Hazzi, Sacred mountain in Yayladağı, Turkey and Syria.
Mount Hazzi rises 1,717 meters (5,633 feet) from a narrow coastal plain near the Mediterranean Sea and forms a natural border between Turkey and Syria. The limestone summit dominates the landscape and marks the meeting point of two very different geographical areas.
Ancient Canaanite texts from Ugarit show that residents considered this limestone mountain the home of their storm god Baʿal during the Bronze Age. The site gained importance across successive empires that maintained its religious role for many centuries afterward.
The mountain served as a worship site for multiple civilizations, each calling it by different names in their own languages. Hurrians, Hittites, and Greeks all left traces of their religious practices at this sacred location.
Access to certain areas of the mountain is restricted due to military presence and its location on the Turkish-Syrian border. Check local conditions before planning a visit, as the security situation in the region can change.
A large mound of ash and debris remains on the mountain from ritual sacrifices performed by ancient rulers over many centuries. These physical remains show the extent of religious activity that took place at this worship site.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
