who built nemrut dag

Full Answer

What is Nemrut Dağı famous for?

Situated in the Anti-Taurus mountains, Nemrut Dağı is famous for its ancient stone heads on a remote site atop Mount Nemrut (Nimrod), the highest in the area. It was built in 62BC by Antiochus I Epiphanes, son of the founder of the Commagene kingdom in the 1st century BC. Never heard of the Commagenes? Nope, me neither.

When was Nemrut volcano built?

April 1692. Nemrut (Turkish: Nemrut Dağı, Armenian: Սարակն Sarakn, "Mountain spring", Armenian pronunciation: [sɑˈɾɑkən], Kurdish: Çiyayê Nemrud‎) is a dormant volcano in Eastern Turkey, close to Lake Van. The volcano is named after King Nimrod who is said to have ruled this area in about 2100 BC.

What is Mount Nemrut known for?

Mount Nemrut or Nemrud ( Turkish: Nemrut Dağı; Kurdish: Çiyayê Nemrûdê; Armenian: Նեմրութ լեռ) is a 2,134-metre-high (7,001 ft) mountain in southeastern Turkey, notable for the summit where a number of large statues are erected around what is assumed to be a royal tomb from the 1st century BC.

Why did Antiochus build the sanctuary of Mount Nemrut?

The religious sanctuary established in Mount Nemrut was part of Antiochus' political program to revive the Persian traditions of Commagene. In order to do so, he merged and adjusted the political and religious traditions of Cappadocia, Pontus and Armenia.

When was Mount Nemrut made a World Heritage Site?

World Heritage Site. In 1987 , Mount Nemrut was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Tourists typically visit Nemrut during April through October. The nearby town of Adıyaman is a popular place for car and bus trips to the site, and one can also travel from there by helicopter.

Where are the statues of Nemrut?

Location and description. Some of the statues near the peak of Mount Nemrut. The mountain lies 40 km (25 mi) north of Kahta, near Adıyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues 8–9-metre high (26–30 ft) of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek and Iranian gods, ...

How tall is Mount Nemrut?

Area. 11 ha. Mount Nemrut or Nemrud ( Turkish: Nemrut Dağı; Kurdish: Çiyayê Nemrûdê ‎; Armenian: Նեմրութ լեռ) is a 2,134-metre-high (7,001 ft) mountain in southeastern Turkey, notable for the summit where a number of large statues are erected around what is assumed to be a royal tomb from the 1st century BC.

Who excavated the tomb of Antiochus?

The site was excavated in 1881 by Karl Sester [ de], a German engineer assessing transport routes for the Ottomans. After her first visit in 1947, Theresa Goell dedicated her life to the site, starting campaigns in 1954. Subsequent excavations have failed to reveal the tomb of Antiochus.

What was the state of Commagene?

The state of Commagene had a wide range of cultures which left its leader from 62 BC – 38 BC Antiochus I Theos to carry on a peculiar dynastic religious program , which included not only Greek and Iranian deities but Antiochus and his family as well.

When was Nemrut Dag built?

It is a World Heritage Site and has iconic status in Turkey today. It was built in the 1st century BC by a local dynast called Antiochus I who ruled a small but wealthy kingdom in south-east Turkey called Commagene.

What is the significance of Commagene's mountain?

Commagene is therefore fascinating in appreciating the importance of south-east Turkey and charting its shifting relations with its eastern and western neighbours.

Is Zeugma in Turkey?

The site is effectively an open-air museum but there are other sculptures from Commagene in many different museums in Turkey: the nearest is at Gaziantep where many of the spectacular Roman mosaics from the nearby site of Zeugma are beautifully displayed. Zeugma is now partly drowned beneath the Ataturk dam which also flooded the heartland of Antiochus’ kingdom and his capital at Samsat.

What is Nemrut Dag?

Nemrut Dag comprises the Hellenistic mausoleum of Antiochus. In the first century BC, the Roman-Persian king Antiochus I of Commagene (a kingdom north of Syria and the Euphrates) ordered to build a grave and temples on this site. On two sides of the mountaintop terraces were set up for meters high statues of the gods and himself.

Where is Nemrut Dag located?

Nemrut Dag is a good example for this theory. It is situated near the little town of Kahta, deep in the heart of Turkey.

How to see Nemrut Dag?

