The king is not rutting. The mystery of stone heads on Mount Nemrut Dag in Turkey. The riddle of stone heads on Mount Nemrut-Dag

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 lies primarily 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 attractions in southeastern Anatolia. Although most often the inhabitants of Turkey themselves come here, the monument every year arouses more and more interest among foreign travelers. In order to realize the full value of the mountain peak, it is important to turn to the history of the origin of its unusual sculptures and structures.

Historical reference

Antiochus I

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

At the height of his madness and self-love, 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 Commagene kingdom and the main deity of the newly made faith. In 62 BC. Antiochus I ordered to build a tomb for himself on the top of Mount Nemrut. Following the example of the Egyptian burial structures, the tomb was built in the shape of a pyramid. Outside, the sanctuary was decorated with stone statues of Greek and Persian deities ranging in height from 8 to 10 m. It is noteworthy that the statue of Antiochus himself was set on an equal footing among the sculptures of other gods.

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

What can be seen on the mountain today

At present, on Mount Nemrut-Dag in Turkey, there are the ruins of a once majestic tomb, the analogues of which are still not found in the whole world. Scientists have not been able to name the exact reason for the destruction of this monument. Some of them believe that it was damaged by numerous earthquakes characteristic of the region. Others speculate that some of the foreign invaders may have inflicted damage on the object. Nevertheless, some fragments of the tomb have survived to this day in good condition. What can you see on the mountain?

The territory of the historical complex at Nemrut-Dag is divided into three sections. The northern part of the monument is completely destroyed and is of no interest. But among the ancient buildings of the eastern section, a pyramidal mound with a height of 50 m and a width of 150 m is well preserved. Presumably, the body of Antiochus I was buried here, but there is still no evidence to support this theory.

The statues of the gods decorating the tomb have been seriously damaged over the centuries: without exception, the sculptures sitting on the throne have lost their heads. Scientists investigating 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 himself. Here you can also see the faces of lions and eagles standing on the sides.

An interesting fact is that earlier it was customary to depict statues of Greek and Persian gods in a standing position. Only occasionally were sculptures erected in a sitting position in temples dedicated to a particular deity. As we have already indicated, at the tomb of Antiochus, all the gods are depicted sitting on a throne, and this position was not chosen by chance. Thus, 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. The bas-relief with the figure of a lion, decorated with 19 stars and a crescent moon, is especially well preserved. Researchers are sure that the date of the construction of the ancient complex (62 BC) is encrypted in it.

In addition to architectural artifacts, Mount Nemrut in Turkey is famous for its breathtaking 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.

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How to get there

The road to the mountain is rather difficult and time-consuming. The province of Adiyaman in Turkey, where Nemrut-Dag is located, includes the capital of the same name, in which the airport closest to the facility is located. The distance between them is about 60 km. Several Turkish Airlines flights depart from the Istanbul airport to Adiyaman every day. Once a day, you can get to the city from Ankara Airport.

Upon arrival at the Adiyaman air harbor, you need to go to the city station, from where minibuses leave every half an hour to Kakhta - the nearest large settlement 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 dolmus all the way to the mountain. The minibus will take you to the mountain ascent, from where you will have to walk to the top on foot.

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In the southeastern part of Turkey, somewhere in the middle between the major cities of Malatya and Adiyaman, there is one place that is quite rarely visited by both civilian tourists and independent travelers. Meanwhile, this natural and historical attraction deserves (in my opinion) a must visit - and if you suddenly find yourself in those parts, I strongly recommend that you make at least a one-day trip there.

The place is called Nemrut Dagi National Park, or simply Nemrut. And the mesmerizing peak of the mountain of the same name not only rises above the surroundings to a height of 2,150 meters, but also hides in itself unique monuments carved from stone by ancient architects more than 2,000 years ago.

When I got to the provincial capital, the large city of Adiyaman, the first thing I did was to visit the local tourist information office, where I learned about this main local attraction. After asking in detail about the national park itself and the ways to get to it (and at the same time taking a break from the rather tangible heat that reigned in southern Turkey even at the end of October), I soon found myself on the highway and moved towards the intended goal.

