Karakuş Tumulus
Karakuş Tümülüsü
A tomb for royal women of Commagene, with a black eagle perched atop one of its stone pillars. “Karakuş” means “black bird.”
Karakuş Tumulus lies about 10 km north of Kahta. It is a rubble-mound tomb built by King Mithridates II for his mother, sisters and niece. Originally three groups of stone pillars surrounded it, and some survive today. One pillar is topped with an eagle sculpture, which gave the site its name “black bird,” and there are also pillars with lion and handshake reliefs. The Cendere Bridge is said to have been built partly with stone from here. It is usually the first stop on the Commagene loop. Allow about 20–30 minutes; admission is free.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Cendere Bridge (Severan Bridge)
- Arsameia
- Yeni Kale (Kâhta Castle)
- Mount Nemrut Summit Statues
- Perre Ancient City
- Adıyaman Archaeological Museum
- Atatürk Dam & Lake