Columns of Karakus Tümülüs - Çukurtas Köyü (Adiyaman Province, East Turkey)
N 37° 52.200 E 038° 35.305
37S E 463800 N 4191471
Four stone Doric columns, survived parts of ancient burial complex called "Karakus Tümülüs", you can find close to village Çukurtas Köyü in Kahta district of Adiyaman Province in East Turkey.
Waymark Code: WMKK2N
Location: Türkiye
Date Posted: 04/24/2014
Views: 3
Four stone Doric columns, survived parts of ancient burial complex called "Karakus Tümülüs", you can find close to village Çukurtas Köyü in Kahta district of Adiyaman Province in East Turkey.
Karakus Tumulus (burial mound) is the Hierotheseion (last resting place) for the women of the Commagene Royal Family. According to an inscription three females were buried here: the mother, daughter, and niece of the king Mithridates II (ca. 31–20 B.C.).
Surrounding the tumulus are four Doric columns 9 meters high. The statue that should top one column is missing. On another column there is a relief of two shaking-hand human figures, on the third is a statue of a lion and on the fourth an eagle. This stone eagle also gave the name to this locality - word "Karakus" means "black bird" in Turkish. Each column encircling the Karakul Tumulus, with the exception of pedestals, capitals and statues, consists of six marble drums.