10 Kasim

Because you asked so nicely at dinner Resa, this one’s for you.

There is perhaps nothing else so distinctive of the condition and character of a people as the method in which they treat their dead.
- William Tegg, 1876

Throughout the history of human civilization, different cultures mourn and treat the dead differently. Some, like Tibetan Buddhists, have no use for burials as they dispose the dead by feeding corpses to vultures or by burning them in funeral pyres. Most cultures, however, show their respect by burying the dead, sometimes in complex and ornate tombs, crypts, and catacombs. The following is a compilation of the ‘15 most interesting tombs in the world’ (just for fun, or for those of you who actually like history enough to find this intriguing):

1. Newgrange, Ireland
2. Tana Toraja, Indonesia
3. Westminster Abbey, England
4. Giza Necropolis, Egypt
5. Valley of the Kings, Egypt
6. Catacombs of Paris, France
7. Anitkabir, Turkey
8. Terracotta Army, China
9. Capuchin Catacombs of Palmero, Italy
10. Sedlec Ossuary, Czech Republic
11. Taj Mahal, India
12. City of the Dead - Ossetia, Russia
13. Monte Alban, Mexico
14. Petra, Jordan
15. USS Arizona, United States

While I thought it would be interesting to share with you the above list, the focus for this post falls to number 7 – Anitkabir – Atatürk’s Mausoleum. Anitkabir literally means ‘memorial tomb’ and is the final resting place of the leader of the Turkish War of Independence, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a great man and a great leader, who turned Turkey into member of modern civilization, with all institutions. To build a mausoleum that would represent his eminence, and thoughts about principles, revolutions and modernization, emerged as a common idea of the Turkish nation, during the great sadness following the death of Atatürk.

Anitkabir houses both Atatürk and Inonu (2nd President of Turkey). When you visit the mausoleum you not only see and remember Atatürk, you also see and remember Inonu. Above and beyond those two, you see in statues and other presentations, the children, the men and the women that joined together to defend their lands against other groups of people that wanted to tear it apart. When you walk through rooms with battlefield sounds and sights, or you read the articles and look at photos of various Turks (regardless of ethnic backgrounds) in various parts of Anatolia who joined the movement of protecting their lands, you see what Anitkabir is about.

You see what Ataturk is about. It is about remembering the blood, sweat and the tears that went into creating the Republic of Turkey. It is about feeling gratitude that all of those people did come together for a common goal.

It has been a week since I visited Anitkabir; a week since I returned to the real world of Istanbul. While this whole week has given me a chance to think about what I saw and figure out how best to write this post, today has been a very thought-provoking day. It is true that today is the 69th anniversary of Atatürk's death, but it is striking still to think of the current circumstances that this country finds itself in. There have been so many deaths, from before the creation of the Turkish Republic until this very day today.

This one intelligent and hard-working man, this leader, is remembered on this day because he represented what the citizens of this country wanted, and what they still want. “Peace at home, and peace in the world.”


Arslan Yol (The Lions Road). The approach to Anitkabir is a 262 meters long pedestrian walkway that is lined on both sides by 12 pairs of lions carved in a style similar to Hittite archaeological finds. The lions represent Anatolia and are sitting to simultaneously represent both power peace. There is a 5 cm. gap between the paving stones on the street to ensure that visitors take their time and observe respectful behavior on their way to Atatürk's tomb. It is also said that this path is used to prepare oneself for the greatness of the tomb and the proper respect that should be shown.


Atatürk's mausoleum itself is the central point of Anitkabir. Housed inside the building is his tomb, and the walls are decorated with passages from some of his speeches and famous quotes.


Inonu's tomb faces opposite Atatürk's across the ceremonial grounds. He was buried at Anitkabir in 1973 following his death.


The Turkish flag flies high keeping watch over both Atatürk and Inonu's tombs. In the relief at the base of the flag post, the torch symbolizes the Turkish civilization, the sword is the offensive power, the helmet is defense power, the oak branch is the victory, and the olive branch is the symbol of peace.