Diyarbakır Zinciriye Medresesi

Diyarbakır Zinciriye Medresesi is a historical educational structure located in the city center of Diyarbakır, northwest of the Ulu Cami Külliyesi and on Müze Sokak. It features an open courtyard, two iwan layout, and a single-story architectural plan. Although no foundation inscription has been found, the building is generally dated to the period between 1198 and 1236 (H. 595–634), based on references to the master builder named “El benna İsa Ebu Dirhem” inscribed on the arcade façade and his other known works in the city, attributed to either the Artuklu or Ayyubid era.

In the past, the building served various functions including as an archaeology museum and a Quran course center. Today, it operates as the Quran Studies Center.

No foundation inscription has been found for the building, and no definitive construction date is recorded in archives or waqfiyya documents. However, its dating is based on an inscription on the arcade façade that mentions the architect “El benna İsa Ebu Dirhem” (Master Isa Abu Dirhem).

The name “İsa Ebu Dirhem” also appears on a foundation inscription dated H. 595 (A.D. 1198) on the Fetih Gate within Diyarbakır’s Inner Citadel, commissioned by Artuklu ruler Sökmen bin Muhammad, and on another inscription dated H. 634 (A.D. 1236) on the Akrep Burcu, commissioned by Ayyubid ruler Malik Salih Najm al-Din. Based on these records, the medreses construction is generally accepted to have occurred between 1198 and 1236. Some researchers date it to the Artuklu period (1198), while others attribute it to the Ayyubid period (1236); however, the exact era of construction remains uncertain.

During the Republican period, the building underwent several renovations and was repurposed for various uses. The most substantial restoration took place between 1932 and 1934, during which collapsed roofs were replaced using rubble stone instead of the original brick. In the 1986–1987 renovations, plaster and calligraphic decorations were applied; these were later removed during the most recent restoration (2010–2013) to restore the structure closer to its original state.

• ​Museum Period (1934–1985): Following the major restoration in 1934, the medreses began functioning as the Diyarbakır Archaeology Museum and maintained this role for approximately half a century.
• Vacant Period (1985–1990): After the museum’s relocation, the building remained unused for five years, from 1985 to 1990.
• ​Religious Education Period (1990–2009): In 1990, the building was rented by the Diyarbakır Provincial Muftiate and served as a girls’ Quran course until 2009.
• ​Current Status (2014–Present): Following its final restoration between 2010 and 2013, the building began operating as the Quran Studies Center in 2014.

^{Diyarbakır Zinciriye Medresesi (}Diyarbakır Kent Ve Tanıtım Portalı)

Throughout history, the building has been known by various names including Zinciriye, Sincariye, Zenciriye, and Mercaniye.

• ​Mercaniye: Although Evliya Çelebi referred to a “Mercaniye Medresesi,” research has shown that the structure he described is in fact the Mesudiye Medresesi, not the Zinciriye Medresesi.^【1】
• ​Sincariye: The term “Sincariye,” used by Albert Gabriel, has been found to be unknown among the local population and absent from archival records.^【2】

Zinciriye Medresesi is a single-story, rectangular structure with an open courtyard and two iwan layout, closely approximating a square plan. Access is through the northwest ceremonial gate.

• ​Courtyard and Arcades: The courtyard is surrounded by arcades on all four sides, supported by rectangular piers. The arcade arches are flat in the center and segmented on the sides.
• Roofing System: The entrance iwan and arcades are covered with cross vaults, the room east of the main iwan with a dome, and the other units with barrel vaults. The original roofing system favored brick for its lightness; however, later restorations used rubble stone.
• ​Materials: The building was constructed using finely cut stone and rubble stone.

^{Zinciriye Medresesi Avlusu} (Diyarbakır Kent Ve Tanıtım Portalı)

Various interpretations have been proposed regarding the functions of certain spaces within the building; recent restorations have clarified these uses.

• Mosque (Southeast Room): A square-plan room with trompe transitions and a dome is located in the southeast corner of the medreses. Previously identified by some researchers as a tomb, this space was confirmed during the 2010 restoration as the medreses mosque, after a mihrab niche was uncovered on its southern wall.
• Winter Classroom (West Wing): The west wing contains a large barrel-vaulted space connected to the arcades via three openings. Albert Gabriel and Abdullah Kuran mistakenly identified a niche on the west wall as a mihrab and classified the space as a mosque. However, it has since been determined that the niche was intended for storing books and other items, and the room functioned as the medreses winter classroom.