About Amasya Kral Kaya Mezarları
Carved into the steep face of Mount Harşena, Amasya's Royal Rock Tombs are monumental burials of the kings of Pontus. Seen with the Yeşilırmak River, castle and historic town, the chambers and rock passages form part of a wider cultural landscape.
History
Amasya was the first capital of the kingdom of Pontus, established in the early third century BCE. Large burial chambers for its kings were cut into the Harşena cliffs, with passages separating their façades from the rock. Amasya retained regional importance after the royal capital moved to Sinop. Roman, Byzantine, Danishmendid, Seljuk and Ottoman occupation added further layers to the valley settlement. Mount Harşena and the Rock Tombs of the Pontic Kings are on UNESCO's Tentative List.
Highlights and principal structures
- Five major Pontic royal tombs
- Rock-cut passages
- Harşena Castle
- Kızlar Sarayı area
- Valley fortifications
- Yeşilırmak cultural landscape
Historical period
Hellenistic–Roman