The Mausoleum of Ataturk - Anitkabir Anıtkabir is a mausoleum built to honor Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and leader of the Turkish Republic. The idea of constructing this monument was initiated by the Turkish people, who wanted to pay their respects to their great leader. An international competition was held to select the architect, and Professor Emin Onat won the competition with his design. Situated on a hill called Rasattepe in Ankara, the mausoleum covers an area of 700,000 square meters, which includes a Peace Park featuring plants from all over Turkey and beyond. Construction of the Tumulus took nine years to complete, and on November 10th, 1953, fifteen years after Atatürk's death, his casket was ceremoniously moved from the Ethnographical Museum and laid to rest in the Anıtkabir. Approaching Anıtkabir from Tandoğan Square, visitors are greeted by the stairs leading up to the Independence and Freedom Towers, two of the ten towers representing the ideals of the Turkish nation and state. The Independence Tower features a relief of a youth holding a sword at the entrance, along with the Seljuk coat of arms, symbolizing Turkish strength from an earlier era. An eagle representing power and strength for the nation is also featured, as a tribute to the army and protector that helped establish the Turkish nation. The Independence Tower: You can see the relief of a youth with a sword at the entrance. The Seljuk coat of arms represents Turkish strength from an earlier era. It's also representative of the army and protector that helped create our nation; and an eagle symbolizes power and strength for the nation. The Freedom Tower is located on the left side of the Anıtkabir entrance. Inside, visitors will find a relief of a horse and a young female angel holding what appears to be a Declaration of Freedom. Atatürk's words, "All throughout our history, we have been a nation that always symbolizes freedom and independence," are also inscribed on the monument. In front of the Freedom Tower, there is a group statue featuring three figures. The person holding a book represents Turkey's youth, while the helmeted figure represents their soldiers and the third figure represents the farmers. There is a second set of statues across from the first, where the outer figures are holding wreaths of wheat and lifting an urn to the sky as they pray for God's mercy on Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The middle woman is crying as she covers her face with one hand, expressing the sorrow of the Turkish people over Atatürk's death. The Lions' Road, adorned with 24 statues of lions, leads visitors to the mausoleum area. In the Hittite Empire, lions symbolized power and protection. Additionally, Hittite artwork commonly features lions in pairs. At the end of Lion's Road, visitors will find a large open meeting area. To the left of the area is the Defence of the Rights Tower, which pays tribute to the societies formed in various parts of the country after World War I with the aim of resisting any occupation forces. The tower features a relief of a youth about to strike out against a foreign invader with his sword, while the word "stop" is also inscribed on the wall. Anitkabir, The Mausoleum of Ataturk, is a magnificent monument situated on Rasattepe hill in Ankara. Covering an area of 700,000 square meters, it was built to honor Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, a revolutionary leader, and a brave soldier. The idea for the mausoleum came from the Turkish people who wanted to pay tribute to their great leader. After an international contest, Professor Emin Onat won the competition and oversaw the nine-year construction of the monument, which was completed in 1953. Approaching Anitkabir from Tandogan Square, visitors are greeted by two towers - the Independence Tower and the Freedom Tower - which symbolize the ideals and existence of the Turkish nation and state. The Independence Tower showcases a relief of a youth with a sword and the Seljuk coat of arms, representing Turkish strength from an earlier era. The eagle on the tower symbolizes power and strength for the nation. In contrast, the Freedom Tower features a relief of a young female angel holding a declaration of freedom, with Ataturk's words inscribed on the monument stating that throughout Turkey's history, it has symbolized freedom and independence. In front of the Turkish Freedom Tower, there is a group statue that depicts three people - a figure holding a book representing the youth of Turkey, a helmeted person representing the soldier, and the third figure representing the farmer. Across from this statue, there is a second set of statues depicting three women mourning Ataturk's death. The Lions' Road, lined with 24 statues of lions, leads visitors to the mausoleum area, symbolizing power and protection in Hittite artwork. At the end of the Lions' Road, visitors will find a large open meeting area, to the left of which is the Defence of Rights Tower, paying tribute to societies that were united under President Ataturk. Opposite to the Defence of Rights Tower is the Mehmetçik Tower, showcasing the soldier leaving his home and going to war, with quotes by Ataturk about soldiers and women adorning the walls. The Victory Tower houses the caisson that carried Ataturk's casket from Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul to Sarayburnu. It features Ataturk's words about historic victories, and the walls are adorned with frescoes depicting kilim designs. There is also a long courtyard in the monument's middle, where Ismet Inonu's sarcophagus lies. The second president of the Turkish Republic and Ataturk's army companion is honored with a castle built in his name. Finally, the porch facade of Anitkabir features the Peace Tower, which showcases a relief of village farmers and Turkish soldiers keeping them safe. Quotes from Ataturk about peace and the futility of war are inscribed on the walls. Visitors can also see two cars that Ataturk used for ceremonial purposes and state affairs between 1935-1938. Anitkabir is a breathtaking monument and a fitting tribute to a great leader. The Grand National Assembly tower, also known as the 23rd April Tower, is a commemorative structure that celebrates the holiday of 23 April 1920. The tower features relief work that depicts a woman standing and holding a paper with the opening date of the Grand National Assembly written on it. In her other hand, she holds a key that symbolizes the opening ceremony. The wall of the tower also features a quote from Atatürk that emphasizes the importance of the Turkish Grand National Assembly as the sole representative of the true Turkish State. Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, is a monument that holds great significance for the people of Turkey. One of its most striking features is the Flag Staff, a 33-meter-tall flagpole made from a single piece of metal on which the Turkish flag waves proudly. This flagpole was built in America and is the longest single-piece flagpole in all of Europe. At the base of the monument, there are symbolic reliefs that represent eternal values such as national defense, victory, maintenance of peace, and establishment of civilization. These reliefs include a torch of civilization, a sword of attack, a helmet of defense, an oak branch of victory, and an olive branch representing peace. The Victory Reliefs are another noteworthy feature of Anitkabir. On each side of the steps leading up to the Mausoleum, there is a relief that portrays different stages in Turkish history. The right side depicts the Sakarya Campaign, while the left side portrays another pivotal moment in Turkish history. When viewed together, these two scenes illustrate how all members of society depended on one another to defeat enemy forces and provide security for all citizens. The Mausoleum, also known as Anıtkabir, is a rectangular structure with columns on all four sides. On the front of the Mausoleum, to the left, Atatürk's speech to Turkish Youth is inscribed, while his speech on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Republic is presented on the right. The Hall of Honor is the most significant place in Anıtkabir and the Mausoleum. It is where Atatürk's tomb is located, and all other sections in this hall are among the most revered parts of this monument. The hall is adorned with "words to the Army" and İnönü's tribute to Atatürk, where he says, "The Fatherland has indebted you." The marble-clad walls and floor of the hall contrast with the intricately painted, kilim-style ceiling. The tomb of Atatürk sits by a beautiful window at the end of a hall honoring other heroes. It is made from a single piece of marble without any decoration, and his final resting place is on the ground floor underneath it. This space has been filled with soil from all across Turkey to create its own landscape. The Republic Tower and the Art Gallery can be seen once you leave the Hall of Honor. The Art Gallery houses oil paintings of Atatürk, stamps and coins bearing his image, as well as his personal library. These buildings' significance complements that of the more prominent location, the Mausoleum, by offering visitors additional insights into Atatürk's life, achievements, and contributions to Turkish society.