The “inverted tulips”, which are native to the provinces of Van, Hakkari and Şırnak, began to bloom as the snow melted. Inverted tulips, also known as the “flower of sadness”, is a protected endemic species. Regions with inverted tulips, heralding the spring season with their 15-day lifespan, attract the attention of nature lovers.
The inverted tulip is known as one of the rarest flowers in the world. This beautiful flower dazzles with its distinctive structure and unique story. The inverted tulip is also called the “crying bride” and fascinates people with its beauty. The symbol of sadness, the inverted tulip, is considered one of the oldest ornamental plants.
The Interesting Story of the Inverted Tulip
The inverted tulip has been the subject of more than one story. Therefore, it has survived to the present day. It is possible to see the inverted tulip in different periods and stories. This special flower has survived as a species unique to the Ottoman lands and is known as an endemic species. The inverted tulip flower, which grows on high and inclined mountains, is also a type of flower that symbolizes all the pain that has befallen Anatolia. It is believed that the structure and red color of the inverted tulip is due to the disasters in Anatolia.
One of the old stories about the reverse tulip is related to the love between Ferhat and Şirin. According to the rumor, because Şirin and Ferhat could not reunite, the tulip turned red and took on an inverted structure. For this reason, the inverted tulip is also considered a symbol of love.
The weeping bride cries for those who cannot reunite with her beloved, cries for those who are far from her love, cries for those who forcibly separate them for the sake of customs. The inverted tulip is the flower of people who suffer and have not tasted happiness. This rare flower, which grows in the Eastern Anatolia region, blooms in March with red, yellow and dark red colors.
The bent inverted tulip leaves drops in the morning and is therefore known as the “crying bride”. This magnificent flower, which grows in the mountains of Hakkari, has been the subject of many songs, poems and stories. In a folk song by the famous folk poet Âşık Veysel, Lale says: “My God, why is my neck crooked? I fell apart from the yard, is there a more beautiful flower than me?” The inverted tulip has been loved and given meaning in this way.
The Inverted Tulip, Sacred According to the Christian Faith
The inverted tulip, as a beautiful flower of the high mountains, is considered sacred in Christianity. This flower, St. During the crucifixion of Jesus, St. It is very valuable as it represents the tears of the Virgin Mary.
Mimar Sinan and the Inverted Tulip
Famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan used the inverted tulip motif in the design of Selimiye Mosque. However, Mimar Sinan, who wants to build a mosque in an area surrounded by a tulip garden, is blocked by a woman. The woman says that the tulip garden belongs to her and it is not appropriate to build such a mosque. Then, Mimar Sinan adds an inverted tulip motif to one corner of the mosque. This motif represents both the destruction of the tulip garden and the weeping woman. Unfortunately, today this motif has been stolen.
The stories and legends told about the inverted tulip have been transmitted from one language to another and spread from heart to heart. It is possible to see lively weeping bride tulips in the Zap, Tiyar and Kaval valleys of Hakkari province, where reverse tulips are most concentrated, and in the Gevaş district of Van.
