Karkamış: A Meeting Point Beyond Borders, Emerging from the Depths of Time

Imagine a city on the banks of the Euphrates River… But this is no ordinary border town. Situated at the crossroads of Anatolia and Mesopotamia Karkamış has for thousands of years been a place where civilisations, beliefs, and even diplomatic relations converged.

Since the 14th century BCE, it became one of the most important royal cities of the Hittite Empire in the east. Even after the collapse of the empire, Karkamış didn’t lose its influence—on the contrary, it managed to endure and transformed into the most powerful city-state of its region during the Late Hittite period. The rule of the Hittite prince Piyassili as king here endowed this ancient city with a strong political and historical identity.

But politics isn’t the only domain where Karkamış stands out. It was also a spiritual center. The cult of the Mother Goddess Kubaba was so dominant here that the stone reliefs in the city display some of the most striking representations of female divinity. In this sense, Karkamış offers one of the richest and most impressive archaeological narratives we have about female representation in the ancient world.

Although connected to other major centers along the Euphrates like Zeugma, Arslantepe, and Tilmen Höyük, Karkamış differs in one key way: it is the only known example of a state-like organization. And this isn’t just evident from its ruins—it’s also clear in its inscriptions, seals, reliefs, and sophisticated urban planning. The structure established here provides a compelling example of how governance, diplomacy, and culture were deeply intertwined.

Additionally, through its ties with Assyrian, Luwian, and Hittite cultures, the city holds invaluable clues for understanding the regional diplomacy and cultural interaction of its time. This cultural diversity makes Karkamış a rich source for many meaningful stories worth telling today.

When you visit Karkamış today, you don’t just encounter stone ruins. On the contrary, each one tells a story. This ancient city takes you on a thematic journey that bridges the past and the present—through its depictions of women, its layered heritage, and the traces of ancient diplomacy.

Karkamış echoes the voice of the past in the footsteps of the present. It captivates its visitors not only with its history but also with the stories carved into its stones.