On the very first typewriter, I got to the intermediate stop - the town of Kyakhta, and there I stopped a Ford minibus stuffed with wooden boxes with large green apples. Behind the wheel was a young guy, about my age, named Mehmet, who turned out to be a very agile and enterprising businessman. He had his own department store like our "walking distance" in his native village, and he was also engaged in buying apple crops from nearby small farmers, in connection with which he dangled in his van through remote and not very mountainous villages.

In general, this cheerful and very talkative Mehmet offered to be in his house for a few days, but with one condition: I will have to help by making a contribution in his difficult apple business. I, of course, agreed: firstly, his village Narince was located not far from Nemrut Park, and it would be very convenient to use it as a base for a one-day trip to the mountain; and, secondly, it was very interesting for me to plunge into the ordinary rural life of a Turkish village for at least a few days and to visit with Mehmet in remote mountain villages, where civilized tourists do not get.

However, I will colorfully describe how we ran the "apple business in Turkish" sometime in a separate story, but here I will tell you about the day when I made a sortie to Mount Nemrut.

In an early sunny morning, having stocked up with a small supply of provisions and a bottle of water, I, with a small "city" backpack on my shoulders, got out to the outskirts of Narince. Nearby, sheep bleated together, a small herd of which the local shepherd drove out of the outskirts, to the nearest pasture. The morning hitchhiking was, although thin, but good: after 10 minutes I was picked up by a car, which quickly drove me to the desired fork. Here the main road (along with the stream of cars) went to the right, but I got a joker in the form of a dull, albeit paved road leading in the direction of the national park.

It is clear that such a specific route did not abound in hitchhiking (yes, I didn’t really count on this and set myself up for a pleasant walk in advance), and therefore I sipped some water and cheerfully moved forward, admiring the wonderful surrounding views. And there was so much to see!

The road runs far into the distance ...

And on the sides flows its own leisurely rural life

The sun generously flooded the rocky ground with its hot rays, the road led forward and upward in winding loops, and only grasshoppers crackled around and the blowing wind sang in his ears and ruffled his T-shirt. There were almost no passing cars, nevertheless a couple of times I was caught up with tractors, which I successfully stopped and drove several kilometers ahead, at the same time giving rest to my legs.

Future restaurant for tourists. So far, only the phase of the foundation and the construction of the walls.

I was very glad to see this sign! The supply of water in the bottle is not endless, but here we managed to replenish them.
At the same time I had a snack than God sent.

And now the first, easier segment of the path is over. I am at the entrance to the Nemrut National Park itself. As you can see, visiting the park is not free, and at the entrance there is a solid checkpoint with a barrier, which contains several ticket checkers. Travel certificates and spelling of teeth do not work on them (checked), however, the amount "for the repair of the Failure" is not large, and the lira spent is repeatedly paid off by the impressions received later.

Leave conversations aside! Onward and upward, and there ...

From above, the traversed road seems to be a thread winding in a narrow gorge

Beautiful far away

From the entrance checkpoint to the upper platform, there is about 7 kilometers of a rather steep ascent, which can be overcome quite quickly by car. I was in no hurry, walked calmly, stopping for small halts and photographing the surrounding beauties.

True, the higher and further I climbed, the colder and windier it became. Even the bright sun could no longer overcome the strong, angry and piercing gusts of the mountain wind. In stock, I had only a light windbreaker, which I hurried to pull on. It got warmer, but just that not much - however, it is natural that the cold did not force me to retreat, and I slowly but surely moved forward.

And so, behind the next turn, a flat upper pre-peak plateau with guard houses, a small hotel and several souvenir shops opened up. The second leg of the journey was left behind.

All that remained was to make the last dash and overcome several hundred steps carved into the stone, leading somewhere far up ... What is there in front?

A knight at a crossroads. Where to go, where to go? He flipped a coin ... and chose the ascent to the right, to the East Terrace.

In 1881, Karl Sester, a road engineer from Germany hired by the Ottoman authorities to assess the possibilities of laying new transport routes, was amazed to find this mysterious place at the top of the mountain. The discovery of the German engineer became a sensation in scientific circles, and in the next 100 years, 6 serious expeditions of researchers from different countries visited it. What amazed them so?

At the top of Mount Nemrut, almost 2200 meters high, King Antiochus I, who ruled the state of Commagene during the Roman Empire, from 69th to 34th BC, built an unusual monument. From the discovered inscription, it follows that this monument was supposed to remind descendants of his own glory and the glory of the gods. The ruler himself was of Greco-Persian origin and ruled a completely prosperous and rather extensive independent kingdom that lived off trade with Syria and Persia.

