Cave I

Cave I is approx. 900 m long, running in a zigzag course underneath the south massif of the Korha Dagi (Korha Mountain) which is the southern margin of the canyon. The Dibni Çay flows through these natural rock cracks and fractures of 20 m – 45 m height, traversing the mountain roughly from the north-east to the south-west. The Assyrian kings Tiglath-pileser I (1114 -1079 BC) and Shalmaneser III (858 – 824 BC) had their reliefs and inscriptions carved at the western exit of the river. In the Byzantine Period the collapsed opening of the Tigris tunnel, where the reliefs and inscriptions were placed, was integrated into the defence system. At the eastern entrance to the tunnel no traces of human activity could be found.




 

Reliefs and rock inscriptions

Two of the inscriptions (Tigris 1 and 2) are accompanied by a relief, the third (Tigris 3) not. All of them are cut in the northern rock face above the river. The older relief which is also the best preserved is situated to the west of the cave. It depicts king Tiglath-pileser I (1114 -1079 BC) facing left, his right hand raised in prayer and his left holding a mace. To the left of the king is an inscription: one of the cuneiform signs has been placed on the right side of the king due to the lack of space. The rock surface was scarcely worked before the inscription and the relief were carved. The depth of the incision of the first relief is deeper than that of the later monuments.

Left of the king is the inscription, which reads as follows (edition and translation by Karen Radner):

“With the support of Assur, Shamash (and) Adad, the great gods, my lords, I, Tukulti-apil-Esharra (Tiglath-pileser I), king of Assyria, son of Assur-reshi-ishshi, king of Assyria, son of Mutakkil-Nusku, king of Assyria as well, conqueror (of the territory) of the great sea of the land of Amurru (the Mediterranean Sea) and the sea of the land of Nairi (Lake Van), went three times to the land of Nairi.”


The damage to the inscription, which occurred in the early 1970s, has enlarged considerably since, as comparison with earlier photographs shows. About a quarter is now lost.




The second relief, that of Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) with its long inscription is roughly 5 m further east closer to the cave entrance. The relief has been badly eroded as it was carved on a part of the steep rock face over which rainwater flows. Like Tiglath-pileser I, Shalmaneser faces left with his right hand raised in prayer. His left hand rests on the hilt of his sword. The image is the same as his relief in Cave II. It is incised only and not modelled.



Compared with the other inscriptions the cuneiform signs are rather unevenly and irregularly carved. The inscription reads as follows (edition and translation by Karen Radner):

“Salmanu-ashared (= Shalmaneser III), great king, strong king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, king of all great peoples, who strides in a powerful fashion, supported by his helpers, the great gods Shamash and Adad, and whom they let take hold of the mighty mountains from the rising sun to the setting sun; bold, merciless king, who pursues his enemies and treads imperiously upon inaccessible rivers and mountains like ruin mounds caused by a storm flood; son of Assur-nasir-apli (= Ashurnasipal II), king of Assyria, son of Tukulti-Ninurta (II), king of Assyria; conqueror (of the territory) of the sea of the land of Nairi towards the great sea of the setting sun.
I subjugated the land of Hattu in its entirety, the land of Melidu, the land of Daianu, the land of Suhmu, the city Arzashkun, the royal city of Aramu of Urartu, the land of Gilzanu, the land of Hubushkia – (the territory) from the source of the Tigris to the source of the Euphrates, from the sea of Inner Mazamua to the sea of the land of Kaldu (Chaldaea).
I went to Babylon (and) made sacrifices. I went down to the land of Kaldu, conquered their cities (and) received their tribute.
Adda-idri of Damascus and Irhulenu of Hama rose together with 15 towns of [the sea coast against me]. Four times I fought them [and caused their defeat].”

