The Origin and Etymology of the Word “Didim”

Temple of Apollo/Didim, 1911 (Photo: Eski Türkiye Fotoğrafları Arşivi)

A headband, tie, or forehead band is worn around the head. It is believed that the words dedem (meaning “crown” in Sogdian), didem (in Pahlavi and Parthian) originated from the Ancient Greek verb diadima, which means “to tie around.” In relation to this, it was called diademme in Latin. In Greek, diadema refers to the crown worn by kings. The crown consisted of a ribbon with two strips that extended down to the shoulders, tied around the crown. These ribbons symbolized royal status.

The pronunciation, which passed from Greek to Sogdian and then to Turkish, became as “didim.” Mahmud al-Kashgari, Kara-Khanid scholar, describes Didim as a crown worn by a bride. During the Ottoman era, this headband was called “didim” or “kaşbaşı.” Although the word didim has its origins in Greek, in ancient and medieval Iran, the Zoroastrians used to tie a ribbon called “band-i din” (religious ribbon) around their heads.

Diadem has been used in Ancient Greece, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and among the Hebrews. Women used to wear it as a half-headband on the front of their heads. Diadem or didymos has long been seen as a symbol of nobility. The Seljuks referred to the Turkmen people as “sorx-sar” based on the Persian word for “redhead.” The Ottomans, on the other hand, called the Anatolian Turkmen people “Kızılbaş” (Red-Head) due to their practice of tying a red cloth or red headband around their heads. Therefore, Kızılbaş is not related to Alevism. Kızılbaşlık is not a sect. It has become a common term for Turkmen/Oghuz tribes in Anatolia who consider themselves Turkish.

The term “Didim” in this context has no connection with the district of Didim in Aydın. The district of Didim in Aydın takes its name from the Temple of Apollo, which is located there and has twin columns at its entrance. The name “Didim” is derived from the Ancient Greek word “didymos/didymoi” meaning “twin” or “double,” in reference to the large twin columns at the entrance and the double rows of columns on the sides of the aforementioned temple.

From Etimolojik Açıdan Ak Sözlük, Edited and Translated in English by Didim News