The mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the commander of the Turkish War of Independence and the first President of the Republic of Turkey, is called Anitkabir (meaning “memory tomb”). In a competition sponsored by the Turkish Government in 1941 for a “monumental mausoleum” for Atatürk, Professor Emin Onat and Assistant Professor Ahmet Orhan Arda’s design won out over 48 other submissions from other nations.
The site also serves as the final resting place for Smet Nönü, the country’s second president, who was buried there following his passing in 1973. On the other side of the ceremonial ground from his grave lies the Atatürk Mausoleum.
Atatürk’s remains were kept in the Ethnographic Museum in Ankara before construction on the building was complete. On November 10th, 1953, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his passing, they were brought here to rest in peace.
Anitkabir is one of the greatest attractions in Turkey, located in the city of Ankara. As we already mentioned, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk played an important role in building modern Turkey, and he is the most respected public figure in the country. Anitkabir serves as a significant memorial to Atatürk and the founding of the republic while also serving as one of Ankara’s most famous examples of mid-century modern architecture.
The architecture of Anitkabir
The Hall of Honor, where Atatürk’s mausoleum is located, the Ceremonial Plaza, the Road of the Lions, and the Peace Park that encircles the monument are Anitkabir’s four main components.
There are ten towers arranged symmetrically within the Anitkabir site. These stand for the ideas that inspired the development of the Turkish nation and the Republic of Turkey. In terms of design and construction, the towers are comparable. They have rectangular, nearly square shapes with pyramidal tops.
The roofs are topped with bronze arrowheads, just like in conventional Turkish nomad tents. The interior of the towers of Anitkabir features frescoed geometric ornamentation that was influenced by traditional Turkish carpet (kilim) patterns and motifs.
The “Era of Second National Architecture” refers to the period of Turkish architecture between 1940 and 1950. During this time, buildings clad in cut stone were mainly iconic, symmetrical structures. Anitkabir has the same characteristics as this time period. In addition to these features, Anitkabir also exhibits Seljuk and Ottoman architectural and ornamental aspects.
Ataturk & Independence War Museum is another part of Anitkabir that adds to the uniqueness of this place. Both Atatürk’s life and the early years of the Turkish republic are covered in the museum, which is housed in the Hall of Honor.
The first part of the museum’s exhibits is devoted to displays (mostly paintings and panoramic panoramas supplemented by information boards) that show the key military engagements and campaigns of the Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923).
The second part of the museum is devoted to Atatürk’s life and features an intriguing assortment of his belongings, including furniture, clothing, and memories. The enormous library collection of Atatürk is also on display here.
Accessibility of Anitkabir, Ankara, Turkey
- Address: Yücetepe, Akdeniz Cd. No:31, 06570 Çankaya/Ankara, Turkey.
- Accessibility: Anadolu is the closest metro stop if you’re traveling individually. From here, it is a simple 400-meter level walk to the entrance at the base of the hill through Ant Caddesi. After getting to the entrance, you have two options; you can walk the hill up or hop on one of those free shuttles that run between the complex entrance gate and the start of the Path of Honor every few minutes.
Final words about Anitkabir
Turkey’s Ankara is home to the immensely significant site of Anitkabir. It is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s tomb (founder and first president of the Turkish Republic). But it’s also a magnificent design achievement and a superb representation of the Turkish architectural movement known as the Second National. We tried to share a brief profile about this magnificent attraction in Turkey; we hope you find it helpful.
