Chapter 01

The Secret Meaning of DEQ — Kurdish tattoo

Discover the Ancient Art of DEQ: The Secret Language of Kurdish Women

If you visit the historic Kurdish cities of ŞanlıurfaMardin, or Diyarbakır, you’ll notice a fascinating tradition etched into the skin of many women—DEQ tattoos. This ancient art form, passed down through generations, covers their faces, hands, feet, and chests with intricate designs that tell untold stories. DEQ is intensely personal; my grandmother carries these markings on her hands and face, sparking my lifelong fascination with this unique cultural practice.

The Origins and Meaning of DEQ Tattoos

DEQ is more than body art—it is a secret language among women. Believed to have been introduced by nomadic gypsies traveling through Mesopotamia, DEQ serves various purposes in Kurdish culture. For some, it is a spiritual symbol representing religion or protection, like the iconic evil eye motif that inspired Bajer Watches’ Protection collection. For others, it has therapeutic powers or is a poignant reminder of loss, immortalizing loved ones through symbols on visible body parts.

Symbolism and Cultural Expression

In a culture where women have often been silenced, DEQ became a way to communicate. The symbols in DEQ often mirror the motifs found in traditional Kurdish rugs, another medium through which women wove their emotions into art. Bajer Watches honors this heritage by integrating these timeless symbols into its designs, creating modern pieces inspired by Kurdish traditions.

The Unique Craft of DEQ Tattoos

Unlike modern tattoos, DEQ uses a distinctive recipe that varies across ethnic groups. Ingredients include:

  • Soot or ash from sheet metal
  • Coal dust
  • Milk from a lactating mother (believed to ensure permanence)
  • Liquid from an animal’s gallbladder

The mixture is embedded into the skin using one to three needles, making DEQ tattoos as unique in their creation as they are in their symbolism.

A Vanishing Art Form

With modernization, DEQ is fading. Many women with DEQ tattoos are now elderly, having received their tattoos at ages 7 or 8. As younger generations embrace global tattoo trends, the traditional symbols of DEQ risk disappearing within the next decade. However, through artists and cultural preservationists, DEQ continues to inspire modern expressions of Kurdish identity—like the intricate motifs featured in Bajer Watches.

Keeping the Tradition Alive

My DEQ tattoo is more than a design; it is a reminder of resilience and a call to preserve this endangered art form. At Bajer, we are committed to celebrating and sharing the rich heritage of Kurdish culture, ensuring its beauty and significance endure for generations.

Explore Bajer’s collections, inspired by DEQ tattoos and Kurdish artistry, and become a part of this timeless narrative.

(Pic 1,2)    Bracelet-shaped tattoos on the wrists are symbols of loyalty and commitment to purpose.

(Pic  3,4)   Combs and scissors shapes on toes and fingers are to bring good luck and charm to the person who bears them.

(Pic 5)   Motifs that come in the form of sun and moon date back to pre-Islamic times; in the ancient Kurdish religion of Yezidism, they were signs of nobility and divine powers. The secret meaning of DEQ is visible all around the body.

(Pic 6)   Motifs that come as a tree of life derive from a mythical belief in a mother goddess who attributed fertility to women. It appears on a section of women’s bodies from the neck to the breast. It may also reference the developmental stages, sexuality, the initiation of life, and the termination of the same through death.

(Pic 7)   A motif embedded on a circle of the woman’s chin signifies women’s desire to reproduce and protect against bad omens and evil eyes.

(Pic 8)    Rich tattoos on women’s lips have also been widely attributed to many stories. Many women believe it to be a sign of protest and riot.

(Pic 9)    Men, however, generally have a different view and interpret it as a sign of a man who was pictured kissing a virgin woman in the Mecca market in pre-Islamic times. The man also carries the secret meaning of DEQ.

A Murat Ayneli
Murat Ayneli
Photographer

Biography

He was born in 1988 in Şanlıurfa. As being the oldest son in the family, Murat had to take up his father’s job and started his career in the marketing of agricultural products sector. He got interested in photography during his childhood when a photographer asked to take his picture while working in the store. Since then, photography became his main passion. From his amateur years of photography to become a professional, he has made significant changes in his community via his photography skills. His most recent project- Göbekli Tepe-have been nominated for many national awards. He is also the founder of the Göbekli Tepe Photographic Art Society in Şanlıurfa, Turkey with his friends who are committed to the art of photography; and he still continues to work actively in this field.

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