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| The large fortified town on Mt. Göllüdağ near the village of
Kömürcü in Gölcük, Niğde, probably belonged to the
kingdom of Tukhana. This fortress, whose ancient name is unknown, lies on the banks of a crater lake at a height of 2172 metres. It measures 1700 by 1000 meters and is surrounded by stone walls with three gates. The high flat area in the center is most heavily built up, and the streets are arranged on a grid plan. Standing out from the rest is a large rectangular building measuring 112 x 228 meters which is thought to be a palace. The monumental entrance in the south facade has been partially excavated, revealing stone reliefs of lions on the exterior and sphinxes on the interior representing guardians of the gateway. Some of these reliefs are partially unfinished. Among the buildings within the walls are megaron houses, which were widely used by the Phrygians, and there is documentary evidence that Phrygian was the language used here. |
 Göllüdağ Castle where excavations were carried out by Remzi Oğuz Arık in 1934, Burhan Tezcan in 1968-69 and Wulf Schirmer in 1992-94. View from the west, with the crater lake to the east of the castle complex. |
| This walled town was abandoned after a terrible fire, which it has been conjectured was the work of the Cimmerians early in the 7th century, although there is no documentary confirmation of this theory. | |
 View from the east |
 Göllüdağ Lions |
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