In the excavations carried out at Zerzevan Fortress in the Çınar district of Diyarbakır, the location of the monumental main entrance gate of a 1900-year-old underground temple related to the Mithras religion has been identified.
Located near Demirölçek Mahallesi, 13 kilometers away from the district, Zerzevan Fortress, which was used as a “military settlement” during the Roman Empire period, is among the significant tourism assets of the city.
Interest from visitors is increasing day by day at the historical fortress where the last Mithras temple in the world has been revealed. Zerzevan Fortress, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List, continues to shed light on history while hosting visitors almost every day of the year.
Excavation work initiated in 2014 with contributions from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Governorship, Diyarbakır Museum, Çınar District Governorship, and Dicle University continues at the historical fortress that earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List.
So far, on a 60-acre area, the excavations have revealed remnants of a 12-15-meter-high and 1200-meter-long wall, a 21-meter-high observation and defense tower, a church, administrative buildings, residences, grain and weapon depots, rock tombs, water channels with 54 cisterns, an underground church, an underground shelter for 400 people, residences, and secret passages. In addition, a temple related to the Mithras religion of that period and many other artifacts were unearthed after the adoption of Christianity in the 4th century AD.
In the excavation work that started this year, the monumental main entrance gate of the Mithras Temple and many structures beneath the temple have been identified.
Doç. Dr. Aytaç Coşkun, in his interview with AA, emphasized that the fortress has a history of 3,000 years and that they have completed the 9th season of archaeological excavation and restoration work at the fortress.
Coşkun pointed out that excavations are ongoing at many points within the fortress and stated that they will be working intensively in the “Mithras sacred area” this year.
Coşkun mentioned that they have identified new areas within the temple and said the following:
“We have identified one of the most important areas where ceremonies began in the 1900-year-old sacred area and intensified our work. We are continuing our work in both the monumental entrance gate of the sacred area we discovered and the places where the Mithraists who came to the ceremony stayed. We are currently working on the upper part of the sacred area. We have also identified many structures both underground and above ground. Mithras is actually a large complex. There are accommodation areas around the temple. In the secret religion of Rome, all rituals and ceremonies were conducted in secrecy. Many structures have been identified using ground-penetrating radar, both above and below ground. Those in the sacred area served a religious purpose, while those inside the fortress were used as food storage and shelters in times of war.”
“We expect at least 500,000 people to visit by the end of the year.”
Coşkun emphasized the significance of the work at the fortress in shedding light on the region’s history and for tourism. He mentioned that the fortress is visited by an average of 400,000 people each year and that this number has already been exceeded this year. He said, “We expect at least 500,000 people to visit by the end of the year. Currently, landscaping is being carried out, and a visitor reception center is under construction. Once these are completed, we aim to have at least 1 million visitors to the fortress in the coming years.”
“Throughout the day, 10-15 tour buses arrive.”
Çınar District Governor Muhammed Fatih Günlü stated that the fortress, which sheds light on the history of Diyarbakır and the surrounding region, is also highly significant for the visits of both local and foreign tourists. He mentioned, “Zerzevan Fortress is one of the top 10 locations in Turkey where sky observation activities can be conducted. We recently witnessed a significant interest from our citizens during a meteor shower. There is also substantial interest from our citizens during the traditional sky festivals,” and emphasized that the ongoing construction of the reception center will make a substantial contribution to the number of visitors.
Günlü explained that the reception center will include areas for visitors to have meals and fulfill various needs, and visitors will be informed by expert archaeologists before ascending to the fortress. He also pointed out that there will be places to explore with 3D glasses in the fortress.
Günlü added, “Throughout the day, 10-15 planned tour buses arrive. In addition to this, the number of visitors arriving with their own vehicles is quite high. With these efforts, we will provide an area in Zerzevan Fortress where visitors can spend a longer, higher quality, and more enjoyable time. As a result, we aim to at least double the number of tourists visiting this year, and we are targeting at least a two-fold increase in the numbers we achieved this year.”
Visitor Şükrü Temiroğlu mentioned that he brought his out-of-town guests to the historical fortress, expressing his desire for them to witness the beautiful scenery. Elif Demir, a student at Dicle University in Diyarbakır, visited the historical fortress for the first time and said, “I have traveled to Mardin many times on this route, but I had never been here. Zerzevan Fortress is beautiful for watching the sunset. I came here on a recommendation.”