 

A third rock inscription of the period of Shalmaneser III ( 858-824 BC) can be found 10m further east, just at the entrance of the cave. It says (edition and translation by Karen Radner):

“Oh Assur, Bel, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Ishtar, great gods who love my sovereignty, who made my name great – I, Salmanu-ashared (= Shalmaneser III), king of the universe, king of Assyria, son of Assur-nasir-apli (= Ashurnasirpal II), king of Assyria, son of Tukulti-Ninurta (II), king of Assyria, conqueror (of the territory) of the sea of the land of Nairi towards the great sea of the setting sun, conquered the land of Hatti in its entirety. I entered the Enzu pass. I conquered the lands of Suhmu, Daianu [and] Urartu in their entirety. I crossed over into the land of Gilzanu. I received the tribute of the Gilzanean. Three times I went to the land of Nairi. At the source of the Tigris I wrote my name.”






Cave II

Cave II is situated in the north cliff of the canyon. It is approx. 50metres further up the mountain than Cave I. The dimensions are ca. 250metres in length, max. 30metres in width and max. 25metres high hence it is the largest of the caves in Birkleyn. There are a few stalagmites in the interior of the cave.

A long occupational history of the cave is attested by pottery sherds unearthed through numerous illegal robber pits. During the survey Iron Age and Byzantine remains were identified, but because of the depth of the cultural layers an even longer period of use is probable.

In Byzantine times the cave was part of the Byzantine defence system and the whole width of entrance was closed up and controlled by a large building. Inside the cave remains of buildings were found on the west side.




     
 
 
     


A vast natural rock platform lies just outside the cave. Two Assyrian rock inscriptions and a further relief are chiselled into the eastern rock face of this platform. All these monuments date back to the period of Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC). The pose of the king is similar to that of this king in Cave I. The right hand is raised in prayer and his left hand rests on the hilt of his sword. He is wearing a long dress, its top adorned with a ribbon across his breast. The inscriptions are on the right side of the king, hence behind him unlike in Cave I.

       
 

The inscription reads (edition and translation by Karen Radner):

Tigris 4:

“Salmanu-ashared (Shalmaneser III), great king, strong king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, king of all great peoples, the priest of Assur, strides in a powerful fashion, supported by his helpers, the great gods Shamash and Adad, and they let take him hold of the mighty mountains from the rising sun to the setting sun. Bold, merciless king, who slays with the weapon, who pursues his enemies and treads imperiously upon inaccessible rivers and mountains like ruin mounds caused by a storm flood. Conqueror (of the territory) of the sea of the land of Nairi towards the great sea of the setting sun.

I subjugated the land of Hattu in its entirety, the land of Melidu, the land of Daianu, the land of Suhmu, the city Arzashkun, the royal city of Aramu of Urartu, the land of Hubushkia, the land of Urartu – (the territory) from the source of the Tigris to the source of the Euphrates, from the sea of Inner Mazamua to the sea of the land of Kaldu.

I went to Babylon (and) made sacrifices in Babylon, Borsippa (and) Kutha. I went down to the land Kaldu, conquered their cities (and) received the tribute of the land Kaldu, of the son of Dakkuru (and) of the son of Ukanu (= rulers of Bit-Dakkuri and Bit-Ukani/Bit-Amukani). I gave libation offerings.

Adda-idri, king of Damascus, rose against me together with 12 kings of the land Hattu. Four times I fought them and caused their defeat. I took away their chariots (and) equipment. To save their lives they fled.”







Tigris 5:

“Oh Assur, Bel, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Ishtar, great gods who love my sovereignty, who made my reign of power, my supremacy (and) my honourable name great – I, Salmanu-ashared (= Shalmaneser III), king of all people, prince, priest of Assur, strong king, king of Assyria, son of Assur-nasir-apli (= Ashurnasirpal II), king of the universe, king of Assyria, son of Tukulti-Ninurta (II.), also king of the universe, king of Assyria, conqueror (of the territory) of the sea of the land of Nairi towards the great sea of the setting sun, conquered the land Hatti in its entirety. I entered the Enzu pass. I conquered the lands of Suhmu, Daianu (and) Urartu in their entirety. I crossed over into the land of Gilzanu. I received twice the tribute of the country of Gilzanu. Three times I went to the land of Nairi. At the source of the Tigris I wrote my name.”