Qyzqapan

Ashkawt-i Qizqapan

Tomb · Qyzqapan, Başûr · c. 585 BC

Posts about Qyzqapan

Hidden in the mountains near Silemanî, within southern Kurdistan, lies the rock-cut Tomb of Qyzqapan (Kurdish: Ashkawt-i Qizqapan), believed by many historians to be the final resting place of King Cyaxares, the third ruler of the Median Empire (reigned 625–585 BCE). It lies approximately, 65 kilometres north-west of Silemanî. It is not a cave; it is a rock-cut tomb, which was carved into a steep cliff of a small mountain. It is not a single tomb; there are three separate burial chambers, each contains a coffin (most likely his servants or mistresses).

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

Cyaxares the Great (Median: Huvaxštra Mezin) is renowned for overthrowing Scythian control, reorganizing the Median army, and co-leading the conquest that destroyed Assyria, thus establishing Media as a regional power. His death in 585 BCE possibly led to the construction of this monumental tomb near Silemanî, a region central to ancient Median - and by extension - Kurdish history.

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

Ionic-style columns carved in relief flank a deep central chamber entrance, echoing Greek influence blended with Median craftsmanship. Above the entrance, two noble figures stand before a stepped altar, one possibly representing Cyaxares, the other the Lydian king Alyattes, symbolizing peace and alliance - though scholars continue to debate this interpretation.

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

The one to the right is supposedly Cyaxares the Great

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

Zoroastrian motifs - fire altars, crescent symbols, Magian priests - suggest the tomb is rooted in ancient spiritual traditions that were predominant among the Medes.

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

The Median Faravahar on the tomb

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

The iconic sun on the tomb, which has remained the symbol of Kurds to this day

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

Other Median symbols on the tomb

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

As a Median ruler, Cyaxares is a foundational figure in the ancestry of modern Kurds. His tomb’s location in Silemanî reaffirms Kurdish connection to Median geography. The fusion of Hellenistic and Iranic/Kurdish art reflects the early cultural encounters along Kurdish mountain routes. Qyzqapan embodies Kurdish pride in ancient statehood and religious traditions predating modern borders.

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

Illustration of a Kurdish family camping just outside the tomb, both original painting and Ai version.

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

The approach-path to the tomb

Posted by Zagrosian · 20 June 2025

In late 2002, the Directorate General of Antiquities of Silêmanî initiated a comprehensive conservation and restoration project for the ancient tomb at Qyzqapan. This effort aimed to mitigate the extensive damage sustained by the tomb’s façade, which had been defaced over time by modern graffiti, inscriptions, bullet impacts, and other forms of vandalism. As part of the initiative, a modern replica of the tomb’s façade was created and installed at the main entrance of the Sulaymaniyah Museum, providing visitors with a preserved visual representation of the original structure. To facilitate safer and more convenient public access to the site itself, an iron ladder was initially installed. This was later replaced in the early 2010s with a larger, double-sided ladder, further improving accessibility for both researchers and tourists.