Where gods and kings turn to stone
Massive statues of gods, kings and creatures stare down visitors to this little-known Unesco site in southeastern Turkey.
9 August 2016
Silent Guardians
Massive statues of gods, kings and creatures stare down supplicants who travel to this tomb and Unesco World Heritage site. During the 1st Century BC, King Antiochus I ruled over a small kingdom called Commagene in what is today Turkey’s Adiyaman Province. When he died in approximately 34 BC, he was buried under a colossal mound of stones atop the windy peak of Mount Nemrut , which overlooks the upper Euphrates River. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Resting among the gods
According to inscriptions left behind before he died, Antiochus said he wanted to be buried in a high, isolated and holy place. By all accounts he succeeded: he built his own pantheon on this Olympian summit and entombed himself among the gods. Today, heads and rubble are all that remain of the giant stone statues that decorated the western terrace. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Heavenly views
A long, winding road to the summit hangs off the side of Mount Nemrut. Despite several hairpin turns, the path affords fantastic views of the surrounding craggy mountains. Nemrut is close to the southeastern section of the Taurus Mountain range, and visitors can access the ruins from the nearby cities of Adiyaman and Malatya. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Icons from east and west
The east terrace of Mount Nemrut, known to archaeologists as the Hierothesion of Antiochus I, features mostly intact torsos of the gods, with their heads placed in front.
The pantheon of gods is of particular interest to historians for its blend of cultural and religious icons. It seems these statues served as a synthesis of the cultures that bordered the kingdom of Commagene: Persian and Zoroastrian religious figures, such as Zoroastrianism’s creator god and supreme deity Ahura Mazda, are combined with a Greek counterpart, such as Zeus. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Caught between empires
Although Antiochus’ head today sits in front of his statue, he still cuts an imposing figure, flanked by an eagle and his kingdom’s patron goddess, Commagene.
Antiochus I reigned over the kingdom of Commagene from 69 BC, after he succeeded his father. One of several kingdoms that emerged following the division of Alexander the Great’s empire, Commagene occupied a small part of southeast Anatolia, sandwiched between other, larger kingdoms, including Rome to the west and Parthia to the east. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
A tomb of pebbles
The 50m-high pile of what looks like small, nondescript stones is actually a pyramidal tomb structure (known as a tumulus) built for Antiochus. As king of Commagene, he was the progeny of a long line of royals from both the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire (on his mother’s side) and also the Achaemenids of Persia (on his father’s). (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
An uncovered burial chamber
Commagene came to an end when the Romans annexed the kingdom in 72 AD, 106 years after Antiochus died. His monument on Nemrut, however, went undiscovered until 1881, when German surveyors stumbled upon it. While archaeologists believe that Antiochus’ burial chamber lies beneath the mound of stones, the actual tomb has not been uncovered. Even with recent efforts using radar detection, researchers are cautious not to destroy the fragile pyramidal tumulus. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Honouring Antiochus
A lion sculpture guards a black slab of stone near the tomb’s eastern terrace. On this platform, celebrants burned ritual fires on feast days to celebrate the gods watching from their gigantic thrones a few metres away.
Of course, any offering to these gods honoured Antiochus too – the Commagene king cleverly inserted his statue next to the likenesses of Zeus in order to gain worshippers after he passed on. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
The origins of the Euphrates
Sharp-eyed climbers can spy the beginning of the Euphrates River, which starts in Adiyaman, moves south past the Turkish city of Gaziantep, crosses into Syria and finally spills into the Persian Gulf. Nemrut is also near the active East Anatolian fault line: Unesco is currently monitoring the site for fear that an earthquake could one day damage the already delicate sculptures or the tomb itself. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Eye to the sky
Mount Nemrut reaches an elevation of 2,134m, and recent investigations have been exploring the possibility that the statues were oriented to line up with events in the lunar calendar. Astronomical significance aside, the peak offers spectacular views – both for earthly visitors and the watchful statues. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160627-the-easter-island-of-southeast-turkey
Massive statues of gods, kings and creatures stare down visitors to this little-known Unesco site in southeastern Turkey.
