Midyat: Heart of the Tur Abdin
- Hojîn Rostam
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
Midyat is a historic town in Mardin Province in south-eastern Turkey, set at the heart of the Tur Abdin — the limestone plateau famous as one of the great cradles of Syriac Christianity. Built of honey-coloured stone and crowned with churches, mosques, and finely carved houses, Midyat is one of the most beautiful towns in the region, and a meeting place of many communities: Syriacs, Kurds, and others have shared its streets for centuries.
A town of stone, faith, and craft, Midyat holds a special place in the heritage of the Kurdish southeast. This profile looks at the town, its peoples, and its remarkable setting.
Key Takeaways
• Midyat is a historic town in Mardin Province at the heart of the Tur Abdin plateau.
• It is famous for its golden-stone architecture, churches, and mosques.
• The Tur Abdin is one of the historic heartlands of Syriac Christianity.
• Midyat is home to Syriac, Kurdish, and other communities.
• It is renowned for the craft of telkari, delicate silver filigree.
Quick Facts
Name: Midyat
Country / Region: Turkey (Bakur)
Province: Mardin
Region: Tur Abdin
Famous For: Golden-stone architecture and churches
Communities: Syriac, Kurdish, and others
Craft: Telkari (silver filigree)
Heritage: A cradle of Syriac Christianity
Contents
Where Is Midyat?
Midyat lies east of the city of Mardin, on the Tur Abdin plateau between Nusaybin on the Syrian border and the Tigris country near Hasankeyf. It sits on a gently rolling upland of pale limestone, dotted with vineyards, olive groves, and ancient monasteries — a landscape that has been settled and farmed since deep antiquity.
A Town of Golden Stone
Midyat’s great glory is its architecture. The town is built almost entirely of a soft golden limestone that local masons have carved for centuries into elaborate facades, arches, courtyards, and church towers. Its old quarters are a maze of honey-coloured houses and lanes, punctuated by the spires of Syriac churches and the minarets of mosques, and the skyline of domes and belfries is among the most beautiful in all of Mesopotamia. This stonework has made Midyat a treasured heritage town and a favourite of visitors and filmmakers alike.
The Heart of the Tur Abdin
Midyat sits at the centre of the Tur Abdin, the “mountain of the servants of God,” one of the most important heartlands of Syriac Christianity in the world. For more than a thousand years this plateau has been studded with monasteries and churches of the Syriac Orthodox tradition, and Midyat has long been a focal point of that ancient faith. Although the Syriac community was greatly reduced by the upheavals of the twentieth century, its churches, monasteries, and living traditions remain central to the identity of the town and the region.
A Meeting of Peoples
Midyat has always been a town of several communities living side by side. Syriac Christians, Kurds, and Arabic-speaking groups have all made their homes here, and the town’s churches and mosques stand close together as a sign of that shared life. Today Kurds form a large part of the population, while the Syriac community — though diminished — remains culturally vital, and some families who emigrated have begun to return. This mingling of peoples and faiths is part of what gives Midyat its distinctive character.
Midyat Today
Today Midyat is a thriving heritage town, celebrated for its stone architecture, its churches and monasteries, and its famous telkari silversmiths, whose delicate filigree work is sold across the country. Tourism has grown around its old quarters, and the town takes pride in its layered history. At the heart of the Tur Abdin, Midyat endures as a place where the many peoples and faiths of the Kurdish southeast have long met and mingled.
Timeline
antiquity — Midyat and the Tur Abdin plateau are settled in early times.
early Christian era — The Tur Abdin becomes a heartland of Syriac Christianity, rich in monasteries.
over the centuries — Midyat grows as a stone-built town of Syriacs, Kurds, and others.
20th century — The Syriac community is much reduced, though its heritage endures.
today — Midyat is a celebrated heritage town at the heart of the Tur Abdin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Midyat?
Midyat is a town in Mardin Province in south-eastern Turkey, at the heart of the Tur Abdin plateau, east of the city of Mardin.
Why is Midyat famous?
Midyat is famous for its golden-stone architecture, its many Syriac churches and monasteries, and its tradition of telkari silver filigree, set at the heart of the historic Tur Abdin.
What is the Tur Abdin?
The Tur Abdin is a limestone plateau in south-eastern Turkey that is one of the great historic heartlands of Syriac Christianity, dotted with ancient monasteries and churches.
Who lives in Midyat?
Midyat is home to several communities, including Syriac Christians, Kurds, and Arabic-speaking groups, who have long lived side by side in the town.
Related People, Places, and Topics
References and Further Reading
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