Tuesdsay, May 22

North of Sanliurfa in this region of Southeastern Turkey are notable sites both ancient and modern to see.  We will visit the Ataturk Reservoir and the Ataturk Dam, in operation since 1994; the Karakus Tumulus, which belongs to the Royal Family of the Commegene Kingdom.

And perhaps we will see the Roman Cendere Bridge, one of the oldest bridges in the world, constructed during the period of Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, yet still in use today.  It is located at the narrowest point of the Kahta River, one of the major tributaries of the Euphrates.  This structure is built of 92 large stones and has a large and small arch.


Nearby lies Arsemia, summer capital of the Commagene Kingdom, where Hercules meets Mithradates in a large stone relief.

In this region, some 100km east of Adiyaman, stands Mt. Nemrut, atop which one finds the gigantic, 1st-centry BC tomb-shrine of King Antiochus I of Commagene, and statues of the Commagene deities.  Sometime during or after their placement there by the Commagene kings, the whole top of a mountain was broken into a massive mound of little pebbles and left to provide background to the statues.

Later in the afternoon, we will take shuttles up near to the top of Mt. Nemrut and climb from the parking lot to the top (at 8200 ft) to watch the sun set over the heads of these stone faces.

Overnight: Adiyaman