From Artuq Bey to Belek Gazi, from the Past to the Present and Our Vision for the Future: The Relationship Between Jerusalem and Mardin.

ABRACST The past, present, and future features of the cities of Jerusalem and Mardin, which have important historical, artistic, sociocultural, and religious values and common characteristics, constitute the purpose of this study. From a historical perspective, this study discusses the period of governance of the Seljuk governor Artuk Bey in Jerusalem, and the impacts of Artuklu (Artuqid)Jerusalem in contemporary days and the forthcoming future. Therefore, it considers that the commonality between Jerusalem and Mardin's values and the important events related to each other in historical terms, provide a ground for visioning the past regarding the present days. Moreover, it also demonstrates how this visioning between the past and the present aids as a crucial input in the construction of a horizon for understanding the impacts of today in the forthcoming future of both cities. In addition to the aforementioned common values and historical foundations, some characteristics that have been preserved in these two cities until today make the relationship between them noteworthy. Therefore, the efforts to be made in light of the historically dating of Jerusalem and Mardin to preserve their historical heritage must be approached as a historical mission. Lastly, it is a responsibility for contemporary societies to engage in this mission of writing history to preserve the past and better understand not only our present but also to vision our future.