Karakus Tepesi (Hill)

This Kommagene tumulus 47km/29 miles north-east of Adiyaman was erected by Mithridates II (36-20 B.C.) for his mother Isias, his sister Laodike (36 B.C., wife of the Parthian King Orodes IV), and his niece Aka. From the original three pairs of columns only four now survive, the southernmost being crowned by an eagle (Karakus = "black bird"), the north-easterly one by a bull. On the north-west side are a toppled lion and a column the inscription on which records details of the tomb.