摘要: Justification of Outstanding Universal Value　　Mount Harşena, which is located in the north of the basin separated by the Yeşilırmak River is unique due to various reasons; it has been inhabited interr

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

　　Mount Harşena, which is located in the north of the basin separated by the Yeşilırmak River is unique due to various reasons; it has been inhabited interruptedly for more than five thousand years by many civilizations since the Early Bronze Age, it consists of cultural properties such as Amasya Fortress, the Middle Fortress, the Inner Forteress, the rock-tombs of the Pontic Kings, monumental cisterns opened in the 1st  century BCE and Yalıboyu Houses (Riverside Houses) besides offering a unique and enchanting landscape together with Yeşilırmak River and its valley.

　　The monumental rock-tombs of the Pontic Kings which were carved on the surface of limestone bedrock formations in the south hillside of the Mount Harşena are the most impressive archaeological remains of the Kingdom of Pontos and nearly its only preserved remains at all. The Royal Necropolis including the tombs of the five Pontic Kings is the first and the only necropolis of the royal family in the world and the rock-tomb belonging to Pharnakes I, also known as the tomb V is the biggest and lastly built rock-tomb of the Pontic Kingdom. The tradition of building rock-tombs ended in Amaseia (Amasya) and did not continue in the second capital of the Pontic Kingdom, Sinope (Sinop). Together with some other tombs in and outside Amasya, they represent the most recent group of rock-tombs from the Archaic to the Hellenistic age in Anatolia, following their forerunners in Urartu, Phrygia, Lykia, Karia and Paphlagonia.

　　The King rock-tombs are among Anatolia’s biggest rock-tombs and are among outstanding examples of the rock-tomb tradition in the world due to their monumental sizes (8 to 15 metres in height) and forms and big stone grave-chambers. The Greek influence seen in the architectural style of the rock-tombs in Amaseia (Amasya), pursued a chronological development in opposite direction when compared with other examples in Anatolia. Unlike other rock-tombs in Anatolia which gained an entirely Greek appearance in their later forms, in Amaseia (Amasya), the Greek influence completely disappeared in Tomb V and a new style emerged unique to the region. The rock-tombs belonging to the Pontic Royal family have unique architectural features; with free standing stone grave-chambers, plucked their upper part in the form of vault from the bedrock, with the corridors surrounding these grave-chambers and with round-arched facade designs.

　　Criterion (iii): The Royal Necropolis including the tombs of the five Pontic Kings is the first and the only necropolis of the royal family in the world. The tradition of building rock-tombs ended in Amaseia (Amasya) and did not continue in the second capital of the Pontic Kingdom, Sinope (Sinop).

　　The rock-tombs of the Pontic Kings, which are 8 to 15 metres in height, are among Anatolia’s biggest rock- tombs and are among outstanding examples of the rock-tomb tradition in the world due to their monumental sizes and forms and big stone grave-chambers. The Greek influence seen in the architectural style of the rock-tombs in Amaseia (Amasya), pursued a chronological development in opposite direction when compared with other examples in Anatolia. Unlike other rock-tombs in Anatolia which gained an entirely Greek appearance in their later forms, in Amaseia (Amasya), the Greek influence completely disappeared in Tomb V and a new style emerged unique to the region. The rock-tombs belonging to the Pontic Royal family have unique architectural features; with free standing stone grave-chambers, plucked their upper part in the form of vault from the bedrock, with the corridors surrounding these grave-chambers and with round-arched facade designs. The tomb V belonging to Pharnakes I is the biggest and lastly built rock-tomb of this style with 15x8x6 metres dimensions.

