ADIYAMAN TURKEY

Adıyaman

Mount Nemrut 

The Ruinsof Mount Nemrut are located within the borders of the KahtaDistrict of Adıyaman. King Antiochus I of Commagene letbuild these tombs and monumental statues, which are the most spectacular ruinsof the Hellenistic Period, at the summit of Mount Nemrut(Nemrut Dağı), at 2206 m, to show his gratitude to the deities and hisancestors. Monumental sculptures are placed at the east, west and northterraces. The well-preserved giant statues made of limestone and sandstoneblocks are 8-10 meters high.

Mount Nemrut Tumulus

Althoughits original height was 55 meters, the height of the tumulus decreased to 50meters due to nature and human influence throughout hundreds of years. It wasformed by accumulated loose rocks and has a total volume of 30 thousand cubicmeters. The tumulus is known as the tomb of King Antiochus I ofCommagene.

Mount Nemrut and its East Terrace

There areabout 10 meters high giant statues of kings and gods sitting in rows onthrones. The faces of the statues look towards the sun. The statues of theeagles, which represent the sovereignty over the sky, the lions, whichrepresent the kingdom’s domination on earth, and the statues of King AntiochusI of Commagene, goddess Commagene (Tyche-Bakht), Zeus (Oromastes),Apollo-Mithras, and Heracles-Artagnes, are placed on this terrace.

Behindthe thrones is the religious and social will of King Antiochus (Nomos),which consists of 234 lines. On the west and the south of the terrace there arethe relief-stelae of Persian kings of the Commagene Kingdom. There is also afire altar in front of the statues and a lion statue sitting next to it. Youcan watch the sunrise from this terrace of the Mount Nemrut.

Mount Nemrut and its West Terrace

There aregiant statues of deities sitting on their thrones, the statue of the KingAntiochus I of Commagene, and relief-figures of deities shaking hands,similar to the ones at the West and East Terrace of Mount Nemrut.

Aroundthe terrace, there are also relief stelae of Macedonian kings of theCommagene Kingdom. Since these relief-figures made of sand stone wereaffected by natural conditions, some of them were moved to a restoration laboratory,which was built temporarily on the northern terrace in 2003. In addition tothese reliefs, there is also the slab of the Leo. The relief indicates the date7th of July 62 BCE. This work is considered the world’s oldest astrologicalcalendar and the date, clearly reveals the beginning of the reign of KingAntiochus. You can watch the sunset from this terrace of the Mount Nemrut.

Perrhe Ancient City

Perrhe islocated 3 kilometers north of the city centre. In ancient sources it was namedMe’arath Gazze Pörön, and Pirin and Perin in Mesopotamia. The city was one ofthe five largest cities of the Kingdom of Commagene (163 BCE -72 CE). It is located on the route between Malatya (Melitene) and the capitalcity of Commagene, called Samsat (Samosata), which increased the geopoliticalimportance of the city.

The cityof Perrhe was a place where armies, caravans and soldiers could take a breakbecause of the beautiful and delicious water flowing from its fountain. Thefountain is still used by the people today. Perrhe maintained its importancethroughout the Roman Period, due to its ancient roads over the Taurus.

In 325, adelegation led by Bishop Ioannes Perdos attended the Biblical assembly thatconvened in İznik, which was a city of the Persidas State. A letter fromAndreas (Elexandar) of Samosata to Alexander the Great reportingabout some important bishops in Perrhe in 433 CE, shows that the city was alsoof religious importance. All of these show that Ancient City Perrhe (PerreAntik Kenti) was a city of both religious and geopolitical importance duringAntiquity.

Thethousands of tomb chambers and galleries in the Necropolis area of ??the Ancient City, which is partially excavated,fascinate the visitors. The workshops located next to the necropolis consist ofolive oil, wine and textile manufactories.

Karakuş Tumulus

Themausoleum built at a point overlooking the whole region can be seen easily fromall sides. The tumulus has a diameter of 110 meters and a height of 21 metersand is covered with stones brought from the Kâhta Stream (Kahta Çayı). TheTumulus was built in a conical style and looks like an artificial hill. Today,the tumulus is partially covered with soil and cut crushed stones.

TheKarakuş Tumulus (Karakuş Tümülüsü) takes its name from the 2.54 m high magnificenteagle statue standing on a column in the south. The eagle isthe messenger of Zeus, the greatest ancient diety, and at the same timesymbolizes the dominance of Commagene over the sky.

TheKarakuş tumulus was built by Mithridates II (36-21 BCE), the son of AntiochusI, for his mother Isias. The tomb contains the graves of his mother Isias, andhis sisters Leodike, Antiochis, and the daughter of Antiochis, Aka.

