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In 62 BCE, King Antiochus of Commagene built his tomb-sanctuary on top of Mount Nemrut, with huge (8m - 9m, 27' - 20' high) stone figures of himself, Hercules, Zeus, and Apollo. He piled up a 50m (170') high mound of fist sized rocks on the summit of Mount Nemrut. This site is spectacular, it is a must for any visit to Turkey as far as I am concerned.
Along the road to the summit are several other interesting sites.
First you get to the Cendere Bridge, a beautiful Roman humpback bridge, built in the 2nd century CE. The inscriptions on the stele state that it was built in honour of Septimius Severus and his wife and son. Three of the four Corinthian columns are still standing.
Next is the Yeni Kale (New Fortress), a 13th century Mamluk castle, with Arabic inscriptions.
About 3.5 km further along the road is Arsameia, the ancient Commagene capital, founded by Mithridates I Callicus around 80 BCE. There are several very nice statues and inscriptions in that area. A 158m (520') long cave-temple descends steeply into the mountain.
Roman Cendere Bridge. (781k)
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Columns on the Cendere Bridge. (591k)
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Close-up of one of the columns. (406k)
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Inscriptions on the column. (607k)
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Yeni Kale. (616k)
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Yeni Kale. (657k)
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Inscriptions in Yeni Kale. (496k)
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Long inscription in Arsameia. (744k)
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Entrance to the 158m long cave-temple. (436k)
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Inscriptions on one of the stele bases. (679k)
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Large stele depicting Mithras (or Apollo) the Sun God, wearing a cap with sun rays radiating from it. (439k)
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A stunning, almost undamaged relief of Mithridates I shaking hands with Hercules. (663k)
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Western temple on the summit. (664k)
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Figures of a raven and lion. (825k)
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Relief in the western temple. (576k)
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View of the tumbled-down figures of the western temple. (807k)
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Raven head in the western temple. (757k)
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Stone head in the western temple. (739k)
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Head of Apollo in the western temple. (625k)
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Stone head in the western temple. (794k)
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Stone head in the western temple. (605k)
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Row of figures in the eastern temple. (423k)
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Lion statue in the eastern temple. (414k)
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Lion head in the eastern temple. (609k)
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Stone head in the eastern temple. (684k)
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Stone head in the eastern temple. (519k)
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Stone head in the eastern temple. (550k)
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The 49m high tomb mound on the summit of Mount Nemrut. (549k)
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All pictures are © Günther Eichhorn
Mount Nemrut on guenther-eichhorn.com
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