A Mysterious Journey to the Ancient City of Dara
Dara Ancient City
Establishment-History
However, the name Dara is mentioned as 'Daras' (Greek) for the first time in the sources written during the reign of Anastasius. According to another historian, the name of this city, which was founded by Anastasius, was used as Daras by the local people and as Anastasiopolis by the Byzantines.
The ancient city of Dara was established as a garrison city by the Roman Emperor Anastasius (491-518 AD) in 505-507 AD in order to protect the eastern border of the empire against the Sassanids. The most important factors in site selection are the richness of the region in terms of water resources and its geographical location, as well as the constant change of hands of another ancient city, Nisibis (Nusaybin), which is very close to Dara, between the Romans and Persians. As the eastern border was constantly exposed to the Persian threat, the Roman commanders needed new garrisons on the eastern borders where large armies could be trained. The most important of the garrison cities established for eastern border security is Dara.
However, although the establishment of the ancient city of Dara is mostly based on the emperor Anastasiu I, the finds and remains of earlier periods in the archaeological excavations show that the historical and cultural past of the city dates back to earlier times. A stream flows through the middle of this city, which was built on a limestone bedrock, and there are settlements on both sides of this stream. This stream also passes in ancient sources and originates from the ancient Cordis-modern Kurdis and Aydere villages, about 5km north of Dara.
The most striking feature of this city, which was built on soft and easy-to-process limestone bedrock, is that the area used as a quarry was later used as a necropolis. There are rock tombs and chamber tombs expertly carved into limestone rocks. A scene showing the resurrection of the dead is depicted in the doorway of one of the buildings, which was designed as a chamber tomb, which was also carved out of stone.
As can be understood from the structures and artifacts that have survived to the present day, the Ancient City of Dara was built as a Roman city as well as being an important garrison city. The city, which is close to the historical Silk Road, has also hosted trade-based cultural relations.
The cultural interactions created by the location of the ancient city of Dara, as well as the use of local materials that are the source of defense and shelter architecture, are the result of a historical accumulation.
The reconstructing of the area, which was used as a quarry, as tombs and burial chambers carved out of stone - there is a three-storey burial chamber - increased the interest in the city and this region even more.
The ancient city of Dara, where excavations continue, has recently become the focus of attention not only for tourists but also for groups broadcasting on social media.
We wanted to bring the expertly crafted traditional stone architecture to your living spaces with the most natural touches while we still have the opportunity. We aimed to ensure that our cultural heritage exists in the areas where we breathe, that the tradition continues, and that it can be applied to the spaces you want to design.
A life and death carved in stone…
Dara
With our Dara Culture Stone series, which we created with the inspiration we got from the Ancient City.
here we are.
