A burial mound raised by King Mithridates II of Commagene around 30 BC for the royal women of his family, including his mother Queen Isias. The 35-metre-high tumulus of piled stone is ringed by columns topped with carved figures, among them the eagle (karakuş, 'black bird') that gives the site its name, along with a lion and a relief of a handshake scene. It stands beside the Kahta road, an easy roadside stop on the way to Nemrut.
Good to know
- Hours
- Open access at all times
- Best time
- Late afternoon for golden light on the columns
- Best for
- history buffs, photography, road-trippers
Location
Karakuş Tümülüsü, 02400 Kahta/Adıyaman, Türkiye
37.8669, 38.6147 View on map
Tips for visiting
- The surviving columns and the eagle capital are the main photo subjects
- It is the first major Commagene monument reached when driving from Kahta toward Nemrut
- There is little shade, so visit outside the midday heat in summer