Mysterious 2,000 year old tomb on the side of the road, guarded by a pair of 'divine cows'

A special tomb found on the side of a highway in Turkey belongs to a mysterious ancient tomb complex called Turuş Rock in the ancient city of Tharsa .

According to Ancient Origins , the Turuş Rock ancient tomb complex was built very elaborately by carving into the rock foundation, creating an underground space below.

To enter these catacombs, people have to go down 10-13 steps.

The door of the ancient tomb has been narrowed by rocks, and above are two bull heads that have been damaged after 2,000 years - (Photo: IHA).

These tombs were built during the period when the Romans occupied the area and the rather desolate land next to the Adıyaman-Şanlıurfa highway was part of the once flourishing capital of Tharsa .

The latest excavated tomb attracted attention because there were two bull heads "standing in the middle" right at the tomb door , catching the eyes of those who wanted to violate the tomb.

The process of excavating a special tomb - (Photo: IHA).

Archaeologists believe that the bull heads were put into the tomb to help the owner of the tomb ward off evil spirits.

In Roman culture, the bull was a symbol of Jupiter, representing power, strength and unpredictability.

In addition, the bull's head is also a symbol of the capital city of Athens, depicted on many ancient coins. In Roman culture, the cow sometimes also symbolizes strength and fertility, associated with the god Mars, the god of war and protection of agriculture.

This special ancient tomb includes a main room and three arches, between the bull heads at the tomb door there are decorative details in the form of wreaths and roses.

Findings related to Roman funeral customs are of particular interest to archaeologists, because they show very unique characteristics and provide many details about the cultural life of that period.

The Romans had quite diverse funeral practices in many areas , which evolved over time, absorbing customs from other cultures as the Roman Empire expanded.

Initially, cremation was popular among the Romans. Burial customs only became popular from the 2nd century AD, and were the adoption of foreign culture. Therefore, the tombs at Tharsa are one of the oldest Roman burial complexes.

According to Mr. Mustafa Çelik, Deputy Director of Adıyaman Museum, in the area, the ancient city of Tharsa includes 3 main archaeological areas: Big mound, small mound and cemetery area.

The cemetery began to be excavated in 2024, and more than 60 ancient tombs have been identified, all of which are stone tombs.