Ancoz


Ancoz is the name used in academic literature for an ancient settlement, which is located below the Atatürk Dam in the modern state of Turkey. It is located in the modern town of Eskitaş, which used to be called Ancoz.

Location

The ancient settlement, whose name is unknown, was in Commagene, north of the Euphrates, on the Chabinas, opposite the ancient city of Charmodara. On the hill where the acropolis was located there were two large springs. Both cities are now under the lake created by the Atatürk dam.

History

During the Neo-Hittite period, Ancoz was a sanctuary site, where the gods Runtiya and Ala-Kubaba were worshipped, with dedicatory inscriptions from King and his son Hattusili. Later, the Commagenian king Antiochus I Theos had a sanctuary for the royal cult built - from which many Greek inscriptions survive. This was one of a series of similar sanctuaries built by the same king; the most significant of which was visible from Ancoz: Nemrut Dağı.
The Luwian hieroglyphic inscriptions: Ancoz 1, ,,, und, are kept in the Adıyaman Archaeological Museum. The upper part of Ancoz 1 is in Adana Archaeology Museum and the location of the rest is unknown.