Mardin, which has been home to the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylon, Hittites, Assyrians, Urartians, Romans, Abbasids, Seljuk and Ottomans throughout the history, attracts the attention of the visitors with its historical buildings and artifacts.

Those who come to the city especially shows great interest to Kasımiye Madrasah that a 700-year history and constructed with perfect architectural structure.

There are also symbols of astronomy and medical science on the walls of the madrasa, where thousands of scholars have been educated for 400 years.

The construction of the Kasımiye Madrasa, which was started during the reign of Sultan Isa of Artuk, was completed in 1469 during the reign of Sultan Qasım Ibn Cihangir of Aq Qoyunlu.

The madrasah, which is one of the most important educational centers of the region during its active period, has a mausoleum, a fountain and 23 classrooms. The madrasa, which has two terraces, and built on two-story, was constructed in the form of a complex including a mosque and a tomb.

According to the rumors; Sultan Qasım, son of Sultan Cihangir of Aq Qoyunlu, was killed by his uncle in the madrasa. When Sultan Qasım dies, his sister put his blood on the walls of madrasa with tears. Blood trails on the wall still look refresh despite 548 years has passed.

The water flowing in the pool in the courtyard of the madrasa hiding a mystical representation. The water is symbolizing the life from birth to death it the ditch it flows.

The water coming out of the fountain symbolizes the birth, the place where it falls is youth, the long and narrow channel represents the old age while the collection of the water in a pool represents the death. Then this water is flowing to the soil by channels, and this represents life after here.

It's too great to make with today's technology

Those who visit the madrasah attract the attention to the 600-year-old Al-Jazari portrait.

The work that cannot be made even with today's technology, appears like a curve inward with the naked eye. But those who look at it with mobile phones or cameras, observe the three-dimensional portrait of Abū l-ʿIzz ibn Ismāʿīl ibn ar-Razāz al-Jazarī (1136–1206), a Muslim scientist and engineer, has been considered to have taken the first steps of cybernetics and made and activated the first robot.

"Our ancestors discovered the three-dimensional picture 600 years ago"

The director of Kasımiye Madrasah Hazbi Bulut said our ancestors discovered 3-dimensional painting 600 years ago and one of these paintings has been exhibited in the madrasa.

"Kasımiye Madrasah, with its 700-year history, has a perfect architectural structure with the smells of science and wisdom at every corner. For example, when you look at this portrait with the naked eye, it looks like a curve inward. But when taken by a machine or phone, it takes a 3D shape," Bulut said.

Adding that the picture turns and looks wherever you go, Bulut underlined that Al-Jazari, according to rumors, was a teacher in Kasımiye Madrasa.

Who is Al Jazari?

He was born in 1136 in the Tor neighborhood of Cizre. He is known to have completed his studies in the Camia Madrasa. His real name is Ebu'l İz İsmail İbni Rezzaz Al Jazari.

After the southeastern Anatolia was taken under control of Artukids, he was summoned to Diyarbakır, the capital of that time. is called upon to Diyarbakir, the capital of that time, after the rule of the Artuqids. He conducts important scientific studies for 25 years here, under the patronage of the Sultan.

In this process, Al Jazari produces many works and writes his works in Arabic. He also writes the inventions he produced in these 25 years.

Al Jaari, who is popular with his brilliant and personality, dies in 1207 in his hometown in Cizre.

ILKHA