Zerke

General Information

Also Known As

Zerke shrine, Geliya Zerkê, Ziyareta Zerkê

Type

Ziyareta

Nahiya (Subdistrict)

Mabeta

Village or Nearby Villages

Gemrûkê

Zerke is a shrine of Gemrûkê in the Mabeta sub-district, in the Valley of Zerke (Geliya Zerkê).

Physical & Landscape Features

The site is a sacred place that the village and the surrounding villages call simply "Ziyaret," in the Valley of Zerke, where oak (palît) trees grow.1

Ritual Practices & Beliefs

Zerke is tied to a particular ailment known as the Zerke illness (nexweşiya Zerkê), which afflicts both children and grown adults. The sick are brought to the site, where they recover, and the valley itself is named after the illness.2

Transcripts

Gemrûkê (Ax û Welat – Episode 1087):

  • 12:18 – The host walks the Valley of Zerke, names the sacred place, and points out the oak trees.
  • 12:32 – The host and a village woman explain the Zerke illness and the healing tradition.

Videography

Gemrûkê (Ax û Welat – Episode 1087): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF1HDrGmbmo

Bibliography

References

  1. Ax û Welat, "Gemrûkê," Episode 1087 (village Gemrûkê), YouTube video, at 12:18, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF1HDrGmbmo. Kurdish quote: "...bê gelî re dibêjin Geliya Zerkê. Ee, ev dara palîtê li vir hene... wek vî gundî û ev gundê derdorê vir jî cîkî pîroz xuyan dikin, vê re dibêjin 'Ziyaret'." English translation: "They call this valley Geliya Zerkê (the Valley of Zerke). And these oak (palît) trees are here... this village and the villages around it show a sacred place here, they call it 'Ziyaret.'" ↩

  2. Ax û Welat, "Gemrûkê," Episode 1087, at 12:32–13:14. Kurdish quote: "Nexweşiyek heye bi taybet dibêjin, tînin vir, ew zarok tînin vir, di wê demê de ew zarokê rihet dibe, vê re dibêjin nexweşiya Zerkê." English translation: "There is a particular illness; they bring [the sick], they bring the child here, and then the child gets better; they call this the illness of Zerke." Kurdish quote: "Zarok jî, merî mezin jî pê dikeve." English translation: "Children, and grown adults too, get it." ↩