Meyremê

General Information

Also Known As

Meyremê shrine, Ziyareta Meyremê, Merem shrine

Type

Ziyareta

Nahiya (Subdistrict)

Reco

Village or Nearby Villages

Me'mala

The Meyremê shrine (Kurdish: Ziyareta Meyremê) is one of the shrines of Me'mala. It is also called the shrine of Îskender. Ismet Ibrahim says people call it Îskender while the shrine's own name is Meyremê.1

The Name and a Healing Story

The surrounding place is also called Xirabê Îskender and connected with people from Beloy. An older villager says that people called the place the tomb of Merem, and recounts that a sick woman with an eye problem, named Litfî, came, slept there, and recovered. Whether Merem was the woman's daughter is not clear from his telling. He says they did not know the name Merem before the woman's visit.2

Ritual Practices & Beliefs

When rain did not fall, people came to the site, prepared food, and made vows. The same man says that rain then fell.3

Transcripts

Me'mala (Ax û Welat - Episode 1058):

  • 18:48 – The voiceover documents the presence of the Meyrem or Iskender shrine in the village.
  • 19:48 – Ismet Ibrahim gives the shrine's two names.
  • 20:03 – A second guest discusses Xirabê Îskender and begins the fragmented Merem account.
  • 20:27 – The guest describes a sick woman with an eye problem who slept at the site and recovered.
  • 20:50 – The guest says they learned the name Merem after the woman's visit.
  • 20:58 – The guest describes food and vows at the site when rain did not fall.

Videography

Me'mala (Ax û Welat - Episode 1058): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHx_io4SlBc

Bibliography

References

  1. Ax û Welat, Episode 1058, "Me'mala," published 2017, YouTube video, at 18:48-19:53, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHx_io4SlBc. Quote: "Dîsa di gund da ziyaretageha Meyremê yan jî Îskender a heye. ... Navê ziyareta me... vêra dibêjin ziyareta Îskender. Û navê ziyareta bi xwe dibêjin Meyremê." English translation: "Again, in the village there is the shrine of Meyremê or Îskender. ... The name of our shrine... they call it the shrine of Îskender. And the name of the shrine itself, they call it Meyremê." ↩

  2. Ax û Welat, Episode 1058, "Me'mala," at 20:03-20:52. Quote: "Ee ev cîye em dibêjin verê Iskender e, navê ver. ... Beloy bûn, hene çune... çeqel û şê û Efrînê... ... Dibêjin li vî zerî temê Merem bû. Û jinik hat... çavê xwa dît, lê ber nexweş bû... têda xew kir, çê bû. ... Navê xwa Litfî bû... ... Yanî berê we zanî navê xwa Merem e, lê piştî ew jinik hat we zanî Merem e? ... Piştî ew jinik hat me zanî." English translation: "Yes, this place we call Xirabê Îskender, the name of the place. ... They were Beloy; some went to Çeqel and Şê and Afrin... ... They say that at this place was the tomb of Merem. And a woman came... her eyes saw; before she was sick... she slept in it and became well. ... Her name was Litfî... ... So before, did you know its name was Merem, or after that woman came did you know it was Merem? ... After that woman came, we knew." ↩

  3. Ax û Welat, Episode 1058, "Me'mala," at 20:58-21:02. Quote: "Hişta... gava baran na bare... tên li vî derê xwarinê çêdikin... ... nizirk xwa dikin, li vî derê... disan... rast e baran dibare... der dibe." English translation: "Still... when rain does not fall... they come to this place and make food... they make their vows at this place... again... it is true, rain falls... it happens." ↩