Cizre

   Cizre, or Jazire bin Omar, is a frontier town in southeastern Turkey close to both the Syrian and Iraqi borders. Although ancient settlements existed on the site, it is said to have been founded and named after al-Hasan bin Omar, who died in 865. The town became an island (whence its Arabic name jazire) when a canal joining the two ends of the Tigris River at its bend was dug. Subsequently, however, the original riverbed dried up. Just downstream from Cizre are the ruins of a once magnificent bridge having a single arch of 28 meters and carvings of the zodiac still standing.

   Cizre became a prosperous river port in the Middle Ages. For a long time, it also was under the control of various Kurdish mirs. During the 12th century, the city was famous for its scholars, writers, and imams. Early in the 19th century, Cizre was the capital of Bedir (Badr) Khan Beg, the mir of Botan. Following his defeat by the Ottomans, however, the town stagnated.