A mountain sanctuary: Mount Nemrut, Adıyaman
The Nemrut Mountain Archaeological Site is the first stop in our Mesopotamia tour. Set between the borders of Pütürge and Adıyaman’s Kâhta district, Nemrut is home to some of the world’s most important Hellenistic-era remains. These tombs and monumental sculptures, on the slope of the 2,150-meter-high Mount Nemrut, were erected by the Commagene king, Antiochus I Soter in dedication to the gods of that period. Because the sculptures bear Hellenistic and Persian influences in addition to Commagene, Mount Nemrut is often referred to as an intersection point for eastern and western cultures. The Nemrut Archaeological Site was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. The site is easily reachable from the Adıyaman Airport: click here for information on tickets and flights.
An unknown origin story: Hasankeyf, Batman
The exact date and reason for Hasankeyf’s establishment remains a mystery today, but we do know that Hasankeyf Castle is made of solid stone and that the name means “stone castle” in various languages. Nevertheless, based on cave dwellings also found in the area, researchers have concluded that Hasankeyf is one of the oldest settlements in history. Set in a strategic position between Diyarbakır and Cizre, Hasankeyf was a prominent trade center and thus developed as a cultural crossroads while avoiding various armed conflicts. Ruling states included the Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad and Ayyubis empires. Hasankeyf is easily reachable via Batman Airport: click here for information on Batman flights and fares.
Nine thousand years of history: Diyarbakır Fortress
One of the oldest historical sites in Mesopotamia, Diyarbakır Fortress is believed to have been first erected around 4000 BC, undergoing numerous repairs and reinforcements over the subsequent centuries by the region’s various rulers. At 5.8 kilometers, the wall of the Fortress is the world’s second longest continuous defensive wall, exceeded only by the Great Wall of China. Diyarbakır Fortress was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015.
Heart of Mesopotamia: Mor Gabriel Monastery, Mardin
Mardin itself is considered among the world’s oldest cities and a place where knowledge has always been valued. About ninety kilometers from Mardin, set on a hilltop surrounded by olive groves, stands the Mor Gabriel Monastery, also known as Dayro d-Mor Gabriel. The world’s oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monastery – dated to 397 AD – Mor Gabriel was built at least 400 years earlier than the monasteries on Mount Athos, in Greece; nearly 80 years before Mor Saba Monastery in Palestine; and about 200 years prior to the Mor Katherina Monastery, which is in the Sinai region of Egypt. The first step towards visiting this venerable site is to book a flight to Mardin.
Where the black rose grows: Halfeti
Less than two hours’ drive from Şanlıurfa – the city of the Prophets – lies Halfeti, set along the banks of the Birecik Dam Lake. This three-thousand-year-old city is notable for its sunken old town and its black roses. First, Old Halfeti and its historical buildings were submerged with the creation of the Birecik Dam, forming a surreal underwater city with a minaret rising from the surface. Second, the famous Halfeti black roses: The beautiful and fragrant blooms are actually a dark velvety crimson that turn black when dried. The Şanlıurfa GAP Airport is the closest airport to Halfeti so click here for information on tickets and fares to Şanlıurfa.
