The Fortified Castle of Viranşehir in The Middle Ages: Çimdin Castle (Old Castle)

Sevcan Ölçer

Makale detayları

The Fortified Castle of Viranşehir in The Middle Ages: Çimdin Castle (Old Castle)

Yazarlar:

Sevcan Ölçer

Yayıncı:

Gaziantep University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kültür Coğrafyası | Ortaçağ Arkeolojisi | İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | Ortaçağ Kentleri

Dergi:

Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue 2, pp.458-478

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346972

pISSN:

1303-0094

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 One of the defense systems of civilizations is castles. The most basic function of castles built in geographically important places is to protect the place of settlement from enemy occupation. Castles, which play a role in the administrative, political and economic structuring of states, are located in many cities in Anatolia. One of the castles built to protect strategically important places, especially in the Middle Ages, is Çimdin Castle Old Castle. Çimdin Castle, which is referred to as Qalat Jumlayn in medieval sources, is located in the Tektek Mountains region, which is referred to as Shabakhtān in the same sources, and it is located on a rocky hill in Eski Kale Village in Viranşehir district of Şanlıurfa. It is known that the castle was repaired and used in various periods from the 11th century to the 14th century. It is an important deficiency that the medieval Çimdin Castle, which is important in terms of Turkish and Islamic history, has not been emphasized until now. In this study, taking into account the previous research on the subject, the strategic location of Çimdin Castle and the historical events in which it took place are briefly explained, and then its functions and importance in the Middle Ages are pointed out. The structural elements and architectural features of the castle, which is understood to have been used during the Byzantine, Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, were mentioned and compared with similar defense structures in terms of architectural elements. The narratives were supported by inscriptions, existing maps, current photographs and data obtained from fieldwork. As a result, some points about the castle were illuminated, the current state of the castle was evaluated and suggestions were made.

 One of the defense systems of civilizations is castles. The most basic function of castles built in geographically important places is to protect the place of settlement from enemy occupation. Castles, which play a role in the administrative, political and economic structuring of states, are located in many cities in Anatolia. One of the castles built to protect strategically important places, especially in the Middle Ages, is Çimdin Castle Old Castle. Çimdin Castle, which is referred to as Qalat Jumlayn in medieval sources, is located in the Tektek Mountains region, which is referred to as Shabakhtān in the same sources, and it is located on a rocky hill in Eski Kale Village in Viranşehir district of Şanlıurfa. It is known that the castle was repaired and used in various periods from the 11th century to the 14th century. It is an important deficiency that the medieval Çimdin Castle, which is important in terms of Turkish and Islamic history, has not been emphasized until now. In this study, taking into account the previous research on the subject, the strategic location of Çimdin Castle and the historical events in which it took place are briefly explained, and then its functions and importance in the Middle Ages are pointed out. The structural elements and architectural features of the castle, which is understood to have been used during the Byzantine, Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, were mentioned and compared with similar defense structures in terms of architectural elements. The narratives were supported by inscriptions, existing maps, current photographs and data obtained from fieldwork. As a result, some points about the castle were illuminated, the current state of the castle was evaluated and suggestions were made.

 One of the defense systems of civilizations is castles. The most basic function of castles built in geographically important places is to protect the place of settlement from enemy occupation. Castles, which play a role in the administrative, political and economic structuring of states, are located in many cities in Anatolia. One of the castles built to protect strategically important places, especially in the Middle Ages, is Çimdin Castle Old Castle. Çimdin Castle, which is referred to as Qalat Jumlayn in medieval sources, is located in the Tektek Mountains region, which is referred to as Shabakhtān in the same sources, and it is located on a rocky hill in Eski Kale Village in Viranşehir district of Şanlıurfa. It is known that the castle was repaired and used in various periods from the 11th century to the 14th century. It is an important deficiency that the medieval Çimdin Castle, which is important in terms of Turkish and Islamic history, has not been emphasized until now. In this study, taking into account the previous research on the subject, the strategic location of Çimdin Castle and the historical events in which it took place are briefly explained, and then its functions and importance in the Middle Ages are pointed out. The structural elements and architectural features of the castle, which is understood to have been used during the Byzantine, Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, were mentioned and compared with similar defense structures in terms of architectural elements. The narratives were supported by inscriptions, existing maps, current photographs and data obtained from fieldwork. As a result, some points about the castle were illuminated, the current state of the castle was evaluated and suggestions were made.