- By Joseph Flaherty
9 August 2016
- [url=https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Ftravel%2Fstory%2F20160627-the-easter-island-of-southeast-turkey%3Focid%3Dww.social.link.facebook&t=Where gods and kings turn to stone] [/url]
Silent Guardians
Massive statues of gods, kings and creatures stare down supplicants who travel to this tomb and Unesco World Heritage site. During the 1st Century BC, King Antiochus I ruled over a small kingdom called Commagene in what is today Turkey’s Adiyaman Province. When he died in approximately 34 BC, he was buried under a colossal mound of stones atop the windy peak of Mount Nemrut , which overlooks the upper Euphrates River. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Resting among the gods
According to inscriptions left behind before he died, Antiochus said he wanted to be buried in a high, isolated and holy place. By all accounts he succeeded: he built his own pantheon on this Olympian summit and entombed himself among the gods. Today, heads and rubble are all that remain of the giant stone statues that decorated the western terrace. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Heavenly views
A long, winding road to the summit hangs off the side of Mount Nemrut. Despite several hairpin turns, the path affords fantastic views of the surrounding craggy mountains. Nemrut is close to the southeastern section of the Taurus Mountain range, and visitors can access the ruins from the nearby cities of Adiyaman and Malatya. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Icons from east and west
The east terrace of Mount Nemrut, known to archaeologists as the Hierothesion of Antiochus I, features mostly intact torsos of the gods, with their heads placed in front.
The pantheon of gods is of particular interest to historians for its blend of cultural and religious icons. It seems these statues served as a synthesis of the cultures that bordered the kingdom of Commagene: Persian and Zoroastrian religious figures, such as Zoroastrianism’s creator god and supreme deity Ahura Mazda, are combined with a Greek counterpart, such as Zeus. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Caught between empires
Although Antiochus’ head today sits in front of his statue, he still cuts an imposing figure, flanked by an eagle and his kingdom’s patron goddess, Commagene.
Antiochus I reigned over the kingdom of Commagene from 69 BC, after he succeeded his father. One of several kingdoms that emerged following the division of Alexander the Great’s empire, Commagene occupied a small part of southeast Anatolia, sandwiched between other, larger kingdoms, including Rome to the west and Parthia to the east. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
A tomb of pebbles
The 50m-high pile of what looks like small, nondescript stones is actually a pyramidal tomb structure (known as a tumulus) built for Antiochus. As king of Commagene, he was the progeny of a long line of royals from both the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire (on his mother’s side) and also the Achaemenids of Persia (on his father’s). (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
An uncovered burial chamber
Commagene came to an end when the Romans annexed the kingdom in 72 AD, 106 years after Antiochus died. His monument on Nemrut, however, went undiscovered until 1881, when German surveyors stumbled upon it. While archaeologists believe that Antiochus’ burial chamber lies beneath the mound of stones, the actual tomb has not been uncovered. Even with recent efforts using radar detection, researchers are cautious not to destroy the fragile pyramidal tumulus. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Honouring Antiochus
A lion sculpture guards a black slab of stone near the tomb’s eastern terrace. On this platform, celebrants burned ritual fires on feast days to celebrate the gods watching from their gigantic thrones a few metres away.
