Adiyaman In Ancient Times
The Southeastern Anatolia region is a central region located between Mesopotamia in the south, Iran in the East, Eastern Anatolia and the Caucasus in the North, and the central Anatolian steppes in the west. The highlands of the eastern and Southeastern Anatolia region have been the scene of rare civilizations throughout human history, as they are a crossroads between the said regions of ancient civilizations that flashed away thousands of years ago (ERZEN, Afif: a history of the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia region Anatolia and Urartians-Ankara 1984 p.7).
The Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions had all the characteristics that were suitable to meet the needs of the people living in prehistoric times. Water resources, natural rock shelters, Meadows and woodlands, as well as rich hunting animals must have attracted people to this area since the earliest times. These favorable features in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia region have provided a very positive living environment for the people who make their living by hunting and gathering. This environment has resulted in the sprouting of many civilizations in the region. Ancient Settlements In Adiyaman Region Paleolithic Settlements
It spawned the Paleolithic culture. Hunting for these people was one of the most important stages in the early circuits of cultural development. The abundant amount of hunting animals found in the region has been one of the factors leading to people's thinking and social life. The PALANI KAYAALTI refuge located on the Adıyaman-Malatya highway is such a Paleolithic settlement. Adıyaman Samsat Şehramuz Hill and the surrounding settlements are also Paleolithic ruins. The area also has settlements such as Kung Kıraçı Hill, visitation Hill, and Kemşak Hill.
Samsat (Samosata mound), which is located in the Atatürk Dam Pond area today, is one of the most important settlements in the Adıyaman region reflecting the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and old Bronze Age. It was also the capital of the Kingdom of kommegene. Also, Tille Höyük is another important mound of the region.
Adiyaman is a city famous for its Hellenistic and Roman works. The most important of these remains is on the 2206 m high Mount Nemrut near the village of Karadut. The region between the Taurus Mountains and the Euphrates River was called Commagene in Hellenistic and Roman times.
Commagene M.He. I. During the civil wars, which ended the rule of the Seleucids at the beginning of the Hundred Years, I. Mithradates was founded as an independent kingdom by Kallinikos. In the ancient city of Arsameia, located next to the Old Village of Kahta on today's Kahta Creek, whose name is Nymphaios, inscriptions describing the foundation of the ancient city were found. The Septimus Severus Bridge at Cendere Creek, a tributary of Kahta Creek, 3 km southwest of this city, was built during the Roman period according to the Latin inscription on the columns.
On the 2206 m high summit of Mount Nemrut, an extension of the antitoros, the Temple Tomb monument dating from the late Hellenistic period, which is known to everyone today, has been considered one of the most valuable cultural assets on earth. This monument and its surroundings were listed as “cultural heritage of humanity” by UNESCO in 1987 and was declared a National Park by the Turkish government in 1988.
Among the Roman period artifacts are rock tombs. In the Euphrates valley, east of Eskitoz (Ancos) village of Adiyaman - Kahta District, many tombs carved into limestone rocks were found along the slope. However, these remained under the water of Atatürk Dam.
The first state established in southeastern Anatolia, especially in the region of Adiyaman and Gaziantep, was the kommagene (m.He.69-M.S.72) Is His Kingdom. The Seleucid rule in the region was dominated by the parts in Iran (m.He.240-85) that follows dominance. The paths extend their borders up to the length of the Euphrates and take Diyarbakir into their hands. But M.S.They were able to hold it until 226 years (OKTAY Akşit, “Roman imperial history” Istanbul 1985).
Adiyaman In The Middle Ages
Adiyaman and its environs M.S.From 395, it was under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine State) and was subject to Islamic currents.
Hz. During the caliphate of Umar (634-644) Adiyaman and its environs passed into the hands of Muslim Arabs. As a result of the wars involving prominent Islamic commanders such as Aba Ubaydah, Khalid Bin Walid, Sait Bin Abi Vakkas and Iyaz Bin Guam, this region was annexed to Islamic territory in 638.
Adiyaman and its environs became the border region and the subject of contention between Muslims and Byzantines for some time. In 670, Mansur Bin Cavena, one of the Umayyad commanders, captured Adiyaman. It is rumored that this commander built today's Adiyaman Castle, which is within the first residential area of Adiyaman city.
M.S. In 758, the Umayyad rule was brought to an end by the Abbasid caliph Abu Jafar Mansur. Thus, Adiyaman and its surroundings are dominated by the Abbasids.
M.S. In 1066, Gümüştekin, one of the Seljuk commanders, captured the city of Adıyaman (Hisn-ı Mansur-u) and its surroundings but withdrew due to internal response. In 1082 following the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, Hins-I Mansur (Adiyaman city) was recaptured and Abbasid rule ended. Adiyaman and its surroundings, which remained under the rule of the Seljuks, changed hands temporarily by being under the influence of the Crusader Wars. Adiyaman and its surroundings also came under the control of Eyyubis between 1114-1204. Anatolian Seljuks '1298 in the Mongols' invasion suffered; internal confusion ensues. This situation continues until 1339. 1339 Adiyaman and its environs, Dulkadiroğulları principality after the establishment of some time after Dulkadiroğulları’ came under the rule of. In 1398, the Ottoman Sultan Yildirim Beyazit captured the region, but Timur, who dominated eastern Anatolia, withdrew due to the danger. As a result, Adıyaman and its surroundings fall into the hands of Dulkadıroğulları again.