Kasımiye Madrasa
Kasımiye Medresesi
A madrasa completed in the 15th century under the Ak Koyunlu dynasty, with a double-arcaded courtyard around a pool and a distinctive water channel symbolising the cycle of life.
The Kasımiye Madrasa was begun under the Artuqid dynasty and completed in the 15th century by Kasım Pasha of the Ak Koyunlu dynasty. Two levels of arcades surround a square courtyard. A long, narrow water channel runs through it, starting from a source representing birth, flowing along the length of the courtyard to represent a human life, and finally emptying into a pool that stands for death. The design is rich in philosophical meaning. Beneath the twin domes on the roof are a mosque and student rooms, and the upper arcade offers views over the plain. Entry is free. It sits on the southwest slope below the old town, about 15 minutes' walk from the main street. The climb is steep, so a taxi is also an option.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Forty Martyrs Church (Mor Behnam)
- Latifiye Mosque
- Mardin Museum
- Mardin Old Town
- Mardin Castle
- Great Mosque of Mardin
- Zinciriye Madrasa
- Mardin Old Bazaar