When thetumulus was first built, it was surrounded by nine columns, in groups of three.Only four of the columns, which are 7.05 - 7.65 meters high, have remained tilltoday.

Adıyaman Museum

Variousartifacts belonging to the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic,Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Seljuk andOttoman periods are exhibited in the Adıyaman Museum. Hand-wovencarpets, rugs and light rugs, men’s and women’s clothing, silver jewellery andcopper items from the region are exhibited in the Hall of EthnographicWorks of the museum.

Gerger Castle

Thecastle is located in the Oymaklı Village of the Gerger District of Adıyaman.The Gerger Castle (Gerger Kalesi) is located on the west bank of the EuphratesRiver and was founded by Arsemes in the 3rd century BCE. The castle forms theeastern border of the Commagene Kingdom and is the control point of thecrossroads over the Euphrates River (Fırat Nehri). The Gerger Castle was builton steep rocks and consists of a Lower Castle and Upper Castle. It was thefirst administrative centre of the Kingdom of Commagene, which atthe same time served as a sacred temple.

Thecastle is located on a steep rock and surrounded by solid walls. On a largerock surface, there is a gigantic relief and inscriptions of King Samos(140-100 BCE), the father of the King of Commagene MithridatesCallinicus and the founder of Somosata (Samsat), which was the capitalof the Ancient Commagene Kingdom.

Mor Petrus and Mor Paulus Church

The MorPetrus and Mor Paulus Church (Mor Petrus ve Mor Paulus Kilisesi) islocated in the Mara Neighbourhood in the city centre of Adıyaman.The church, which is estimated to have been built in the 4th or 5th century,was restored in 1888 and 1905 according to the Syriac inscriptions at theentrance door and inside.

Thechurch extends in the east-west directions and has a basilica plan with threenaves. The wooden altar in the apsis was built in 1890 by a Syriac masters fromUrfa and was restored recently. The upper floor of the western narthex opensinwards. Today the church, also known as St. Paul’s Church, is usedby the Syriac community as a metropolitan centre.

Arsameia Ancient City

Informationabout the ancient city of Arsameia, which was discovered in 1951, was onlyavailable after analysing the inscription found in the centre of the city. Theinscription states, that the founder of Arsameia was Arsemes, a paternalancestor of Antiochus I, who lived the first half of the 3rd century. However,most of the remains that exist today were built by Antiochus I, who named thecity “Hierothesion” (sacred area). Hierothesion means the holy grave of one ofthe royal family.

TheArsameia Historical Site (Arsameia Ören Yeri) is built on steep cliffs, and thestructures located here are accessed by a pathway used as a ceremonialroad. On this road, there are relief stelae, a rock-carvedmonumental burial chamber, the largest inscription in Anatolia, the tunnelstructure, and the remains of architectural structures at the top. Thesestructures are named as “Ktismata” in the inscription.

Theinscription in the centre of the ruins consists of 256 lines across 5columns. Under the inscription, there is a hallway with a sacred function,which can be reached over a 158 meters long stairway. Right next to theinscription, there is a stele picturing a scene where King Antiochus Iof Commagene shakes hands with deity Heracles.

It isthought that the dexiosis (handshake) reliefs, which are placed in intervalsalong the “Sacred Road”, the processional path, were placed toprepare the people attending the ceremony for the sacred atmosphere. Each ofthe flat reliefs carved in limestone, King Antiochus I is depicted shakinghands with a deity. As can be understood from these relief-pictures, KingAntiochus I regards himself at the same level with the deities and describeshimself as the God King.

Old Besni (Parala-Octacuscum-Bahasna)

The fateand history of Besni, which was named Octacuscum in Antiquity, was determinedby the Commagene region. Besni was established at an important point at thecrossroads between Commagene and Mesopotamia to Anatolia.

In theHistorical Site of Besni (Besni Ören Yeri) the medieval ruins are partiallypreserved. Besni and its surroundings preserved its geostrategic importanceduring the transition of the Turks to Anatolia, throughout the Seljuk and theOttoman Periods. The road network that connects Central Asia to Anatolia isequipped with caravansaries and madrasas. Based on coins printed in the city,Besni was an important centre of the Beylik of Dulkadir(Dulkadiroğulları Beyliği - Principality). During the Ottoman period Besniwas the coin mint centre.

There aremany historical buildings from mosques to churches, from bathhouses tohistorical bridges in the Ancient Besni Historical Site, which is also calledAzim city.

It isknown that the Ancient Besni Historical Site was settled continuously until themiddle of the 20th century.

Zey Caves

The ZeyCaves (Zey Mağaraları) are located around the Zey Village, seven kilometresfrom Adıyaman city centre. There you will see settlements from the early Christianperiod.