On the picture: One of the royal Pontic rock tombs (3th – 2nd century BC).

The Kingdom of Pontus or Pontic Empire was a state of Greek, and Persian origin; they may even have been directly related to Darius the Great. It was founded by Mithridates I in 281 BC and lasted until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 63 BC. Its capital city was Amaseia (Amasya). The kingdom grew to its largest extent under Mithridates VI the Great, who conquered Colchis, Cappadocia, Bithynia, the Greek colonies of the Tauric Chersonesos (Crimea) and for a brief time the Roman province of Asia. After a long struggle with Rome in the Mithridatic Wars, Pontus was defeated, part of it was incorporated into the Roman Republic as the province Bithynia et Pontus and the eastern half survived as a client kingdom.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Guides Bleus: Turquie’ – Edition 1986 & Wikipedia.