Nemrut Dag: The 2000-Meter-High Ancient Complex in Turkey

Nemrut Dag is a mountain located in the southeastern part of Turkey in the province of Adiyaman, 96 km from the city of Malatya. Nemrut belongs to the Eastern Taurus Mountain Range and is located at an altitude of 2150 m above sea level. The uniqueness of the natural site primarily lies in the ancient buildings and stone sculptures of the Hellenistic period preserved on its territory. In 1987, the ancient buildings of Nemrut Dag, due to their indisputable cultural value, were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Today, Nemrut Dag is one of the most visited tourist attractions in southeastern Anatolia. Although most often the residents of Turkey themselves come here, the monument is of increasing interest to foreign travelers every year. To understand the full value of a mountain peak, it is important to turn to the history of the origin of its unusual sculptures and structures.

Historical background

After the collapse of the empire of Alexander the Great in the 2nd century BC, a small state called Commagene was formed in the area where Mount Nemrut is located. The founder of this ancient Armenian kingdom was a native of the Yervanduni dynasty named Ptomelei of Commagene. In 86 BC, his descendant Antiochus I came to power in the empire – an energetic young man with high ambitions, which often turned into a real megalomania. The ruler claimed to be descended from Alexander the Great, and with fierce zeal tried to achieve the same glory as the great commander.

At the height of his madness and selfishness, Antiochus I decided to create a new religion that incorporated the traditions of Western Greek and Eastern Persian beliefs. The ruler declared himself the god of the Kingdom of Commagene and the main deity of the new faith. In 62 BC, Antiochus I ordered the construction of a tomb for himself on the top of Mount Nemrut. Following the example of Egyptian funerary buildings, the tomb was built in the form of a pyramid. Outside, the sanctuary was decorated with stone statues of Greek and Persian deities from 8 to 10 m high. It is noteworthy that the statue of Antiochus himself was installed on an equal footing among the sculptures of other gods.

Soon after the death of the ruler, the lands of the Kingdom of Commagene were taken over by the Roman Empire, and the tomb was completely forgotten. Only in 1881, German researchers managed to discover a lost historical complex, which at that time was known only to a few local residents. In 1953, on the top of Nemrut, the Germans, in a team with American scientists, arranged a grandiose archaeological excavation, cleared and studied all the monuments of the mountain. Thanks to their efforts, now any traveler can visit the ancient complex in Turkey and touch the statues, which are more than 2000 years old.

What you can see on the mountain today

Currently, on Mount Nemrut-Dag in Turkey, the ruins of a once majestic tomb are preserved, the analogues of which are still not found in the whole world. Scientists have not been able to name the exact cause of the destruction of this monument. Some of them believe that it was damaged by numerous earthquakes characteristic of the region. Others suggest that damage to the object could have been caused by one of the foreign invaders. Nevertheless, some fragments of the tomb managed to reach our days in good condition. What can you see on the mountain?

The territory of the historical complex on Nemrut-Dag is divided into three sections. The northern part of the monument is completely destroyed and is not of interest. But among the ancient buildings of the eastern section, a pyramid-shaped mound with a height of 50 m and a width of 150 m is well preserved. Presumably, it is here that the body of Antiochus I is buried, but there is still no evidence to support this theory.

The centuries-old statues of the gods that adorn the tomb were seriously damaged: all the sculptures sitting on the throne, without exception, lost their heads. Scientists who examined the monument found and cleared the missing parts and lined them up at the foot of the tomb. Among them are the heads of Hercules, Zeus, Apollo, the goddess of fortune Tyche and Antiochus I. Here you can also see the faces of lions and eagles standing on the sides.

An interesting fact is that earlier statues of Greek and Persian gods were usually depicted in a standing position. Only occasionally, in temples dedicated to a particular deity, sculptures were installed in a sitting position. As we have already pointed out, at the tomb of Antiochus, all the gods are depicted sitting on a throne, and this pose was not chosen by chance. In this way, the ruler of Commagene wanted to show that the great gods found their abode on the mountain near his tomb.

Some of the ancient monuments are located in the western section: these are statues of the same deities and animals of smaller sizes, as well as bas-reliefs with their images. A particularly well-preserved bas-relief with a lion figure, decorated with 19 stars and a crescent moon. Researchers are sure that the date of construction of the ancient complex (62 BC) is encrypted in it.

In addition to its architectural artefacts, Mount Nemrut in Turkey is famous for its spectacular panoramas. Especially beautiful views can be observed here during sunrise and sunset. But even in the daytime, local landscapes appear as vivid pictures of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

How to get

The road to the mountain is quite difficult and time-consuming. The province of Adiyaman in Turkey, where Nemrut Dagh is located, includes the capital of the same name, where the nearest airport is located. The distance between them is about 60 km. Several Turkish Airlines flights depart daily from Istanbul airport to Adiyaman. You can also get to the city once a day from Ankara Airport.

Upon arrival at Adiyaman air harbor, you need to go to the city train station, from where minibuses depart every half hour to Kakhta – the largest settlement closest to the mountain (the distance between Nemrut-Dag and Kakhta is almost 54 km). And already at the bus station of this city you can catch dolmush all the way to the mountain. A minibus will take you to the mountain ascent, from where you will only have to walk to the top.

Useful tips

1. The ideal time to visit Nemrut Dag Mountain in Turkey is from May to September. During this period, the temperature in the region is quite comfortable for sightseeing. The period from October to May is characterized by low temperatures and heavy precipitation, which can spoil the whole impression of a hike to a historical monument.
2. If you would like to visit Nemrut Dag as part of an excursion, please talk to the staff of your hotel before buying it from a travel agency. It is quite possible that they will offer you an individual tour at a better price.
3. 12 km from the mountain is a small village called Karadut, where you can find several good hotels and cafes.
4. Many travelers who went to Nemrut Dag by dawn (sunset) found crowds of tourists on the top. Therefore, it makes sense to go uphill during less popular daytime hours.

After visiting Nemrut Dag in Turkey, we recommend visiting nearby Arsamea, the former capital of the Kingdom of Commagene, where it will be interesting to see the ruins of the ancient city.