Bûka

General Information

Also Known As

Bûka shrine, Bûka, Şkefta Bûka, Cave of the Bride

Type

Ziyareta, Şikefta

Nahiya (Subdistrict)

Bilbilê

Village or Nearby Villages

Ĥesen Dêra

Religious Affiliation

Yezidi

The Bûka cave shrine (Kurdish: Şkefta Bûka, "Cave of the Brides") is a cave shrine of Ĥesen Dêra.1

Physical & Landscape Features

The shrine is a large natural cavern of about 400 square meters. Shepherds from the local area and from Ezaz sheltered their sheep in the cave, and villagers used it as a defensive position.2

Dedicated Figure & Historical Roots

The name Şkefta Bûka is explained through heroes who rose and struggled there. Yezidi believers held religious rituals in the cave during the Hurrian period. Aghas and wealthy people also used the cave like an arena, making their bulls fight there.3

Transcripts

Ĥesen Dêra (Ax û Welat - Episode 1170):

  • 30:53 – A resident names Şkefta Bûka and explains the name through heroes who rose and struggled there.
  • 31:15 – The resident describes the cave's use as shelter for sheep.
  • 35:10 – The narrator gives the cave's approximate area and describes religious, defensive, and bullfighting uses.

Videography

Ĥesen Dêra (Ax û Welat - Episode 1170): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eh-UgUNgIc

Bibliography

References

  1. Ax û Welat, Episode 1170 (village Ĥesen Dêra), "Ĥesen Dêra," published 2017, YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eh-UgUNgIc. Direct quote: "They call it the Cave of the Brides (Şkefta Bûka)." ↩

  2. Ax û Welat, Episode 1170 (village Ĥesen Dêra), "Ĥesen Dêra," published 2017, YouTube video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eh-UgUNgIc. Direct quotes: "Near the village is an ancient cave whose area is 400 square meters"; "Us and the people of Azaz too... they came and put their sheep in this cave, they hid their sheep"; "According to the citizens of the village, this cave was used as a defensive position." ↩

  3. Ax û Welat, Episode 1170 (village Ĥesen Dêra), "Ĥesen Dêra," published 2017, YouTube video, at 30:53–31:02 and 35:10–35:31, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eh-UgUNgIc. Direct quotes: "In the old times it was [for] Brides, meaning they call heroes 'Brides,' they used to rise up here. They struggled"; "Believers of the Yezidi religion, during the Hurrian era, used to hold religious rituals in this cave"; "This cave is like a stage, inside it the Aghas (lords) and the wealthy used to make their bulls fight against each other." ↩