Atatürk’s Mausoleum (Anıtkabir)

Those, which are unknown, about Atatürk Mausoleum

Anıtkabir in which Turkish hearts beat hides many facts beside its know silhouette for in its depths. Anıtkabir, which was constructed in 9 years and weights approximately 150 thousands of tons, bears many special meanings from its statuses, ornaments, towers to relief works. Construction was stared on 9th of October 1944 and completed on 1st of September 1953. The place was suggested for the first time by Mithat Aydın, deputy of Aydın City in parliament. The commission, which was assigned for construction of Atatürk’s mausoleum, eliminated the options of the Ethnography Museum, Kabatepe (the height behind building of Parliament), Ankara Castle, Altındağ and the Forest Farm of Gazi and was abaout to fix upon Çankaya. Then, Mithat Aydın, deputy of Aydın City in the parliament, suggested Rasttepe, whose name would be changed to “Anıttepe” later. Members of the commission saw here and adopted Mr. Aydın’s opinion, Thus, it was resolved to construct the mausoleum on Rasattepe. Atatürk had not made a bequest to Turkish nation about the place, where her would be buried. However, his words saying that “this height is very well place for a mausoleum” during a visit to Rasattepe long years ago have a significant meaning today. An architectural competition was arranged for Anıtkabir in 1941. 49 of projects in total came from Turkey, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and Czechoslovakia (Czechsia) although the hardest days of Second Word War were experienced. However, 25 numbered project of Prof. Emin Onat and Associate Professor Orhan Arda was adopted among the chosen three projects.

Secret Of The Lions

Every architectual component has a meaning in Anıtkabir surrounded by spiritual values for Turkish Nation. 24 lions exist on left and right sides of the 262-meter road achieving tomb of Atatürk represent 24 “Oguz Tribes”. Lions, which were chosen because they are symbol of power in Turkish Culture, are in couples for emphasizing “association and integrity” while their lying position like a cat symbolizes peaceful treds of this huge power. On the road of Lions on which visitors are oriented to adapt the tomb’s spiritual ambience, the stones were paved with a grassy gap of 5 cm between them for “making heads of people, who are comming before Atatürk, incline”. Bottom part of Anıtkabir was placed into soil like a vessel’s bottom to make it durable against earthquake and the mausoleum’s internal walls and floor were covered with the rarest marbles while its ceilings were ornamented with color and golden foil Italian mosaics. The 10 towers, which have names representing national values and shows features of tent architecture of Sejuk, contribute a special values to Anıtkabir’s silhouette.

He Lies Under Homeland’s Earth.

Anıtkabir exist at a height of 907 meter on an area of 750 thousand square meters and consists of Road of Leons, the Ceremonial Plaza, the Hall of Honor (location of Atatürk’s tomb) and ten towers. Atatürk’s grave is in the Grave Chamber approximately 7 meters below the symbolic sarcophagus made of 40-ton massive marble. Atatürk, who is buried in hearts of Turks, lies under homeland’s earth in the octagonal Grave Chamber constructed according to cupola architectural style of Seljuk-Ottoman. Atartürk’s mortal renames were brought from the Ethnography Museum, which had kept him for 15 years, to Anıtkabir. Then, embalming was released and he was buried under the homeland earth, which is a blend of soils collected from Caber Castle in Syria, Turkish War Cemetery in Korea, garden of the house in which he was born in Thessalonica, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and various Turkish cities, according to the Islamic way as shrouded as his face turned toward Mecca.

Today, permission is required for entrance into the Grave Chamber from General Staff.