Of course, any offering to these gods honoured Antiochus too – the Commagene king cleverly inserted his statue next to the likenesses of Zeus in order to gain worshippers after he passed on. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
The origins of the Euphrates
Sharp-eyed climbers can spy the beginning of the Euphrates River, which starts in Adiyaman, moves south past the Turkish city of Gaziantep, crosses into Syria and finally spills into the Persian Gulf. Nemrut is also near the active East Anatolian fault line: Unesco is currently monitoring the site for fear that an earthquake could one day damage the already delicate sculptures or the tomb itself. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
Eye to the sky
Mount Nemrut reaches an elevation of 2,134m, and recent investigations have been exploring the possibility that the statues were oriented to line up with events in the lunar calendar. Astronomical significance aside, the peak offers spectacular views – both for earthly visitors and the watchful statues. (Credit: Joseph Flaherty)
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20160627-the-easter-island-of-southeast-turkey
Today at 6:45 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee discusses amending the three-year budget
Today at 6:40 am by Rocky
» utube 11/26/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq News-Central Bank Iraq-Monetary Stability Excellent-Budget Law 2023,
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» "Rich Iraq" seeks "money" to combat methane emissions: internal and external obstacles
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Increase in foreign remittance sales at the Central Bank of Iraq auction
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Its area is 2.5 million acres, and these are its details.. Work begins on a "large" residential city
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Finance delivers employees' salary schedule to the federal government
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Beggars are sweeping the streets of Iraq.. Their numbers are "large" and 90% of them receive welfare
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Settling tax trust claims
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Launching the National School Health Strategy
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Approval to implement service projects in Babylon
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» New container handling berths at ports
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Work: Demand for registration in social security
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Reconstruction: Land Bank to be completed next year
Today at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Aiming to enhance services in schools and prevent diseases, the National School Health Strategy for
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Karmian Festival witnesses the conclusion of commercial and industrial contracts
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Focus on the banking sector
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Minister of Trade: Studies Center is a turning point that serves the Iraqi economy
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Economists: Census is a roadmap for development
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Today's newspapers are interested in Al-Sudani's announcement that the population of Iraq exceeds 45
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» International Development Bank: Today's incident was an extortion attempt that did not affect our wo
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» thirty-sixth session, chaired by the Minister of Planning
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Closed meeting of the Parliamentary Finance Committee to discuss seven files
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» The demographic boom in Iraq: an economic opportunity or a social burden?
Today at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms to Russian delegation Iraq's desire to establish a mechanism that brings mutual b
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Parliament holds its session headed by Al-Mashhadani and attended by 168 MPs
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi government deducts 1% of the salaries of employees and retirees to donate to Gaza and Leba
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Iran announces its commitment to continuing gas exports to Iraq
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» Iraq, Russia discuss energy cooperation
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» British Home Secretary to visit Iraq tomorrow
Today at 4:35 am by Rocky
» The next parliament will have 450 members.. Officially, Al-Sudani announces that the population of I
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» US Ambassador Warns of 'Frightening Actions': Iraq Does Not Want to Be Drawn into Regional Conflict
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Planning: The announced census results are not preliminary and the number will increase
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Election “hype” begins early.. Al-Maliki insists on holding it and Al-Sudani prepares
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» “No more delays”.. Parliament changes the mechanism of holding sessions: “Controversial” laws are re
Today at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani to the heads of the blocs: I prefer to vote on the general amnesty law before anything
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Iraq ranks 8th in the Arab world in achieving work-life balance in 2025
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Labor announces issuance of more than a quarter of a million national cards for social protection be
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Iraqi-Chinese research on accelerating combined cycle power projects
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki praises the decision of the International Criminal Court and demands the resolution of the
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani calls for voting on the general amnesty law for the “oppressed” before other laws
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Yazan Mishaan Al-Habouri revolts against his "leak": There are those who obstruct the government's e
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» US Ambassador: Ending the presence of the international coalition in Iraq is being implemented and w
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani directs to raise the suspended laws to the Presidency of the House of Representatives
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» "His general situation is unbearable" .. Parliamentarian: Political consensus to keep Iraq away from
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani agrees to launch the “For Her” initiative to support Iraqi women
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Development Bank condemns extortion attempts: It will not affect our workflow
Today at 4:13 am by Rocky
» Iraq-China oil-for-reconstruction deal faltering: A geopolitical shift in the Middle East
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» Planning reveals the next step of the census: We will visit these families
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee calls on the government to expedite sending the budget tables
Today at 4:09 am by Rocky
» OPEC+ may extend oil cuts at its meeting next Sunday
Today at 4:06 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Integrity Committee discusses with the Director of Central Oil the file of contracts a
Today at 4:04 am by Rocky
» Government notice regarding the legal status of foreign workers
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» House of Representatives holds "important" session today.. Expectations of extending the legislative
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» Slight rise in dollar prices against the dinar in Iraqi stock exchanges
Today at 3:59 am by Rocky
» Baghdad "softens" and Kurdistan oil prepares to continue its global journey
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» "For 5 million dinars or in installments" .. Iraqi electric cars soon on the streets
Today at 3:57 am by Rocky
» Where did the Intelligence Bill get to in the House of Representatives?
