Excavations are set to resume at Kurul Castle in Ordu, Turkey, where archaeologists are uncovering evidence of a royal Dionysian cult that thrived over 2,000 years ago in the region overlooking the Black Sea. Dating back approximately 2,300 years, Kurul Castle is the first scientifically excavated archaeological site in Turkey’s Eastern Black Sea area. Constructed during the reign of King Mithridates VI Eupator, who ruled the Pontic Kingdom from 120 to 63 BC, this mountain fortress served both military and religious functions, allowing for an uninterrupted exploration of its cultural layers. One of the most fascinating discoveries at the site is a collection of terracotta figurines found in what researchers believe was a ritual or temple area.

These artifacts feature young Dionysus, the god Pan, and goat-shaped ceremonial vessels, indicating that Dionysian cult practices were actively observed within the castle walls. The findings gain added significance in light of Mithridates VI’s conscious identification with Dionysus, reinforced by an inscription from Delos proclaiming him as “King Mithridates Eupator Dionysus.” This relationship between the mortal king and the divine deity was a clear element of state policy rather than mere symbolism. Mithridates VI’s adoption of the Dionysiac identity served as a sophisticated political strategy.

By embedding himself within the mythology of liberation and transformation associated with Dionysus, he legitimized his position as the liberator of the East from Roman rule. The site also houses a statue of the Mother Goddess Cybele, indicating a complex religious landscape where local Anatolian traditions blended with Hellenistic practices. Preparations are underway to open Kurul Castle to tourism, which is set in a dramatic location overlooking the Black Sea. The ongoing excavations will shed light on the sophisticated religious and political strategies of one of antiquity’s notable rulers, enhancing our understanding of how divine authority was enacted in the ancient world.