Nemrut Mountain

Nemrut Mountain, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located on a hill overlooking the Euphrates River passages and the plain at an altitude of 2150 meters on the Eastern Taurus mountain range. A tumulus was formed with accumulation of crushed rocks on the monumental tomb built for the King Antiochus I of the Commagene, and a fire altar, giant sculptures and relief stelae in Persian-Macedonian style were made on the terraces around the tumulus. On the eastern terrace, there are statues of the king, goddesses and gods, sitting in rows on the 10-meter-high thrones. Behind the thrones, there is an inscription (Nomos) consisting of 223 lines. There are also relief stelae of Persian kings. There is a fire altar and a lion statue sitting next to it. On the west terrace, as in the other terrace, there are thrones, statues and reliefs of the King Antiochus I of the Commagene handshaking with deities. There are also relief stelae of Macedonian kings. Along with these reliefs there is a lion horoscope relief about astrology. The date of 7 July 62 BC is read from the moon and stars on the lion relief. This is the date when King Antiochus I ascended the throne.