Üç Kümbetler, Mausoleum complex in Yakutiye district, Erzurum, Turkey
Üç Kümbetler are three stone funerary monuments standing close together in the Yakutiye district of Erzurum, Turkey. Each structure has a square base topped by a small dome or conical cap, and their walls are built from cut stone.
The largest of the three was built in the late 12th century for Emir Saltuk, a ruler of the Saltukid dynasty that controlled this region. The other two were added later, around the 14th century, reflecting the succession of different powers in Erzurum.
The outer walls of the tombs are carved with animal figures, bull horns, and motifs that resemble old zodiac symbols. These carvings make the structures a rare example of stone craftsmanship from that period.
The site is in the center of Erzurum and easy to reach on foot from most parts of the city. There is no entrance fee, and the grounds are open throughout most of the day.
One of the tombs has a carved relief showing a human head with bull horns, a motif rarely seen in Anatolian funerary architecture. A small fourth structure stands next to the three tombs, and researchers still debate whether it was a tomb or a small prayer space.
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