Earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş-centered Adıyaman caused the handshake column in the 2,000-year-old Karakuş Tumulus to collapse. This column was about 10 meters high and had Greek inscriptions on it. As a result of the collapse of the historical column, an important historical artifact was lost.
Karakuş Tumulus, located on the skirts of Mount Nemrut, is located within the borders of Kahta District of Adıyaman. It is a mausoleum belonging to the women of the Commagene Royal Family. The tumulus was formed as a result of the accumulation of tea stones and is a mound approximately 20 meters high. The column, located in the south of the tumulus, was called “blackbird” by the local people because of the eagle statue on it, and this name was included in the literature. The tumulus was 30 meters high when it was first built and 110 meters in diameter. This tumulus, which has a history of 2,000 years, is of great historical and archaeological importance.
Reliefs Found on the Handshake Column
There were six columns in total around the tumulus, but only four of them have survived to the present day. One of these four columns, the column with the Eagle statue, consisted of seven blocks of stone. The other three columns were built by placing six blocks of stone on top of each other.
The mausoleum belongs to King Antiochos’ wife Isias, his daughter Antiochis and his grandson Aka. King of Commagene II, son of Antiochos I, King of Commagene. The relief of Mithridates (36-20 BC) shaking hands with his sister Laodice was located on the column. On the only surviving column in the northwest of the tumulus, II. There was a farewell scene with reliefs of Mithridates and his sister Laodice.
The Greek inscription on the column said: “To the Great King Antiochus and Queen Isias, his son Mithridates the Great (36-21) had this monument built in the eternal memory of Queen Laodice, the king’s sister and wife of Orodes, the king of kings.”
Shaking Column in Karakuş Tumulus Destroyed post first explorer appeared on it.
