About the Dağ Kapusı

The Dağ Kapusı (also know as the Harput Kapısı; known in older times as Babü’l-Cebel) was the northern gate of Diyarbekir.  It appears that the gate is originally of Byzantine work, and contained three entrances in the Byzantine style; however, when it was repaired by al-Muktadir, the other entrances were closed (Creswell, 1998, p. 4; Berchem et al., 1910, p. 287).  Of those entrances, two columns remain on either side of the gate, which would be door jambs (Creswell, 1998, p. 4).  It was partially destroyed in the Abbasid period in 899 after a revolt and repaired in 909 by the caliph al-Muktadir, according to an inscription above the exterior facade of the gate (Sinclair, 1989, p. 168; Creswell, 1998, p. 4).  The inscription reads,

This is what has been ordered by the Khalif al-Muqtadir billah, and that in the year 297 H [909/910 A.D.] (Creswell, 1998, p. 4)

It is eight and a quarter feet wide and flanked by large towers on the east and west, sixty feet apart (Creswell, 1998, p. 3).  Around the gate are also animal carvings which date to the same time (Sinclair, 1989, p. 168).  There are also four niches around the gate, one flanking either side of the gate, facing north, and one on the inner walls of the towers, facing east and west (Creswell, 1998, p. 3).  All of the niches except the one on the west tower seem to be reused from the pre-Muslim era (Sinclair, 1989, p. 170).  The surrounding walls contained numerous inscriptions as well, of which the Greek and Latin were reused from the ancient gate (Berchem et al., 1910, p. 289; Haspolat, 2013, p. 15).  On the bottom of the wall of the eastern tower is an upside-down Greek inscription (Badger, 1852, p. 39).  Far above it on the same wall is another Greek inscription (Badger, 1852, p. 39).  High up on the wall to the east of the gate facing north is a partially-destroyed Latin inscription (Badger, 1852, p. 39).  The surrounding walls contain numerous motifs.  For example, on the wall of the west tower, there are five carved animals crossing the niche, a swastika above it, and two ornamental carved squares (Berchem et al., 1910, p. 310).  On the east tower, there is a Kufic inscription near the ground dating to 909/910 and above it  two rows of animal motifs (Berchem et al., 1910, p. 344).  There are two lions facing each other, postured to pounce, as well as two birds beside the tree of life (Berchem et al., 1910, p. 344).

The exterior entrance to the gate had a semicircular arch above it on the outside and a capital on either side (Creswell, 1998, p. 3).  On either side of the interior side of the gate, there is a Kufic inscription mentioning the Emir Ahmad who ruled from 1010-1061 (Creswell, 1998, p. 4).  In 1056-1058, a small mosque was added above the interior of the gate by the Marwanid Abu Nasr Ahmed (Sinclair, 1989, p. 170; Haspolat, 2013, p. 15).