As you go down the highway to approach the town of Kahta you can see a mountain peak that looks very diffrent from the others. This is Nemrut Dag. As others have said there is long ride up through the awesome mountains to get there. There is a steep walk to go from the car park to the ruins. Due to the altitude it is much colder at the summit than where you started from, even on a warm sunny day - be prepared. The beheaded figures, their propped up heads, and the altar on the eastern side are the most dramatic. Nothing else anywhere can compare to this bizarre site. There are magnificent views of the mountains and the waters of the dammed Euphrates River. There are more remains of figures, including some of the best 'heads', on the western side. What isn't often mentioned are the sculptured slabs that are also part of the site. At the center of this place is the large tumulus of pebbles that is probably the tomb for which all this was built. While visiting think about all the labor needed to bring the marble for the figures and the stone pebbles up to this remote place.

When did I drive to the foothills in Citroen Ami?

i drove to the foothills in a Citroen Ami in 1977 I was taken ,by jeep, up to the top of this 9.000ft.mountain and saw dawn break. A truely memorable experience.I was then invited around a nearby village to draw and take photographs.

Who used dynamite to find Antiochos' grave?

Female Archaeologists : Theresa Goell -" Theresa Goell, in search of Antiochos' grave, used dynamite (!) which decreases the height considerably. Recent studies have determined that the grave chamber lies within the rock formation under the tumulus, but the exact place has not been located yet." Also see for documentary about her and biography

Where are the ruins of Arsameia?

Further up in the hills you find the summer palace of the Kommagene family, the ruins of Arsameia on the Nymphaios River. Here is where they came when it was too hot in summer down in the Euphrates valley, in the capital Samosata, now disappeared in the Ataturk Lake. At the entrance (no admission fee) to the site a tea house offers refreshments - we were there during the pomegranate season and got wonderfully fresh and fragrant fruit to taste. There are three places to visit at the site: a bit further down from the entrance and parking lot we find the stele of Apollo/Mithras, further westwards a cave that as some say served as cold storage for the palace while others think it was a temple or burial site - a few meters into the cave it is closed off by a metal fence. The highlight of the site is a bit further up on a zig-zag path but not too far, a tunnel, 160 m long but steep and very dark - it was apparently a place to rid oneself of sins before ascending to Mount Nemrut. At its entrance you see the longest Greek inscription in Anatolia from that period and the larger than life-size relief of a handshake exchanged between King Mithridates and Heracles; here the King making sure he is seen as equal to the gods. There is nothing much left of the Summer Place but those three spots are worth the trip, not to mention the breathtaking view into the valley, full of lush oak trees.

Where is Nemrut Dag located?

One more notice. One should not confuse this amazing sightseeing place with the same Nemrut Dag volcano Nemrut, which is also located in modern Turkey near Lake Van. This is completely different mountain.

Who found the Nemrut mountain?

It was found by Crusaders. However strange it should not sound, nobody paid attention to this fact and it was again forgotten. Next time the mountain Nemrutwas discovered in 1881 by engineers and geologists from Germany Karl Sisters. Karl did not find what he was looking for, but reopened the World Nemrut Dag.

What is the purpose of the North Terrace of Nemrut Dag?

North Terrace of Nemrut Dag was intended to be a gathering place for people during ceremonies. Nearly all times the procession moved towards the eastern terrace, hence not much of it is left for visitors. Nowadays around Nemrut Dag there is nothing but mountains. And before that, it was part of the kingdom.

What happened to Antiochus's ritual complex?

Antiochus started to build ritual complex. Although, having a plan of widely spreading his religion, and to finish the complex to the end, Antiochus failed. This process was stopped with an unexpected death of the ruler. After this, the existence of Commagene Nemrut was forgotten. It was found by Crusaders.

How tall are the statues of Nemrut?

At the top of Mount Nemrut 3 terraces are cut – the eastern, western and northern. There are numerous statues of gods, up to 10 meters in height, which used to be one-piece sculptures. But, after the earthquake in these areas, the heads fell down. Now they are located nearby their bodies.

Is Nemrut Dag a mountain?

Generally, Nemrut Dag is not only a mountain, but also a National Park . Furthermore, there is not only pantheon, which visitor can look through (those of the heads), but also lot more which has been kept through centuries of debris, as once here was located the Commagene kingdom. Once, approximately on the 2ndcentury BC, ...

Is Nemrut Dag in Turkey?

Pictures of huge heads and offer to go on tour to Nemrut Dag can be found in almost any travel agency in Turkey. But neverthe less, not everyone has been on Nemrut, and here we talk not only about foreigners who have visited Turkey once, but even Turkish Cypriots who have resided in the country through years.

How was Nemrut formed?