Today at 3:55 am by Rocky
» "Contract Suspicions Series"... What are the loopholes in the Korean air defense system contract in
Today at 3:54 am by Rocky
» MP reveals latest developments in the formation of the new Kurdistan government
Today at 3:51 am by Rocky
» Personal status: imposing a vision or turning Iraq into a copy similar to the Iranian religious regi
Today at 3:50 am by Rocky
» Oral question to the governor.. Parliamentary movement regarding the “Basra, the Economic Capital of
Today at 3:48 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/25/24 Parliamentarian: We need to extend the legislative chapter to 8 sessions and the bud
Yesterday at 10:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Alaq: The monetary situation in Iraq is excellent and our reserves support the stability of the e
Yesterday at 8:29 am by Rocky
» utube 11/25/24 MM&C MM&C Iraq News-CBI Building Final Touches-Oil Exports-Development Road-Turkey-B
Yesterday at 6:33 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary movement to include the salary scale in the next session
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance Committee reveals the budget paragraphs included in the amendment
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki calls on the Bar Association to hold accountable members who violate professional conduct
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Politician: The security agreement with America has many aspects
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Planning: More than 6 million people live in the region, the oldest of them is 126 years o
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Alaq: Arab consensus on the role of central bank programs in addressing challenges
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Economics saves from political drowning
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Agriculture calls for strict ban on import of "industrial fats" and warns of health risks
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fourth largest oil exporter to China
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Railways continue to maintain a number of its lines to ensure the smooth running of trains
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Parliament resumes its sessions tomorrow.. and these are the most important amendments in the budget
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin Fails to Continue Rising as It Approaches $100,000
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Minister of Planning: There will be accurate figures for the population of each governorate
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Popular Mobilization Law is ready for voting
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Mechanisms for accepting people with disabilities into postgraduate studies
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Government coordination to create five thousand jobs
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Transport: Next month, a meeting with the international organization to resolve the European ban
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Census is a path to digital government
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Calls to facilitate loans and reduce interest rates for the private sector
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» The launch of the third and final phase of the "population census"
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We have accomplished a step that is the most prominent in the framework of planning, deve
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Justice discusses modern mechanisms to develop investment in real estate and minors’ money
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Dubai to host Arabplast exhibition next month
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Tamimi: Integrity plays a major role in establishing the foundations of laws that will uphold jus
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Reaching the most important people involved in the "theft of the century" in Diyala
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Transportation: Completion of excavation works and connection of the immersed tunnel manufacturing b
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Between internal and regional challenges... Formation of the Kurdistan government on a "slow fire" a
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Region Presidency: We will issue a regional order to determine the first session of parlia
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Foreign Affairs announces the convening of the Ambassadors Conference tomorrow, Mond
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq must always be at the forefront
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Mashhadani: We support the Foreign Ministry in confronting any external interference that affects
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs meeting with Oliver Wyman delegation
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Half a million beggars in Iraq.. 90% of them receive welfare salaries
Yesterday at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Sudanese announces preliminary results of the general population and housing census in detail
Yesterday at 4:26 am by Rocky