Mount Erciyes 

The highest mountain of the Central Anatolian region, Kayseri, which has become a symbol with its snow on its summit throughout the year, and the lonely mountain of Anatolia, which has become the subject of anecdotes and even trade in Kayseri stories. 

It is located just south of the city of Kayseri, which was established on its outskirts. With a height of 3917 meters, Turkey’s 5th highest mountain, Aladağlar, is a stratovolcano located on the line extending to the Taurus Mountains. The formation, which started in the 3rd geological time during the 30 million-year period, formed the main shape of the large volcanic cone today, the hills shaped around it, and mountains such as Koç Mountain, during the active volcanic activities. 4. In the geological period, deep and wide ice troughs were formed by the erosion of the glaciers formed by the existing ice age. On the other hand, the volcanic activities that continued after the glacial period were of a smaller scale, and enabled the formation of small cones such as Kızıltepe. As we approach our day, geologists both prove that it was in volcanic activity, although it did not make big eruptions until the last 2 thousand years, and the famous historian of Amasya, who lived in the Roman period, Strabo, mentioned in his book, that the flames gushing out of the fire pits appear in the dark of night. Apart from the summit of Erciyes, the other hills formed around it are Safrakaya, 2700 meters high, Yılbat, Lifos, Kepez Kefelik hills, which vary between 2600-2000 meters, respectively. The closest volcanic mountains to Erciyes are 1871 meters high Alidağı and Yılanlıdağ. 

The volcanic activities of Erciyes have also contributed directly to the shaping of the region, its underground riches or aboveground riches as nature formations. 3. Eruptions in geological time affected an area of ​​about 100 km2, and contributed to the formation of a soft layer called tuff by combining with the volcanic bombs, andesite or basalt blocks in the immediate vicinity, or the fine dust layer left towards the borders of 100 km and the materials from the regional volcanic activities. This tuff layer is the main material that enables the region known today as Central Cappadocia to take its current shape. The activities of Erciyes for 30 million years have led to the existence of some important mineral deposits in the region. Iron, zinc, lead, chrome and marble are the most important mines in the region. 

Erciyes Mountain provides an important water source to its surroundings in the Central Anatolian geography, where continental climate characteristics dominate as a geographical region, and the nature coming with the water it provides creates some important points in the region. The most important and known of these is the Sultan Marshes National Park, Tekir Plateau. 195 of the 1170 plant species that grow on its foothills are endemic plant species. A total of 11 plants such as Erciyes Kırıkotu, Erciyes Beşparmakotu, Erciyes Yumakotu are endemic plants seen only in Erciyes in the world. 

etymology 

Throughout history, it has been accepted as a sacred region in all ancient civilizations and has been actively involved in their lives by loading different meanings and concepts. All civilizations have given names meaning white, silver, shiny. Its first written name was Harkasos, which was used during the Hittite empire. It means white, silver bright white mountain. The expression on a tablet found is written as “Harharas, the highest mountain of Anatolia”. The Greeks (Greeks) gave the name Argaios, meaning silver mountain. 

Erciyes, which also takes place in Greek mythology stories, says that “Typhaus, the hundred-headed dragon of Great Cilicia, settled on the skirts of Argaios, the Olympus of the great god Zeus, and Typhaus, to whom Zeus threw lightning at him, responded with volcanoes and The place where the dragon is finally defeated and thrown to the bottom of the mountain is the mountain. 

The philosopher Maximus Tyrius attributed the meanings of God, God of Oath and place of worship to Mount Erciyes. 

 Fire temples were built on the slopes of the mountain, the holy place, the god phenomenon, which was installed on the Erciyes mountain, which continued in the Roman period, especially in the pagan Roman period and the Mitra belief period that came with the Iranian raids. 

 In pre-Roman times, the symbol of the mountain was engraved on many coins or the figure of a god sitting on the top of the mountain was depicted. In the Roman period, the eagle figure representing the god Jupiter was drawn. 

 Regarding the origin of the name Erciyesim in Ahmet N. Efendi’s work titled Mir’at-ı Kayseriyye; He claims that “Circis, one of the prophets who are rumored to have lived during the Cappadocia kingdom, is the son of the king of Cappadocia and that the meaning of Erciyes derives from the word Circis or comes from the Greek word “Erkiyos” meaning white. 

Erciyes Legends 

In Evliya Çelebi’s writings, the name Ercis was used, then it is thought that it took the name Erciyas and finally Erciyes. At the same time, when Evliya Çelebi wrote, there are never snakes, centipedes, scorpions and similar venomous and reptilian animals on the mountain. He says that there are no pests on this mountain, since there is the rank of rijal al-ghayb. 

When Kayser Erciş founded this city in the time of Hazrat Yahya, a philosopher named (Flaska), one of the great philosophers, climbed this high mountain and carved seventy insect shapes on a column and made a talisman for each of them. That’s why they say there are no poisonous animals on this mountain. In summer and winter, this mountain is full of snow and ice. Even the Zülal wolf was found, but we did not see it.” he speaks.