The cone of Nemrut was further formed by mobile dark trachytic lavas, which gradually filled Bitlis gorge to a distance of 80 km from the volcanic center. Lava flows reached a width of 200 m and had a thickness of 5–30 meters. Consequent deposits from basalt and trachytic lavas finalized a pronounced cone with a height of about 4400 -4500 m.

When was Nemrut first studied?

A 19th century map of the Nemrut area composed by a British traveler. The first systematic studies of the volcano began in the mid-19th century, when, taking advantage of the British influence in the region, it was visited by several European explorers.

What is the size of the caldera of Nemrut?

Subsequent eruptions separated a small lake Ilı from Lake Nemrut. Nemrut volcano has an elliptical shape, its size at the base is 27×18 km, and its center contains 377.5 km 3 of volcanic materials. The caldera of Nemrut is the largest in Turkey, the fourth-largest in Europe and sixteenth-largest in the world.

How big is Nemrut?

Nemrut has a distinct caldera with an area of 46.7 km 2 and a volume of 32.9 km 3; the maximum height of the edge of the caldera is 2,935 m (9,629 ft) above sea level (Sivritepe, on the northern edge of the caldera). The average height of the walls of the caldera, measuring from its bottom, is 600 m (2,000 ft). The lowest point of the caldera coincides with the deepest point of Lake Nemrut (2,071 m (6,795 ft) above sea level). There are three lakes at the bottom of the caldera: the larger Lake Nemrut and two smaller ones, Ilı and the so-called "Seasonal Lake".

How long ago did Nemrut erupt?

The formation of Nemrut and the first stage of eruptions began about 1 million years ago with fissure eruptions that later localized in separate vents separated by 5–10 km. These eruptions resulted in a strong (thicker than 50 m) layer of successive pyroclastic deposits consisting mainly of trachyte. Their products covered an area of 500 km 2, forming a plateau that hid the continental deposits of the Miocene period.

What is Nemrut volcano?

Nemrut is a polygenic stratovolcano located in the collision zone of the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which determines the seismic and volcanic activity in the region. The collision of these plates began in the Middle Eocene and closed the stretch of water, which in the Mesozoic formed the Tethys Ocean.

How many people live in Nemrut?

In total, about 135,000 people live in the potential eruption zone. The presence of more than 1 km 3 of water in the caldera adds a risk of flooding, which may destroy Güroymak, a town of 15,000 people.

Where is Mount Nemrut?

Mount Nemrut. Topping the karst limestone mountain of Nemrut Dagi (2150 meters / 7056 feet) in the south-eastern region and towards Taurus range, 90 kilometers (56 miles) north-east of Adiyaman, is the Hierothosion of the Kommagene King Antiochus I (69-38 BC), dedicated to his own glory and that of the gods.

Who built the Karakus Tepesi?

Karakus Tepesi (Hill) This Kommagene tumulus 47 kilometers (29 miles) north-east of Adiyaman was erected by Mithridates II (36-20 BC) for his mother Isias, his sister Laodike (36 BC, wife of the Parthian King Orodes IV), and his niece Aka.

Where is Kahta in the province of Adiyaman?

Kahta. Kahta (formerly Kolik), 35 kilometers (22 miles) east of Adiyaman, is the principal town of the district and the starting point for the drive through ancient Kommagene. Being short of hotel accommodation it has found itself increasingly eclipsed by the provincial capital.

Where is the burial site of Mithridates II?

Dikilitas. The Dikilitas tumulus, 6 meters (20 feet) high and 35 meter (115 feet) in diameter, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) south-west of Adiyaman, is almost certainly the burial place of Mithridates II of Kommagene and his wife. Of the three original pairs of columns (from which the old name Sesonk = "three columns" was derived) ...

When was the Cendere Koprusu bridge built?

Cendere Koprusu (Chabinas Bridge) This well-preserved Roman bridge crossing the Cendere (the ancient Chabinas) at a point where the river emerges from an impressive gorge into the wide valley of the Kahta Cayi, was built between AD 198 and 200 by the "legio XVI Flavia firma", stationed in Samosata ( Samsat ).

When was Samsat occupied?

From about 640 AD Samsat, like Adiyaman, was one of the frontier forts (thugur) constantly changing hands between Byzantium and the Arab and Turkoman invaders, sometimes under Christian occupation (e.g. 700, 860, 1098) and at other times Muslim (10th century Emirate of Aleppo; 12th century Seljuks ).

Where is the bridge over the Göksu?

