombs. These ruins provide a fascinating insight into the historical culture of the region and have even led to the discovery of a number of remarkably well-preserved frescoes and mosaics dating back over 1,500 years. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Turkey
Prominent Features:

1. The 16-meter deep ziggurat: The main structure in the center of Dara Ancient City is a private ziggurat dating back to the early 3rd century AD. It is an impressive 16 meters deep, and features five levels, with a three-storey building on top, each with a different design. 2. Byzantine Church of Our Lady Mary: This large church stands in the center of the ancient city and dates back to the 5th century AD. Its walls feature frescoes, some of which are very well preserved and depict stories from the old and New Testament. 3. The impressive limestone archway: This archway is the only one of its kind that remains to this day. It dates back to the same era as the ziggurat and the Byzantine church, and was possibly used as a gateway or ceremonial entrance to the city. 4. The cisterns: Behind the northern wall of the ancient city are two large underground cisterns, dating back to the early Christian period of the 4th century. They were used to hold rainwater for the population to use during drought seasons or in times of war. 5. The city walls: Still standing today are the impressive city walls that surround the ancient city. Constructed from large limestone blocks during the Roman rule around the 2nd century BC, these walls are surrounded by a deep moat and feature several defensive towers. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Turkey.

History:

Dara (sometimes written as Darâ) was an ancient city located in the region of Mardin, in Southeastern Turkey, that attained its height of power and influence in the late Roman period, eventually becoming an important Byzantine fortress in the 6th century. Dara was founded around the 2nd century by the Romans as a waypoint on the frontier of the Eastern Roman Empire, and its strategic location meant that it was continually contested by both Romans and Sassanid Persians. In 639AD, the Byzantines besieged Dara and successfully took the city. From then on, Dara prospered as an important Byzantine city, both militarily and economically. During the Abbasid period in the 8th century, Dara was the cultural and intellectual center of the newly-established Caliphate. The city was finally destroyed in 1260 by the Mongols, leaving only sections of the city walls and other monuments. Over the next few centuries, Dara lay in ruins until its discovery in the 19th century. Archaeological excavations have since revealed the remains of the city walls, churches, monuments, and other artifacts. Today, the ruins of Dara are considered to be a valuable cultural heritage site in Turkey. Visit one of the famous monuments of Turkey with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The history of Dara dates back to the Roman era and is part of the ancient Assyrian Empire. 2. After the Greco-Roman period, the city was occupied by various Persian rulers before becoming a part of the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century. 3. Its most remarkable feature is its huge walls, which are 4 km in circumference and surround the city in its entirety. 4. Dara is also home to a large number of churches, monasteries and shrines. 5. It is believed that St. Thomas used the city as a stopping point on his journey to India in the 1st century AD. 6. The city was the site of a major siege in 530 AD, when the Persian occupation was challenged by the Sassanid Empire. 7. The city was eventually besieged and captured by the Muslims in 639 AD. 8. In the modern era, the city is considered a symbol of multiculturalism as it retains some of its original Assyrian and Roman features while also being home to a large number of ethnic Kurds, Assyrians and Arabs. One of the historical monuments of Turkey, it tells the story of a bygone era