Hasankeyf, Batman the 12th-century Artukid capital

Hasankeyf, Batman the 12th-century Artukid capital, offers a unique combination of medieval urban structures and natural rock formations and caves. Throughout history, Hasankeyf has been a melting pot of Western, Persian and Central Asian cultures, and is adorned with a citadel, mosques, tomb sand ruined historic bridges. Hasankeyf is located in a valley between the Midyat Mountain Range and the Raman Mountains to the north. Hasankeyf-Batman The old Tigris Bridge Built in 1116 by the Artuqid Sultan Fahrettin Karaaslan, it replaced an older bridge. The bridge over the Tigris River is considered to be the largest from the Medieval Period. Support for the bridge was built with wood in case the bridge had to be removed in order to prevent an attack. The Citadel The Citadel was built by the Byzantines in 363 as a defense against the Sassanids, but the area is thought to have been settled since prehistoric times.The citadel is built entirely from natural stone, and is accessed by two long flights of steps, one in the west and one in the east. Spring water was piped in to the citadel in Ayyubid and Artukid times. The area to the south ofthe Grand Mosque was later converted into a cemetery. Under the Ayyubids, a large iwan was built here. Most of the homes int he citadel are cave dwellings dug into the rock. The Citadel, Hasankeyf-Batman The Citadel, Hasankeyf-Batman The El-Rızk Mosque The El-Rızk Mosque is by the Tigris near the foot of the bridge. The main entrance features a late 15th-century inscription dating from the Akkoyunlu period. The mosque was built in 1409, but only the minaret remains of the original structure. The minaret features Arabic Kufic script inscriptions and ornamentation, but its most striking feature is the double staircase that leads to the ‘şerefe’ or balcony. The El-Rızk Mosque, details Kızlar Mosque (Maidens mosque) Kızlar Mosque is thought to have originally been a mausoleum. The dome, the remains of the tomb and sepulcher have all been restored. The walls of the tomb located on the corners of the northern façade feature Kufic inscriptions embellished with organic designs, as well as an elegant inscription of the ‘besmele’ prayer. The overall design of the structure suggests that it was built by the Ayyubids. Kızlar Mosque (Maidens mosque) details Zeynel Bey Tomb Mausoleum of Zeynel Bey, son of Sultan Uzun Hasan (Hasan the Tall) of the Aq Qoyunlu dynasty, or White Sheep Turkomans (1378–1508) The ceramic tiles on the exterior of the structure are the only examples in Anatolia of the classical style that arose in the mid-14thcentury. Zeynel Bey Tomb