Mount Harşena

Mount Harşena (Turkish: Harşena Dağı), is a mountain located in Amasya, the capital of the Amasya Province of Turkey. It has a height of 272 m (892 ft). Mount Harşena was added to the tentative list in the cultural category of UNESCO World Heritage Site on 13 April 2015 alongside the tombs of the kings of Pontus.

Amasya is located at an extremely important junction. Due to this feature, it has been governed by many states throughout history. Mount Harşena, located right next to the Yeşilırmak river passing through Amasya, has been inhabited for thousands of years. The settlement in the region dates back to the Early Bronze Age. After this period, the region came under Phrygian, Scythian, Persian, Pontus, Roman, Eastern Roman, Danishment, Ilkhanid, Seljuk and Ottoman domination.

History

The Kingdom of Pontus was founded in Amaseia (Amasya) in 281 BC by Mithridates I, one of the Persian satraps. After Amaseia was declared the capital of Pontus, monumental tombs began to be built on Mount Harşena. The heights of these tombs vary between 8-15 meters. In the Maidens' Palace area, there are rock tombs belonging to five kings who reigned from the Founding King Mithridates I to Pharnaces I.

References

1. Tombs of the kings of Pontus
2. Galata Tower
3. Gallipoli
4. Kekova
5. Yıldız Palace
6. Sumela Monastery
7. Bodrum Castle
8. İznik
9. Agora of Smyrna
10. Mudurnu
11. Dardanelles
12. Pontic Greeks
13. Aspendos
14. Church of Saint Peter
15. İzmir
16. Laodicea on the Lycus
17. Ayvalık
18. Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey
19. Lake Tuz
20. Konya