Mountain peaks in many mythologies are the abode of the gods. King Antiochus I, who considered himself a descendant of the great Persian king Darius, turned Mount Nemrut into a site for huge statues of the gods - and put himself on a par with them. At the top of the mountain is a burial mound formed from a pile of stones. On the western and eastern sides, it is guarded by two lions, two eagles and many statues up to nine meters high (!).

These statues represent seated Hercules, Zeus and Oromasdes (he is related to the Persian god Ahuramazda), Tyche (the Greek goddess of Fate), Apollo Mithra and Antiochus himself. Their heads, as a result of several earthquakes, fell off over the centuries, and a lot of debris is scattered all around.

Gallery of ancient gods and mythical heroes

On both sides of the mound, which is 49 meters high and about 150 meters in diameter, there are identical figures. The statues on the eastern side of the terrace are better preserved; they were not cut out of one solid stone, but composed of separate stone layers. On huge heads, Greek facial features are juxtaposed with Persian head decorations and hairstyles.

At the very top, the wind was whistling, just piercing to the bones (despite the hot and sunny weather), and with such force that you could just lie down on it with your chest, like on a down pillow. In my thin clothes, for a few minutes I froze so that my teeth knocked out some devilish beat, and my numb fingers shook and trembled so much that even just fixing the device and pressing the shutter button was very difficult ...

But such wonderful views became a reward for the difficulties of the ascent endured:

It seems that Antiochus had no doubt that he was one of the immortals: a well-preserved bas-relief of the eastern terrace shows him shaking hands with Apollo, Zeus and Hercules.

Of particular interest is the stone slab, which depicts a lion under the starry sky. The arrangement of the stars and planets - Jupiter, Mercury and Mars - repeats the special arrangement of the luminaries, which was observed by astronomers on July 7, 62 BC. NS. The exact meaning of this date is unknown, but it is assumed that this is the day of the beginning of construction on Mount Nemrut.

There is also an altar on the eastern side of the burial mound. Most likely, earlier, both terraces were connected by a walled road and one could approach it through the mountain path laid below. In all likelihood, this area was regularly used for religious ceremonies.

Walking around both terraces, capturing all these extraordinary masterpieces of ancient sculptors and architects, and doing something like "St. Vitus's dance" with my body shaking from the cold, I galloped back up the steps. "Rather, rather downward, to the warmth and the sun!" - a single thought throbbed greedily in a well-ventilated head ...

Oh, how nice it is to return along the already familiar road back, when the legs run down by themselves - into the green valleys, and the consciousness is pleasantly caressed by the thought of another successful overcoming of oneself and a bright saturated day ...

In addition to the beautiful views, the way back surprised me twice more.
First - an amazing joke of Turkish road builders called "assemble a road puzzle" ...

And then an unexpected meeting on the sidelines with such a brilliant representative of the local fauna. The snake was lying on the edge of the road, not moving - apparently, it was crumpled in the hot sun. I did not bother her, remembering the sad fate of Julia Stoner and Grimsby Roylott, but only cautiously approached and photographed the beauty:

Beauties at the end of the day

When I got to the crossroads where I started my walking trip to Nemrut in the morning, the last rays of the sun caressed the tops of the surrounding hills, and darkness was rapidly approaching the valleys. Quickly and successfully braking the garbage truck, in 15 minutes I flew with a cheerful mustachioed driver to "my" village and to Mehmet's place. Behind the back were 30 km of track and "full pockets" of impressions.

The visit to the Minotaur on Mount Nemrut was successfully completed.

That's all. Then allow me to take my leave.

