Anıtkabir

About

Anıtkabir (Turkish: [aˈnɯtkabiɾ]; lit. 'grave monument') is a complex located in the Çankaya district of Ankara that contains the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Designed by Emin Onat and Orhan Arda, construction of Anıtkabir began in 1944 and was completed in 1953. In addition to the mausoleum building and various other structures and monuments, it consists of a wooded area known as the Peace Park. Following Atatürk's death on 10 November 1938, it was announced that his remains would remain at the Ankara Ethnography Museum until a mausoleum could be constructed in Ankara. A commission was established by the government to determine the location where the mausoleum would be built. In accordance with the report prepared by the commission, the Republican People's Party parliamentary group decided at its meeting on 17 January 1939 that the structure would be built on Rasattepe. Following this decision, expropriation proceedings were initiated for the relevant land, while an international design competition was launched on 1 March 1941 to determine the design of the structure. Following the evaluation of the projects after the competition ended on 2 March 1942, it was decided that the project by Emin Onat and Orhan Arda would be implemented with certain modifications, and construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony held on 9 October 1944. Construction, carried out in four sections, was completed in October 1953, later than originally planned because of various problems and delays; changes were also made to the project while construction was still underway. On 10 November 1953, Atatürk's remains were transferred here in a ceremony. Anıtkabir, which has also contained the tomb of İsmet İnönü since 1973, formerly contained the remains of Cemal Gürsel, who was buried there in 1966, and eleven people who were buried there between 1960 and 1963; their remains were removed from Anıtkabir in 1988. In the Şeref Holü (Hall of Honour), the main section of the mausoleum building, Atatürk's symbolic sarcophagus is located, while Atatürk's remains are buried in the burial chamber on the lower level of the building. The complex is entered from the beginning of the alley known as the Lion Road, which leads to the ceremonial plaza. The mausoleum is located on one side of this area, which is surrounded by colonnades, while the exit from the complex is located on the opposite side of the plaza along the axis of the Lion Road. The complex contains ten towers, two groups of statues, and the Atatürk and War of Independence Museum, with the towers located at the four corners of the Lion Road, at the exit of the ceremonial plaza, and at the corners of the plaza. All of these structures, collectively known as the Monument Block, are surrounded by a wooded area called the Peace Park. The structures in the complex are reinforced concrete, and different types of marble and travertine are used on their surfaces and floors. Decorations created using relief, mosaic, fresco, and carving techniques are found in various parts of the complex. The structure, which is Neoclassical in the style of the Second National Architectural Movement, bears traces of the Hittite, Ancient Greek, Seljuk, and Ottoman cultures that ruled over the territory of present-day Turkey throughout history. Responsibility for all services and activities at Anıtkabir belongs to the Turkish General Staff, and activities held here are regulated by law. During national holidays in Turkey and on 10 November, the anniversary of Atatürk's death, official commemorative ceremonies are held at Anıtkabir by the government. In addition, ceremonies are organized by persons included in the state protocol and representatives of other natural and legal persons. Anıtkabir is also a place visited from time to time by foreign government officials during official visits to Turkey, where official ceremonies are held.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.