The Rock Tombs in Upper Söğütlü
Upper Söğütlü (Southeast Anatolian/Turkey), a region bounded by the river Euphrates and the Tauros Mountains, was known in classical antiquity as Commagene. In this study, rock tombs, which were found in the necropolises of the city, are evaluated. These tombs were brought out by coincidence at an i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Gaziantep University
2007-12-01
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| Series: | Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://dergipark.gov.tr/jss/issue/24258/257135?publisher=gantep |
| _version_ | 1797922911320801280 |
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| author | Turgut H. Zeyrek |
| author_facet | Turgut H. Zeyrek |
| author_sort | Turgut H. Zeyrek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Upper Söğütlü (Southeast Anatolian/Turkey), a region bounded by the river Euphrates and the Tauros Mountains, was known in classical antiquity as Commagene. In this study, rock tombs, which were found in the necropolises of the city, are evaluated. These tombs were brought out by coincidence at an indeterminate time and through excavations carried out without permission. Necropolises differ in their aspects and characteristics due to the topography of the land. Keysun (Southeast Anatolian/Turkey) and its fertile land create together excellent for small settlements build close to each other. Instead of separating a place for tombs on the plain fertile land, every suitable place near the settlements was used as necropolis. Rock faces found near the city of the plains, slopes around the settlements and hill sides were preferred as burial places. The region examined in this study establishes that the rock tombs with the forms sarcophagus and hypogaeum were the dominant grave types in the late Hellenistic and Roman period. It can be established that the reform policy within the borders of the kingdom of Antiochus I had an influence on the tomb architecture of the region, as on the types in Upper Söğütlü. The ethnic origin of the king, with eastern and western aspects, is reflected in the grave culture of this region. The tombs of the kings Dikili Taş (Sesönk) and Karakuş, in the main centre of the kingdom cult on the Nemrud Mountain, served as tomb-architecture-models for the people of Commagene. The tombs that have been found by surveys in the necropolis areas of Doliche, Perre and Turus confirm that there is a general type of tombs in the region of Commagene. Findings of researches in Upper Söğütlü back up this opinion. The main types of rock tombs determined in the necropolises of Upper Söğütlü are chamosorion and hypogaea. Among tombs seen in the same necropolis some must have had a high construction price like those with burial chambers build under ground or those build into rock slopes, they indicated luxury and were symbols of status in that society. Consequently must the first usage period be late Hellenistic - early Roman, since the region of Commagene at that time was at its peak. Although the impression arises, that the general Commagenian type of rock tombs expresses a local tradition of tomb architecture, are the influences from the tomb tradition of the neighbouring cultural centre of Syria and as well Roman Empire evident |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T14:38:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5e574ffcba142a598f56a048eb25322 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2149-5459 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T14:38:38Z |
| publishDate | 2007-12-01 |
| publisher | Gaziantep University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5e574ffcba142a598f56a048eb253222023-02-15T16:08:21ZengGaziantep UniversityGaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences2149-54592007-12-0162117144136The Rock Tombs in Upper SöğütlüTurgut H. Zeyrek0Gaziantep Üniversitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi, Arkeoloji Bölümü, Gaziantep, TürkiyeUpper Söğütlü (Southeast Anatolian/Turkey), a region bounded by the river Euphrates and the Tauros Mountains, was known in classical antiquity as Commagene. In this study, rock tombs, which were found in the necropolises of the city, are evaluated. These tombs were brought out by coincidence at an indeterminate time and through excavations carried out without permission. Necropolises differ in their aspects and characteristics due to the topography of the land. Keysun (Southeast Anatolian/Turkey) and its fertile land create together excellent for small settlements build close to each other. Instead of separating a place for tombs on the plain fertile land, every suitable place near the settlements was used as necropolis. Rock faces found near the city of the plains, slopes around the settlements and hill sides were preferred as burial places. The region examined in this study establishes that the rock tombs with the forms sarcophagus and hypogaeum were the dominant grave types in the late Hellenistic and Roman period. It can be established that the reform policy within the borders of the kingdom of Antiochus I had an influence on the tomb architecture of the region, as on the types in Upper Söğütlü. The ethnic origin of the king, with eastern and western aspects, is reflected in the grave culture of this region. The tombs of the kings Dikili Taş (Sesönk) and Karakuş, in the main centre of the kingdom cult on the Nemrud Mountain, served as tomb-architecture-models for the people of Commagene. The tombs that have been found by surveys in the necropolis areas of Doliche, Perre and Turus confirm that there is a general type of tombs in the region of Commagene. Findings of researches in Upper Söğütlü back up this opinion. The main types of rock tombs determined in the necropolises of Upper Söğütlü are chamosorion and hypogaea. Among tombs seen in the same necropolis some must have had a high construction price like those with burial chambers build under ground or those build into rock slopes, they indicated luxury and were symbols of status in that society. Consequently must the first usage period be late Hellenistic - early Roman, since the region of Commagene at that time was at its peak. Although the impression arises, that the general Commagenian type of rock tombs expresses a local tradition of tomb architecture, are the influences from the tomb tradition of the neighbouring cultural centre of Syria and as well Roman Empire evidenthttp://dergipark.gov.tr/jss/issue/24258/257135?publisher=gantepKommagene Yukarı Söğütlü Kaya mezarları Anıtsal mezar Hipoje Dromos Lahit KamosorionCommagene Upper Söğütlü Rock tombs Monumental tombs Hypogaea Dromos Sarcophagus Chamosorion |
| spellingShingle | Turgut H. Zeyrek The Rock Tombs in Upper Söğütlü Gaziantep University Journal of Social Sciences Kommagene Yukarı Söğütlü Kaya mezarları Anıtsal mezar Hipoje Dromos Lahit Kamosorion Commagene Upper Söğütlü Rock tombs Monumental tombs Hypogaea Dromos Sarcophagus Chamosorion |
| title | The Rock Tombs in Upper Söğütlü |
| title_full | The Rock Tombs in Upper Söğütlü |
| title_fullStr | The Rock Tombs in Upper Söğütlü |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Rock Tombs in Upper Söğütlü |
| title_short | The Rock Tombs in Upper Söğütlü |
| title_sort | rock tombs in upper sogutlu |
| topic | Kommagene Yukarı Söğütlü Kaya mezarları Anıtsal mezar Hipoje Dromos Lahit Kamosorion Commagene Upper Söğütlü Rock tombs Monumental tombs Hypogaea Dromos Sarcophagus Chamosorion |
| url | http://dergipark.gov.tr/jss/issue/24258/257135?publisher=gantep |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT turguthzeyrek therocktombsinuppersogutlu AT turguthzeyrek rocktombsinuppersogutlu |