Mount Nemrut, also called Nemrud (in Turkish: Nemrut Dağı; in Kurdish: Çiyayê Nemrûdê; in Armenian: Նեմրութ լեռ; in Greek: Όρος Νεμρούτ), is a mountain in southeastern Turkey that is 2,134 meters (7,001 feet) high. It is famous for having large statues at its top, which are believed to surround a royal tomb from around 100 BC. Mount Nemrut is one of the tallest peaks in the eastern part of the Taurus Mountains. In 1987, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Location and description
The mountain is located 40 km (25 mi) north of Kahta, near Adıyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I of Commagene built a tomb-sanctuary on the mountain top. This structure was surrounded by large statues, 8–9 meters (26–30 feet) tall, of himself, two lions, two eagles, and gods from Greek and Iranian traditions, such as Heracles-Artagnes-Ares, Zeus-Oromasdes, and Apollo-Mithras-Helios-Hermes. Antiochus used ideas from Parthian and Armenian traditions to revive the religious beliefs of his family. The statues were originally seated, with the names of each god written on them. At some point, the heads of the statues were removed and are now scattered across the site.
Damage to the statues’ heads, especially their noses, suggests they were intentionally destroyed due to iconoclasm. The statues have not been returned to their original positions. The site also has stone slabs with carved images that may have formed a large frieze. These slabs, called stelae, show Antiochus’ Greek and Persian ancestors.
The same statues and ancestors are found on the tumulus at the site. This tumulus is 49 meters (161 feet) tall and 152 meters (499 feet) wide. It may have been built to protect a tomb from thieves, as digging would quickly fill with loose rocks. The statues have Greek-style faces but wear Persian clothing and hairstyles.
The western terrace has a large stone slab with a lion, showing stars and the planets Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars. This arrangement is thought to represent the sky on July 7, 62 BCE, possibly indicating when construction began. The eastern part of the site is well-preserved, with layers of rock and a path along the mountain’s base, which may have been part of a walled passage connecting the eastern and western terraces. The site may have been used for religious ceremonies, as the monument includes both astronomical and religious elements.
The arrangement of statues is called a hierothesion. Similar arrangements have been found at Arsameia on Nymphaios, where Antiochus’ father, Mithridates I Callinicus, built a hierothesion.
Ancient history
The religious sanctuary built on Mount Nemrut was part of Antiochus' political plan to bring back the Persian traditions of Commagene. To achieve this, he combined and changed the political and religious customs of Cappadocia, Pontus, and Armenia.
Following the practices of the Mithridatic rulers of Pontus, Antiochus emphasized his family background as being connected to the Achaemenids and Seleucids. He also claimed the royal heritage of Armenia. An important part of his identity was the newly created Greco-Iranian pantheon, which was honored at special religious sites in Commagene.
Modern history
The site was dug up in 1881 by Karl Sester, a German engineer who studied roads and paths for the Ottomans. In 1947, Theresa Goell visited the site for the first time and spent the rest of her life working to protect and study it. She began organized efforts to explore the site in 1954. Later digs did not find the tomb of Antiochus, but people still believe this is where he was buried. The statues, all of which had their heads removed, have not been fixed to look as they originally did.
World Heritage Site
In 1987, Mount Nemrut was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors often travel to Nemrut between April and October. The nearby town of Adıyaman is a common starting point for car and bus trips to the site, and helicopter travel is also available from there. Overnight tours to the site also begin in Malatya or Kahta.
The UNESCO entry states:
Gallery
- Mount Nemrut, East Terrace: thrones in front
- Mount Nemrut: Head of Antiochus I (unknown)
- Heads of statues
- Heads of statues
- East terrace: Statues of Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes, Heracles-Artagnes-Ares, Persian eagle, and lion
- East Terrace: Thrones
- West terrace
- West terrace: Head of Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes
- West terrace: Statue of Zeus-Oromasdes
- West terrace: Statue of Heracles-Artagnes-Ares
- West terrace: Head of Goddess of Kommagene (Tyche)
- West terrace: Head of Persian eagle
- West terrace: Sandstone eagle and lion bodies
- West terrace: Sandstone stele / stelae of Persian