Adiyaman province; A national park and ruins in the town of Kahta, which contains the ancient city of Komagene. The main feature of the National Park is Mount Nemrut and the tumulus and sanctuaries belonging to the Commagene King Antiochos. The tumulus and giant statues of Antiochos, Arsameia (Eskikale), Yenikale, Karakuş Tepe and Cendere Bridge are cultural values ​​within the National Park.
Commagene, which means “Community of Genes” in Greek, is a powerful kingdom in which the beliefs, cultures and traditions of the Greek and Persian Civilizations are integrated. The ancient Kingdom of Commagene, located at the junction of various roads in the Taurus Mountains, was located in the north of Syria, in the fertile lands surrounded by Hatay, Pınarbaşı, the Northern Taurus Mountains and the Euphrates River in the east. It is understood from the caves and archaeological finds in the vicinity that the lands of Commagene, which are suitable for agriculture and animal husbandry and contain cedar tree forests of high economic importance, have been used as a settlement area since ancient times.
BC The Kingdom of Commagene, which is estimated to have come under the rule of the Hittite Empire in mid-2000; In the region, there is the Kingdom of Kummuh, which was accepted before the Kingdom of Commagene, and Kummuh was founded in BC. Assyrians in 711 B.C. It is understood that it was conquered by the Babylonians in 605. BC Towards the end of the 6th century, the lands of the Kingdom of Commagene passed into the hands of the Persian Empire. BC In 323, the administration of the Region of the Kingdom of Commagene passed into the hands of the Greco-Macedonian rulers.
The small but powerful country of the ancient world, the Kingdom of Commagene, was founded by Mithridates Kallinikos, the son of a prince who was related to Darius, who is known as the “King of Kings” from the Persian Kings on his father’s side, and the Macedonian Ruler Alexander the Great on his mother’s side. It was founded in 109 as an independent kingdom.
Commagene people, who are from different communities and have different beliefs and cultures,
Mithridates Kallinikos, who achieved great success in ensuring unity, had temples built in various parts of his country, believing that he would strengthen his bond with the gods and thus make his nation live in peace.

The most famous of the Commagene Kings with cult structures in Mount Nemrut and both Arsameia, the 1st Antiochos period (69-38 BC) was the most prosperous period of the kingdom. Having his own tomb built on the summit of Mount Nemrut and the tomb of his father, Mithridates Kallinikos I, on the edge of the Old Kahta Stream in Arsameia, Antiochos I raised his kingdom to the highest level in terms of economy and culture. 1. After Antiochos, the bright periods of the Commagene Kingdom could not be continued by his successors and İ.S. Since 29, the Kings of Commagene have been appointed by Rome. WORK. With the Romans’ invasion of Commagene in 72 BC, the independence of the 200-year-old kingdom came to an end, and after this date, the Commagene lands took its place in history as a part of Syria.

The ruins on the summit of Mount Nemrut are not settlements, but the Tumulus of Antiochos and sanctuaries. The tumulus is located on a 2150-meter-high hill overlooking the Euphrates River passes and plains. It is thought that the king’s bones or ashes were placed in the chamber carved into the bedrock and covered with a tumulus 50 meters high and 150 meters in diameter. The entrance is from the north and there are terrace-shaped courtyards where religious ceremonies are held in the east and west.
Between the lion and eagle statues on both terraces, giant statues reaching 7 meters in height are lined up, surrounded by orthostads (large stone blocks placed vertically) with inscriptions and reliefs. Arsameia, the capital city of Commagene, is located near the Old Kahta Village. Here is the sanctuary of Mithridates.

Punchstein, who worked on the tumulus on the top of Mount Nemrut and the works consisting of huge sculptures and various reliefs on the terraces formed on the east and west sides of the tumulus, deciphered the Greek inscription after long studies, said that these works belonged to the Commagene Civilization and were built by the Commagene King Antiochos I. discovers. The inscription, written by Antiochos, contains the secret of Mount Nemrut and the laws of Antiochos.
The excavations that led to the emergence of the Commagene Civilization were carried out in Arsameia, Samsat and the Euphrates Basin, apart from Mount Nemrut. The movable artifacts unearthed in the excavations in the region are preserved in museums, and the rest in the National Park Area.

Arsameia (Arsameia of Nymphaios)

According to the inscriptions of King Antiochus I, Arsameia BC. It is the summer capital and administrative center of the Commagene Kingdom, which was founded by Arsames, the ancestor of the Commagene, at the beginning of the 2nd century, across the Old Kahta castle on the east of the Kahta Stream.
On the ceremonial road to the south, there is the relief stele of Mithras, the Antiochos-Herakles handshake stele on the ritual platform, and the largest known Greek inscription in Anatolia in front of it. A tunnel starting from the place where the inscription was found and going down 150 steps and a similar rock corridor to the west of the inscription attract attention.
On the platform on the hill is the tomb temple and palace of Mithridathes Callinichos. During the palace excavations, many statue fragments, a queen and the head of Antiochos were found. Arsameia ruins, 60 km from Adıyaman. away.
It is in Kocahisar village of Kahta district of our province. The New Castle, built by the Commagenes, was used together with Arsemeia on the opposite side. The castle, which was restored by the Romans and then the Mamluks, was partially repaired by Dörner in the 1970s. There are bazaars, mosques, dungeons, waterways, dovecotes and inscriptions inside the castle. The waterway descending from Kale to Nymphois started with a tunnel to Arsameia. It is still possible to reach the water by this road, which reaches 80 meters.

Perra ancient city

It is in the central Örenli (Pirin) District of our city. It is one of the five big ancient cities of the Commagene Kingdom. It is a frequent destination between Samosata, the capital of the Commagene Kingdom, and Melitene (Malatya). The beauty of its water is mentioned in ancient Roman sources; It is said that it was used as a resting place by caravans, passengers and armies. The Roman Fountain, where the aforementioned water flows, is still in use. Perre Ancient City (Niseaie) The fact that it sent a representative to the Bible Council gathered in Iznik also shows that it was a religious center. The most striking ruins in the Perre Ancient City are the passages that provide communication between the burial chambers whose entrances are decorated with reliefs. There are also sarcophagi in the burial chambers carved into the rocks. Perre Ancient City creates a wonderful view