T.C.Mardin Valiliği
 
 
 

 
 
 

Photograps and Writings are takem from "Mardin" book by Lütfi ÖZGÜNAYDIN

To Mardin in Longing

Languages are a Symphony

From windows to Mesopotamia Plane

Legens are Everywhere

Magical Past...

Monasteries

Can Mardin be without pigeon?

The Charm of the chain

Mardin Castle

Dereiçi Village

He placed his cup of coffee in front of hım and just started to drink

Tombs face the city

The house of the Mungans

I went to prison in Dara

Shahmaran, the Master Of Snakes

Anguısh on the wall

Life flows to the Mesopotamia Plain

A New day dawns, words keep on telling their tales

The human and the light

In front of the seminary

Wast it love that flowed to babaylon?

Night conceals many things

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DEREİÇİ VILLAGE

 

   I fell into the green from the steppe. After the green trailing the road, Savur was waiting me, embracing a very steep hill. She embraced the hill tightly... When I was looking from the roof of the mansion, I have felt this. Then, in the streets, inside "abbara"s, I have looked at the visual history of Savur on surfaces where the stone crafts have reached the peak. If stones survived in all the dwellings, if it hadn't been polluted by concrete, the stone houses would be like a pearl necklace hanged on the neck of the hill. I have seen a room like a pearl in Savur. This fascina-ting, beautiful room was representing the century old life, with white covers and wooden craftworks. From Savur to Dereici village, we again walked tangent to greens, grapeyards the sweet grapes were shining among the green leaves of the vines bursting from the bosom of the dry soil. Dereici village is a treasure. If it is revaluated, if the streets, the houses, the church is restored, it would become an new Venice. Prof. Metin Hoca came here and wanted to restore and open the avenue at the entrance. Hoca is the owner of the merits of this country. His footsteps can be seen everywhere. I have taken the photograph of a house. There was someone standing in the porch. He was standing upright. A human being, a house... Now that sight has fallen into my heart. The village that I have seen for the first time is like a jewel under ashes... We have to remove those ashes and shine everything.! standed still in front of the grave in front of the church. There might be important people buried in the courtyards of Syrian churches. The magnificient grave there, seems to tell the past of the village. The harmony of the houses with nature give you peace. Even though the houses are empty. The posture of the village over nature tells so many things... Here one shows his respect for nature. One says to himself, "This village has to survive"... This village must survive. All the human beings have to see the harmony with nature... Especially, people from this village have to reach their hands out for the village...

       All the eyes have to touch the visual values tasting like the bitter wine wrapped up by shining grapes. How many such villages are there over nature? How many villages ar there, presenting so much esthetics, such peace in harmony? Dereigi is standing there with churches, graves and sad houses. At least we hope that concrete isn't plastered onto these buildings. We hope they are left to live like they are, with all their honour... We hope they are left to live as long as possible, lined up in front of the hill, with their motifs, shadows, stones that turn yellow at the end of the day. We hope they aren't polluted by concrete. We hope copper isn't added to gold. Let it shine as it is.
 

 
 
 

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