Kırklar Mountain, located right next to the Tigris River, is not actually a mountain, but a high hill dominating Diyarbakır. This hill, which is flat like a tray, has an important place among the people of the region. Right next to the hill, there is the Ten-eyed Silvan Bridge over the Tigris River. Kırklar Mountain, about which various legends are told, is also known as a hill where songs and laments are burned.
The hill, which is an important cultural heritage of the city, became famous after the legendary Suzan Suzi legend turned into a folk song. The name of this hill is often mentioned by people in the region who believe in the mystery of the number forty. In addition, Kırklar Mountain, which attracts the attention of tourists, is one of the most popular places among the natural beauties of the region.
The Legend of Kırklar Mountain and the Ten-Eyed Bridge
According to a legend told in the region, 40 saints who entered the caves of the mountain in the past never returned. According to some, these saints still live on the mountain. They gather together on Thursday evenings and turn into white doves and worship until morning. After performing the Friday Prayer, they disperse. The cave on the mountain, called “visitation”, is a place where people pray and make wishes.
According to Syriac traditions, the Ten-eyed Silvan Bridge was built to go to the church on the Kırklar Mountain. In this church, the bones of forty Christian saints are stored. The number forty and the Faith of Forty Saints is a belief used in Silvan Castle and Kirklar Church in Mardin. In other cities, this belief is also used in churches and other areas. Kırklar Church on the mountain is located at the foot of the hill and is smaller than expected.
The Ten-Eyed Bridge, built by the Roman Empire, is called a necklace that hits the Tigris River. There are different kinds of claims about the first construction date of the bridge. According to some claims, the bridge was used as a bridge in antiquity in its current location. However, it is thought that the bridge was completely or partially destroyed and rebuilt several times. Therefore, there is no clear information about the exact construction date of the bridge. But according to the inscription on the bridge, the bridge was built in 1065 during the Marwanid period. This inscription shows the most recent and accurate date known as the construction year of the bridge. There are those who consider this date as the year of construction.
The Story of Suzan Suzi Folk Song
The story of the folk song, which is said to be inspired by a true story that took place on the Kırklar Mountain, is as follows; On Kırklar Mountain, there is a place popularly known as the “Forties Visit”. Here, families without children used to make vows and make wishes. An Assyrian family wanted to try their last hope here as they had no children for years.
The Syriac woman went to the Kırklar Mountain and made vows and prayed. These offerings and prayers continued for forty days. Forty days later, the woman became pregnant and a daughter of the Assyrian family was born. The family made sacrifices and celebrated for their joy. They named this coy girl Suzan (Suzi). Every year, on their daughter’s birthday, the family dressed and decorated their daughters and went to the Forties Visit and sacrificed. They have continued this tradition for many years.
Suzan, who grew and became beautiful over time, fell in love with Adil, the son of her Muslim neighbors. They loved each other for years without touching or speaking. One birthday, Suzan went to the Forties with the servants to slaughter her sacrifice. Adil followed them and hid behind the mountain with Suzan. However, the visit to the Forties did not spare this togetherness and Suzan was mortally wounded. The girl drowned in the Tigris River near the ten-eyed bridge. After Suzan’s death, Adil also lost his sanity. She became a sofa after Suzi, just because the visit hit us. The folk song Suzan Suzi is a folk song from the Diyarbakir region where the story takes place.
Lyrics of Suzan Suzi Song
Darkness engulfed the plain
i was dead
Susan Suzi
The visit hit us
Under the bridge dark
Mom come call me
My hair is in the sand
Bring a comb and comb it
middle eye of the bridge
The waters were flat
i was dead
Susan Suzi
Tigris separated us.