　　The traditional two-hundred-year old wooden buildings that are located in Hatuniye Neighbourhood, Helkis Neighbourhood in the east of the Fortress, in Sofular, Hacı İlyas and Şamlar Neighbourhoods on the other side of the River; were constructed during the last period of the Ottoman Empire. The most attention- grabbing pieces of this precious cultural heritage are Yalıboyu Houses (Riverside Houses) which are located on the fortress walls alongside Yeşilırmak River. The architecture of Yalıboyu Houses has its own unique style; these houses have been built in mansion form in a non-maritime geography, they have bay windows and oriels, they are surrounded by high walls; there is a courtyard with a water-well, a stove and pomegranate, mulberry or jujube trees. The haremlik parts of these houses lean on the fortress walls alongside Yeşilırmak River. These buildings together with Amasya Fortress, Mount Harşena and historical bridges connecting the two sides of River as well as the Darûşşifa (1309), II. Bayezid Complex (1486), Kapı Ağa Madrasah (1488) and Gümüşlü Mosque (1326) located on the other side of the river form a unique composition.

　　Criterion (vi): Amasya has been an important administrative, scientific and cultural centre throughout the history where worldwide known scientists, intellectuals and theologians, as well as the shahzades of the Ottoman Empire lived.

　　Strabon who is the first geographer of the world, as well as a historian, philosopher and geologist lived most of his life (64-24 BCE) in Amasya. He got his fame from the book called Geographika- Geography- which is 17 volumes and still used today as an important geography book. Another book he has written is Historika Hypomnemata (Historical Memories) which is 43 volumes. He is also known as the first geologist in the antique age, who explained the cause-effect relationship of volcanisms.

　　Saint Theodore was born in Amasya in 284 CE and he chose Christianity at a time when Roman Empire put pressure on Christians. Since he chose Christianity he was killed by torture at the age of 22 and he was later honoured as saint. Tuhfe-i Mübarizi (Gift to Mübarizi) which was a medical book written by Hekim Bereket in Amasya (13th century CE) was the first book written in Turkish in Anatolia.

　　Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin, who was born in 1385 in Amasya, is accepted as one of the three greatest surgeons of the Ottoman period. He developed many medical terms in Turkish, which are still used today. His book named Cerrahiyetü’l Haniyye was used as a sourcebook until the 18th century and today one of its three copies is at the National Library of France. This book is the first medical book prepared with illustrations in the Turkish and Islamic world during the medieval and new ages.

　　Amasya has been home to numerous politicians, scientists and intellectuals such as Şeyh Hamdullah who was born in Amasya (1426/1429) and known as the calligraphist who excelled Islamic calligraphy art; the first female poet of the Ottoman Empire, Zeynep Hatun; the first female divan poet, Mihrî Hatun; the first Halveti in Anatolia, Sheikh Pir İlyas el Halvetî; Gül Baba whose tomb is in Budapest, the historian Tacizade Cafer Çelebi and the Ottoman grand viziers, Bayezid Pasha and Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha as well as the twelve shahzades, seven of whom ascended the throne.

　　Criterion (vii): Amasya has a unique cultural landscape formed by Mount Harşena, Yeşilırmak River which flows through the city and the rock-tombs of the Pontic Kings carved on the surface of the Mount Harşena.

　　Yeşilırmak River which flows between two-thousand-metre-high mountains extending in east-west direction influenced the city’s development. Yeşilırmak is a meandering river which flows up to the east and merges with Tersakan Stream in Amasya forming a wide basin.

　　The limestone stack in the northern part of this basin which is shaped as a pointed cone and 272 metres in height has been known as Mount Harşena for thousands of years. Mount Harşena offers a unique and enchanting landscape together with Yeşilırmak River and its valley. At the summit of Mount Harşena, there are two plane areas and there are precipices until Yeşilırmak River in the south of the mountain. The eastern and western slopes of the mountain are also very steep and cliffy. This topographic formation of the mountain, almost a natural fortress, has offered defense advantage to the ancient city.

　　The rock-tombs of the Pontic Kings carved into the lime stone rock formations of the Mount Harşena in the Maiden’s Palace area are among Anatolia’s the biggest rock-tombs and among outstanding examples of rock-tomb tradition in the world; due to their monumental sizes and forms and big stone grave-chambers. Pontic Royal family rock-tombs, with properties worth of the glory of Pontic Kingdom which was the largest state founded in North Anatolia during the Hellenistic period; have drawn attention for hundreds of years and the region is also known as the “Valley of the Kings”, due to these monumental rock-tombs.