The Story Of A Monument Anitkabir

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is a name that is sealed on the 20th century. He was a leader renowned for his bravery and revolutionary leadership. The War of Independence and the Republic of Turkey established by Atatürk stand out as an immortal monument of the Turkish nation for freedom and independence.

When it was decided to build a world class memorial to the genius who lives eternally deep in the hearts of the Turkish nation, various hilly locations in Ankara were considered as possible sites. Among those choices were Çankaya where Atatürk had lived in the presidential palace, Ankara Castle, Youth Park, Forest Farm and ‘Rasattepe’.

The latter, Rasattepe, was deemed most logical. It was an impressive area standing at the gateway of Ankara and, like Çankaya and Ankara Castle, it was set between two hills.

At first, a 542,000 square metre area was expropirated, this was extended to 671,000, and in the end the area was widened to 750,000 square metres. A commission was formed to determine the characteristics of the tomb of Atatürk in Ankara.

BIG REFERENCE TO THE COMPETITION

In 1941, an international competition was organised to design Atatürk’s mausoleum, a memorial structure befitting the name and character of the man. One year was allowed to receive proposals. Despite the fact that there was a world war, participation was high. By the 3 March 1942 deadline, 47 projects had been submitted, coming from Turkey, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Austria, France and Czechoslovakia. The government appointed an impartial jury of Turkish and and foreign artists, as well as some architects chosen by the Public Works Ministry. Three submissions were selected as most valuable: Professor Dr. Emin Onat and Assistant Professor Dr. Orhan Arda of Turkey; Professor of architecture Dr. Johannes Krüger of Germany; and Professor of Architecture Dr. Arnoldo Feschini of Italy. The government of that period had decided to select the project prepared by the Turkish architects. Other projects that were appreciated by the jury were also bought, among them the project of Kemali Söylemezoglu, Kemal Ahmet Aru and Recai Akçay. A new commission was formed to determine the necessary changes after the competition. These changes were decided with the help of professors Onat and Arda. The adviser was Prof. Dr. Paul Bonatz. The design included a great block over the colonnade of the mausoleum structure.
Upon the recommendation of Bonatz, this was removed completely, and a spiral-shaped, beamed ceiling for the mausoleum was agreed upon.
In the original plan, the walkway of the lions that is used today was to lead up to the mausoleum but this was changed. And, upon the jury’s advice, the idea of buildng a wall around the area was dropped.

BUILDING THE MAUSOLEUM OF ATATURK

Construction started on the fifth anniversary of the death of Atatürk on 10 November 1944. Great importance was placed upon the materials to be used, and the best quality materials were assembled from across the country. Stone and marble were brought from Haymana, Çankiri, Pinarbasi, Afyon, Çanakkale, Adana and Hatay. Stone of a pale yellow color that hardens with time were preferred. The 671,000 square metre area housed many sections. There was a memorial block, a way lined with lion sculptures, a ceremonial circle, the mausoleum, ten towers, reliefs, walls and windows on which were carved the sayings of Atatürk, and the sarcophagus room itself. The names of the towers are as follows: Liberty, Independence, Law, Republic, Revolution, National Pact, 23rd April, Peace, Mehmetçik (the Turkish Soldier) and Victory. Emin Barin was the one selected to carve these names on the stones of the towers. He used the ancient Roman lettering style.

These and all the writings on the tomb are rendered in gold. The most magnificient section of the memorial is reached via 42 steps to a height of 40 metres and having a width of 60 metres. It is surrounded by rock pieces. The sarcophagus has two windows through one of which Ankara Castle can be seen. Above the other window is written Atatürk's famous saying “One day my humble body will become soil for sure but the Turkish republic will remain for eternity.” Atatürk's beloved mortal remains are laid under the ground floor of the mausoleum. The tomb room, which is under the sarcophagus stone in the crown hall on the first floor of the mausoleum, is done in a mixed style based on Seljuk Turkish and Ottoman Turkish architecture. The works of famous Turkish artists is apparent as well, including majestic statues by Hüseyin Anka, reliefs by Zühtü Müridoglu, Hakki Ataman and Nusret Suman, and frescos by Tarik Leventoglu in the mausoleum section. In the crown hall there are mosaics by Nezih Erdem inspired by the colours and motifs of traditional carpets. The magnificient binding of the visitors book is the work of Emin Barin. Another interesting part of the memorial complex is the museum section, which houses many of Atatürk's belongings as well as his library. There is an interesting flag pole that was sent from America to be place at Atatürk’s tomb. This massive steel pole is 33.5 metres tall and was a gift of Nazmi Celal Bey who had settled in America. It took nine years to complete the Atatürk memorial and tomb.

Atatürk's mortal remains that had waited many long years in the Ankara Ethnography Museum were brought to their final resting place, and the tomb met the 'Father' it had been waiting for. On 10 November 1953, the architects, Ord. Prof. Emin Onat and Prof. Dr. Orhan Arda, opened the gates for the world to see this great mausoleum that has left its permanent imprint on world architectural history.

Text: Taha Toros