 Medeniyetlere ait savunma sistemlerinden biri kalelerdir. Coğrafi olarak önemli yerlerde inşa edilen kalelerin en temel işlevi iskân edildikleri yeri düşman işgalinden korumaktır. Devletlerin idari, siyasi ve ekonomik yapılanmasında rol oynayan kaleler Anadoludaki pek çok kentte bulunmaktadır. Orta Çağda stratejik öneme sahip yerlerin muhafaza edilmesi için inşa edilen kalelerden biri de Çimdin Kale Eski Kaledir. Orta Çağ kaynaklarında Qalat Jumlayn olarak yer alan Çimdin Kale, aynı kaynaklarda Shabakhtan olarak geçen Tektek Dağları bölgesinde, Şanlıurfanın Viranşehir ilçesine bağlı Eski Kale Köyünde kayalık bir tepe üzerinde yer almaktadır. Kalenin 11. yüzyıldan 14. yüzyıla kadar çeşitli dönemlerde tamir edilerek kullanıldığı bilinmektedir. Türk ve İslâm Tarihi açısından önemli olan Çimdin Kalenin şimdiye kadar üzerinde durulmamış olması önemli bir eksikliktir. Bu çalışmada konuyla ilgili daha önce yapılan araştırmalar göz önüne alınarak, Çimdin Kalenin stratejik konumu ve içinde yer aldığı tarihi olaylara kısaca değinilmiş, Orta Çağda üstlenmiş olduğu fonksiyonlarına ve önemine işaret edilmiştir. Bizans, Eyyubi ve Memluk dönemlerinde kullanıldığı anlaşılan kalenin yapısal ögelerinden ve mimari özelliklerinden bahsedilerek, mimari elemanlar yönünden benzer olduğu savunma yapıları ile karşılaştırması yapılmıştır. Anlatımlar, kitabeler, mevcut haritalar, güncel fotoğraflar ve alan çalışmasından elde edilen verilerle desteklenerek devam etmiştir. Sonuçta kale ile ilgili bazı noktalar aydınlatılmış, kalenin günümüzdeki durumu değerlendirilmiş ve önerilerde bulunulmuştur.

Makale detayları

The Fortified Castle of Viranşehir in The Middle Ages: Çimdin Castle (Old Castle)

Yazarlar:

Sevcan Ölçer

Yayıncı:

Gaziantep University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kültür Coğrafyası | Ortaçağ Arkeolojisi | İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | Ortaçağ Kentleri

Dergi:

Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue 2, pp.458-478

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346972

pISSN:

1303-0094

Viranşehir

Castle

Middle Ages

Jumlayn

ÇimdinViranşehir

Kale

Orta Çağ

Jumlayn

Çimdin

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Sevcan Ölçer

Yayıncı: Gaziantep University

Ana Başlıklar: Kültür Coğrafyası | Ortaçağ Arkeolojisi | İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | Ortaçağ Kentleri

Dergi: Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue 2, pp.458-478

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 4/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001346972

pISSN: 1303-0094

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Sevcan Ölçer

Yayıncı:

Gaziantep University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kültür Coğrafyası | Ortaçağ Arkeolojisi | İslam Tarihi ve Medeniyeti | Ortaçağ Kentleri

Dergi:

Gaziantep Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.24 Issue 2, pp.458-478

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

4/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001346972

pISSN:

1303-0094