Perrhe is located 3 kilometers north of the city centre. In ancient sources it was named Me’arath Gazze Pörön, and Pirin and Perin in Mesopotamia. The city was one of the five largest cities of the Kingdom of Commagene (163 BCE - 72 CE). It is located on the route between Malatya (Melitene) and the capital city of Commagene, called Samsat (Samosata), which increased the geopolitical importance of the city.
The city of Perrhe was a place where armies, caravans and soldiers could take a break because of the beautiful and delicious water flowing from its fountain. The fountain is still used by the people today. Perrhe maintained its importance throughout the Roman Period, due to its ancient roads over the Taurus.
In 325, a delegation led by Bishop Ioannes Perdos attended the Biblical assembly that convened in İznik, which was a city of the Persidas State. A letter from Andreas (Elexandar) of Samosata to Alexander the Great reporting about some important bishops in Perrhe in 433 CE, shows that the city was also of religious importance. All of these show that Ancient City Perrhe (Perre Antik Kenti) was a city of both religious and geopolitical importance during Antiquity.
The thousands of tomb chambers and galleries in the Necropolis area of the Ancient City, which is partially excavated, fascinate the visitors. The workshops located next to the necropolis consist of olive oil, wine and textile manufactories.