A short distance east of Dikilitas are the remains of a triple-arched bridge (center arch, 31 meters / 102 feet, collapsed) over the Göksu, the ancient Singas, a tributary of the Euphrates. Up until the Middle Ages this was an important river crossing on the former military road from Samosata to Zeugma (60 kilometers / 37 miles south-west of Adiyaman ).

WHAT IS NEMRUT DAGI?

The name ‘Nemrut Daği’ is Turkish for Mount Nimrod ( Mount Nem rut) and refers to both the mountain itself, and the fascinating ancient site which sits at its summit. Which is basically a grandiose and self-important mausoleum.

What is Mount Nemrut famous for?

Mount Nemrut was at the top of my bucketlist thanks to its colossal stone head sculptures which look like something from Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider. There are two terraces of statues which are oriented to catch the light at sunrise and sunset.

When was the Commagene Kingdom built?

It was built in 62BC by Antiochus I Epiphanes, son of the founder of the Commagene kingdom in the 1st century BC. Never heard of the Commagenes? Nope, me neither.

How long is the walk to Mount Nemrut?

It’s easiest to take a tour to Mount Nemrut as the minibuses drive right up to the entrances to the site. From here it’s a 20-minute uphill walk to the terraces.

Where is Mount Nemrut located?

Mount Nemrut is located in the mountains of Central Anatolia and is commonly considered one of the highlights and main tourist attractions of Eastern Turkey. The nearest airports are Adıyaman (closest), Malatya, and Gaziantep (most frequent flights). Approximate distances to Mount Nemrut:

Is Mount Nemrut undiscovered?

It’s an astonishing site, but remote and of (comparatively) little historical significance. Mount Nemrut isn’t exactly undiscovered, it gets its fair share of tourists. But miles from anywhere, you have to be relatively determined to get to Mount Nemrut– or at least prepared to sit on a bus for a long time.

Is Mount Nemrut worth visiting?

It’s well worth the effort to stay overnight at Mount Nemrut if you have the time. Although there’s not much to see other than the terraces, the solitude after the bus groups have departed is enjoyable and the sunrise was special. I would recommend sunrise over sunset if you have to choose between them; you can’t beat the early morning light.

Who was the engineer who climbed Mount Nemrut?

In 1881, a German engineer laying out transport routes in the Ottoman Empire, Karl Sester, reported on the unusual structures in Nemrut. Naturally, he was not brought the peak by sheer chance. Sester had planned to mark the route through eastern Anatolia based on the course of ancient communication routes. The inhabitants of the surrounding settlements who assisted him were unable to show him any ancient road but were happy to inform him about extraordinary monumental statues on Mount Nemrut. Motivated more by pure curiosity than the real possibility of marking the road through this mountain peak, Sester climbed to the top in the company of a Kurd named Bâko, and he saw monumental sculptures with his own eyes.

Who was the first person to visit Mount Nemrut?

Shortly afterwards, the first scientific expeditions set off to Mount Nemrut. In 1882, the German Archaeological Institute delegated Otto Puchstein, an archaeologist who was on a mission in Egypt, to visit Nemrut in the company of Sester. A year later, Puchstein returned to the mountain with Karl Humann.

What is the hierothesion on Mount Nemrut?

In addition, the hierothesion on Mount Nemrut is an extraordinary testimony to the civilisation of the Commagene Kingdom and the ambitions of the local dynasty, which sought to maintain independence from the powers of the East and the West.

Why is Mount Nemrut considered a world heritage?

The reason for this distinction was primarily the unique artistic achievement that was accomplished during the reign of King Antiochus - the transformation of the natural mountain landscape into a monumental architectural complex.

What is Nemrut a syncretic pantheon?

Moreover, together with the archaeological sites of Karakuş and Arsameia on the Nymphaios, Nemrut is a perfect illustration of a syncretic pantheon that combined religious and artistic influences of Greece, Persia, and Armenia, with local Anatolian cults.

Why was Mount Nemrut not attracting scientific attention?

According to Goell, Mount Nemrut had not been attracting enough scientific attention due to its specific historical and geographic conditions. The mountain was "too oriental" for classical archaeologists, studying the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome, and, at the same time, "too classical" for orientalists.

What are the coordinates of Mount Nemrut?

GPS coordinates: 37.980756, 38.740726. Mount Nemrut, the monumental resting place of King Antiochus I Theos from the Kingdom of Commagene, is one of the most fascinating ancient places in Turkey. Although the country abounds in magnificent relics of antiquity, Mount Nemrut certainly deserves the place on the top ten list ...

Overview

Location and description

Ancient history

Modern history

World Heritage Site

See also

Sources

External links