Sifir Dede

General Information

Also Known As

Sifir Dede shrine, Ziyareta Sifir Dede, Sifrî Dede, Sipî De Der, Sipî De Der shrine

Type

Ziyareta, Dede

Nahiya (Subdistrict)

Şiyê

Village or Nearby Villages

Tirmûşa

Religious Affiliation

Alevi

Sifir Dede is a shrine of Tirmûşa in the Şiyê sub-district. The name also appears as Sipî De Der in the Afrin Flo visit to the village and as Sifrî Dede in Dr. Mihemed Ebdo Elî's list of the district's Dede- and Baba-named Alevi sacred places.3

Physical & Landscape Features

The shrine stands near the village and is old. One of the village springs, Kaniya Ziyaretê, is named the spring of the shrine.1

Dedicated Figure & Historical Roots

The caretaker says the shrine belongs to the Alevi Kurds. The grave of Martyr Zinar, a hero of the village who was killed during the revolution, is laid at the shrine.2

Ritual Practices & Beliefs

In the Afrin Flo visit to Tirmûşa, the guide Miste shows the place and says that in the old times it was called Sipî De Der and that it was a shrine. The spot had stones and merx (juniper) trees, and nothing of them remains, for the growth was cut. People made their wishes there, and whoever had a heart's wish tied a piece of cloth onto it.4

Transcripts

Tirmûşa (Ax û Welat – Episode 1144):

  • 16:18 – The narrator places the Sifir Dede shrine near the village and notes that Martyr Zinar's grave is laid there.
  • 17:02 – The caretaker gives the shrine's name and its Alevi Kurdish association.

Tirmûşa (Afrin Flo):

  • 05:16 – The guide Miste names the place Sipî De Der, says it was a shrine, and describes the cut merx trees and the wish-cloths tied there.

Videography

Tirmûşa (Ax û Welat – Episode 1144): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NwmilkHguM

Tirmûşa (Afrin Flo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVwiKbussN8

Bibliography

References

  1. Ax û Welat, "Tirmûşa," Episode 1144 (village Tirmûşa), YouTube video, at 16:18–17:08, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NwmilkHguM. Kurdish quote: "Li nêzîkî gund ziyareta Sifir Dede cîh digre." English translation: "Near the village, the Sifir Dede shrine is located." Kurdish quote: "Ziyaret jî bi xwa kevin e." English translation: "The shrine itself is old." Kurdish quote: "Yek Kaniya Ziyaretê..." English translation: "One [spring] is Kaniya Ziyaretê (the spring of the shrine)." ↩

  2. Ax û Welat, "Tirmûşa," Episode 1144. Kurdish quote: "Bi xwa ew dibê Kurdê me yê Elewî ne." English translation: "He says our Kurds here are Alevis." Kurdish quote: "Di pêvajoya şoreşa azadiyê de yek ji lehengên vî gundî yê bi navê Zinar... Û gora wî pîroz li vê ziyaretgehê dispartin." English translation: "During the freedom revolution, one of the heroes of this village named Zinar... and his holy grave was laid at this shrine." ↩

  3. Afrin Flo, "Tirmûşa," YouTube video, at 05:21, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVwiKbussN8. Kurdish quote: "Na zeman da, vî derê digotin sipî de der." English translation: "In the old times, they called this place Sipî De Der." Mihemed Ebdo Elî, Çiyayê Kurmênc (Efrîn): Dîrok, Civak, Belgekirin (Efrîn: Çapnivîsa Kurdî, 2007). Kurdish quote: "Ew cihên pîroz ku me naskirin ev bûn: ... Sifrî Dede - Tirmûşa..." English translation: "The sacred places we knew were these: ... Sifrî Dede at Tirmûşa..." ↩

  4. Afrin Flo, "Tirmûşa," YouTube video, at 05:16–05:43, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVwiKbussN8. Kurdish quote: "Na zeman da, vî derê digotin sipî de der. Vî derê kevir bî, merx bî, vî der bî. Tistek nebû, giha qut kirine. ... Vî derê zaret bî. Muradê didan, mirazê dilê kê hebî. Kafir pê ve girêdidan... waha digotin." English translation: "In the old times, they called this place Sipî De Der. This place was stone, was merx, it was here. Nothing remained; they cut the growth. ... This place was a shrine. They made wishes; whoever had a wish of the heart. They tied [cloth] onto it... so they said." ↩