Rumkale Archaeological Sitevisitor guide.

RUMKALE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE Rumkale is located in the Yavuzeli district of Gaziantep. It was erected atop steep cliffs where the Merzimen Stream meets the Euphrates River. Surrounded on three sides by a reservoir lake today, it appears as a peninsula. Known by varied names from Antiquity to the present—such as Şitamrat, Kal-a Rhomayta, Hromklay, Ranculat, Kal-at al-Rum, Kal-at al-Muslimin, and Kale-i Zerrin (Golden Castle)—the fortress possesses two defense walls. The first rampart was formed by shearing the cliff faces vertically on the east, north, and west to create a natural curtain wall. The second rampart was erected upon this natural rock curtain as a defensive wall built of hard limestone ashlar. The north and east walls feature seven rectangular bastions and numerous embrasure windows on the north. In the 12th century, the rocky spur to the south was carved out into a moat, severing direct land connection with the fortress. Architectural remains visible today besides the curtain walls and bastions include Saint Nerses Church, Barshavma Monastery, numerous structural ruins, water cisterns, a water well, and the moat. Structures surviving above ground date between the 12th and 14th centuries. It is rumored that during the Roman period, John the Apostle settled at Rumkale and copied manuscripts of the Gospel in a rock-hewn chamber. The castle passed into Ottoman hands in 1516. NEARBY MUSEUMS GAZİANTEP CASTLE GAZİANTEP ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM ZEUGMA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE YESEMEK ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE ZEUGMA MOSAIC MUSEUM