Arsameia (known today as Arsameia ad Nymphaios or Eski Kale) was the royal capital and sacred sanctuary of the Commagene Kingdom, located just a short distance from Mount Nemrut in the Kâhta district of Adıyaman.
The Royal Sanctuary & Castle
Founded in the early 2nd century BCE by King Arsames (an ancestor of Antiochus I), the city served as a strategic administrative fortress and a Hierotheseion (sacred burial site). Antiochus I later fortified the city and dedicated it to the memory of his father, King Mithridates I Callinicus, whose tomb is believed to be located here.
Key Historical Highlights
The hillside ruins stretch upward along a steep path, featuring incredibly well-preserved Hellenistic artifacts:
• The Hercules-Antiochus Dexiosis Relief: This is one of the most famous reliefs from antiquity. It depicts King Antiochus I shaking hands (dexiosis) with the Greek god Hercules (Heracles). Hercules is instantly recognizable by his club and lion skin, and the relief serves as a powerful piece of royal propaganda, showing the king on equal terms with a deity.
• The Grand Inscription: Located right below the Hercules relief, this is the largest Greek inscription ever found in Anatolia. Carved into a sheer rock face, it details the history of the foundation of Arsameia, the laws of the Commagene Kingdom, and religious instructions for celebrating royal festivals.
• The Secret Sacred Caves: The inscription sits above a steep, dark tunnel carved deep into the limestone mountain. Reaching roughly 150 meters down, historians believe these paths were used for religious rituals, underground burials, or strategic defensive passages during times of siege.
Visiting Today
Because Arsameia sits directly along the route to Mount Nemrut, travelers almost always pair the two sites together.
• Current Status: Following the severe earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye, some paths and specific areas (such as the deep cave tunnels) have faced temporary closures or structural restrictions for visitor safety. However, the magnificent main hillside terrace and the giant reliefs remain a deeply rewarding stop.
阿尔萨梅亚（Arsameia，今称“宁法伊奥斯河畔阿尔萨梅亚”或“埃斯基卡莱”/Eski Kale）曾是科马基尼王国（Commagene Kingdom）的王都与神圣圣所，位于阿德亚曼省（Adıyaman）卡赫塔区（Kâhta），距离内姆鲁特山（Mount Nemrut）仅咫尺之遥。
皇家圣所与城堡
该城由阿尔萨梅斯国王（King Arsames，安条克一世的先祖）于公元前2世纪初建立，既是一座战略性的行政堡垒，也是一处“神圣陵寝区”（Hierotheseion）。后来，安条克一世（Antiochus I）加固了这座城市，并将其奉献给其父——米特里达梯一世·卡利尼科斯国王（King Mithridates I Callinicus），据信后者的陵墓便坐落于此。
主要历史遗迹
山坡上的遗迹沿陡峭小径向上延伸，保存着极为完好的希腊化时代文物：
• “赫拉克勒斯与安条克握手”浮雕（Hercules-Antiochus Dexiosis Relief）：这是古代最著名的浮雕之一，描绘了安条克一世国王与希腊神祇赫拉克勒斯（Hercules/Heracles）握手（希腊语称“dexiosis”）的场景。赫拉克勒斯标志性的棍棒和狮皮使其极易辨认；这件浮雕也是强有力的王室宣传工具，展现了国王与神祇平起平坐的地位。
• 巨型铭文（The Grand Inscription）：位于赫拉克勒斯浮雕正下方，这是在安纳托利亚地区发现的规模最大的希腊语铭文。它被镌刻在陡峭的岩壁上，详细记载了阿尔萨梅亚的建城史、科马基尼王国的法律，以及庆祝王室节日的宗教准则。
• 神秘的圣洞：铭文下方是一条陡峭、幽暗的隧道，深入石灰岩山体之中。该通道深达约150米；历史学家推测，这些通道曾用于宗教仪式、地下安葬，或在遭遇围困时作为战略防御通道。
今日游览
由于阿尔萨梅亚正位于前往内姆鲁特山的必经之路上，游客通常会将这两处遗址一并游览。
• 现状：受土耳其东南部严重地震影响，出于游客安全考虑，部分路径及特定区域（如深处的洞穴隧道）目前处于临时关闭状态或受到结构性进入限制。不过，宏伟的山坡主露台和巨大的浮雕依然值得一游，定会让您不虚此行。
Arsameia (known today as Arsameia ad Nymphaios or Eski Kale) was the royal capital and sacred sanctuary of the Commagene Kingdom, located just a short distance from Mount Nemrut in the Kâhta district of Adıyaman.
The Royal Sanctuary & Castle
Founded in the early 2nd century BCE by King Arsames (an ancestor of Antiochus I), the city served as a strategic administrative fortress and a Hierotheseion (sacred burial site). Antiochus I later fortified the city and dedicated it to the memory of his father, King Mithridates I Callinicus, whose tomb is believed to be located here.
Key Historical Highlights
The hillside ruins stretch upward along a steep path, featuring incredibly well-preserved Hellenistic artifacts:
• The Hercules-Antiochus Dexiosis Relief: This is one of the most famous reliefs from antiquity. It depicts King Antiochus I shaking hands (dexiosis) with the Greek god Hercules (Heracles). Hercules is instantly recognizable by his club and lion skin, and the relief serves as a powerful piece of royal propaganda, showing the king on equal terms with a deity.
• The Grand Inscription: Located right below the Hercules relief, this is the largest Greek inscription ever found in Anatolia. Carved into a sheer rock face, it details the history of the foundation of Arsameia, the laws of the Commagene Kingdom, and religious instructions for celebrating royal festivals.
• The Secret Sacred Caves: The inscription sits above a steep, dark tunnel carved deep into the limestone mountain. Reaching roughly 150 meters down, historians believe these paths were used for religious rituals, underground burials, or strategic defensive passages during times of siege.
Visiting Today
Because Arsameia sits directly along the route to Mount Nemrut, travelers almost always pair the two sites together.
• Current Status: Following the severe earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye, some paths and specific areas (such as the deep cave tunnels) have faced temporary closures or structural restrictions for visitor safety. However, the magnificent main hillside terrace and the giant reliefs remain a deeply rewarding stop.