Amasya Royal Rock Tombs and the Maidens

Royal Rock Tombs and the Maidens’ Palace
During the Hellenistic Period, these monumental tomb chambers were carved into the limestone rocks on the southern slopes of Mount Harşena. The ancient geographer Strabo states that these tombs belonged to kings. Within this archaeological site, there are also two private baths dating to the 15th-century Ottoman Period.

Aynalı Cave (Mirror Cave)
Located on the road to Ziyaret Town, this structure dates to the Hellenistic Period and is the best-preserved and most finely carved monumental rock tomb in the area. Inside, there is a burial chamber and Byzantine-era wall paintings depicting the Virgin Mary and the Twelve Apostles, painted in shades of brown and red from ceiling to floor. Approximately 25 rock tombs are located throughout the Yeşilırmak Valley.

Ferhat Water Channel
This structure dates to the Late Hellenistic – Early Roman Period and was built to supply water to the ancient city of Amasya. The channel was constructed by carving tunnels into the rocks and, in some sections, by building vaulted walls in accordance with the terrain’s slope, using a water-level system.
Because of this remarkable engineering achievement, it became the subject of the famous legend of “Ferhat and Şirin” and is popularly known as the Ferhat Water Channel.
At the Ferhatarası locality, a section approximately 2 km long, running parallel to the highway, can be visually observed today.

Yassıçal Altar
The Yassıçal Altar is located 3 km southwest of Yassıçal Town, on the Ancient Roman Road extending from Erbaa–Horoztepe to the city of Zela (Zile).
It is a sacred area where religious ceremonies were held during the Late Hellenistic – Early Roman Periods. The site is surrounded by a Temenos Wall, with an altar positioned at its center. A rescue excavation was conducted here in 2006 under the supervision of the Museum Directorate; however, today only the ruins of the surrounding walls are visible. Locally, the site is known as “Büyük Evliya Hill” (Great Saint Hill).