Zerzevan Castle
Zerzevan Kalesi
Church ruins at North side of Zerzevan Castle (2021)
Zerzevan Castle is located in Turkey
Zerzevan Castle
Zerzevan Castle
Location of the castle in Turkey.
Alternative nameSamachi Castle
LocationDemirölçek, Çınar, Diyarbakır, Turkey
Coordinates37°36′29″N 40°29′57″E / 37.60806°N 40.49917°E / 37.60806; 40.49917
TypeFortification
Area57 daa (5.7 ha)
History
BuilderEastern Roman Empire
Founded4th century
Abandoned7th century
PeriodsEarly Christianity
Site notes
Discovered2014
ConditionRuined
Public accessPartial

Zerzevan Castle (Kurdish: Qesra Zêrzevan, Zîrzevan[1] Turkish: Zerzevan Kalesi Armenian: Զերզեվանի ամրոց), also known as Samachi Castle, is a ruined Eastern Roman castle, a former important military base, in Diyarbakır Province, southeastern Turkey. Archaeological excavations at the site revealed the existence of underground structures, among them a temple of Mithraism, a mystery religion. The castle was used as a civilian settlement between the 1890s and the 1960s. The site is partly open to tourism.

  1. ^ Coşkun, Aytaç (2017). "Zerzevan Castle in the Light of Recent Archeological Researches". Anatolia: 91–110. doi:10.1501/Andl_0000000442.