Useful information on getting there (from Vinsky's forum):

There are 2 ways to get to Nemrut:

1.From the south - Adiyaman or Kahta to the village of Karadut, from there 12 km to the top.
The plus of this road - in addition to the mountain, you can see other preserved sights of Commagene - Karakush with the Eagle Column, Roman bridge, Asrameya, the summer capital of Commagene.
Minus - the main way to get there is by bus (Kayseri 6 hours, Istanbul about 20 hours), with a lack of time it takes a long time.
2.From the north - Malatya. Malatya is touted by the Turks as the world capital of the apricot, and there is an apricot festival in July. The rest of the time there are almost no tourists, only those heading to Nemrut. The center has a tourist information office and they organize trips http://www.malatyakulturturizm.gov.tr/

Sanctuary and mega mausoleum on grief nemrut dag- one of the most famous sights of Turkey and the main sanctuary of the ancient. Photos of huge heads and offers to go on a tour to Nemrut dag can be found in almost any travel agency in Turkey. But nevertheless, not everyone visited Nemrut: not only a foreigner who came to Turkey (even who visited it several times), but also a Turk who permanently resides in Turkey. Firstly, it is located in the East of Turkey, far enough away. Secondly, visiting Nemrut is limited to the seasons (more on this in the forum thread). In general, Nemrut Dag is not only a mountain, but a whole National Park. And you can see here not only the pantheon of gods (those very heads), but also some of the fragments that have come down to us from centuries, once the kingdom of Commagen was located here.

Yes, and one more moment. This Nemrut dag should not be confused with the eponymous Nemrut volcano, which is also located on the territory of modern Turkey near Lake Van. These are different mountains.

Nemrut dag on the map of Turkey (clickable map)

Get to Nemrut Dag on your own

To get to Nemrut dag on your own, you need to get to the city of Kahta. There is no way to get there by plane or by rail. If there is no direct bus, then be guided by Malatya, or better - Adıyaman. Dolmushi go from Adiyaman to Kyakhta about every 30 minutes.

There are airports in Adiyaman and Malatya. With which cities Malatya and Adiyaman are connected by air, you can look at the forum about Turkey by looking at the websites of Turkish air carriers presented there. You can view and purchase plane tickets through the form in the upper right corner.

You can get to Malatya by rail. For details, see the Turkey forum on the Turkish railway website. You can also get to Malatya and Adiyaman by (see the list of bus companies)

Also hotels in Kyakhta, Adiyaman, Malatya can be viewed through the hotel search form

Tours and excursions to Nemrut dag

When visiting Nemrut Dag on your own without a car, it will be difficult to get away from the tour to Nemrut. Even if you are staying in Karadut, you will have to walk to Nemrut along a serpentine road of almost 12 kilometers, rising to an altitude of more than 2000 m. This is real for masochists. There are rides, though not frequent, on Nemrut. But, of course, it depends on the time of day and the desire of people traveling to Nemrut in their car to take you with them. So hitchhiking is possible, but not guaranteed.

Tours and individual trips to Nemrut dag are organized by any guesthouses and hotels located in this region.

Tours and excursions to Nemrut dag are held either at sunset or sunrise. Even if you got to Kyakhta late in the evening, there is an opportunity to leave to meet the sunrise next night. Accordingly, if you arrive in the afternoon, there is an opportunity to leave immediately for the next meeting of the sunset. Also, if you come alone, then there is an opportunity to join a group to reduce the price of the tour. The main thing is that people are available.

Prices for tours and excursions to Nemrut dag from Kyakhta are as follows (as of May 2010):

Tour covering only Nemrut (sunrise / sunset) - 70 TL per group

Excursion that includes Nemrut and its surroundings: (Arsameya, Yeni Kale, Jendere Bridge, Karakush tumulus):
if you are alone - 150 lire
in a group (from 4 people) - 75 TL

To meet the dawn, departure at 3.00 am, return to Kyakhta at about 9.30 (if you took the Nemrut tour with the surroundings). To meet the sunset - departure at about 15.00. If you take a tour to Nemrut without visiting the surrounding area, then, accordingly, the departure will be later, and the arrival earlier.

History of Nemrut and the Kingdom of Commagen

Once upon a time, or rather in the 2nd century BC. Mount Nemrut was located in the dwarf state of Commagene. But the state was, though small, but proud. This was especially true of the rulers. Tsar Mithridates I, nicknamed Kalinikos (winning beautifully), organized his small-town Olympic Games here and took direct part in them. But King Antiochus I surpassed all the kings. He had Greek and Persian roots. Having absorbed the Western and Eastern worldviews, Antiochus created his own religion. And, at the same time, he ranked himself among God. Mount Nemrut became the religious center. Here King Antiochus built a ritual complex. But Antiochus did not succeed in spreading his religion widely, as well as completing the construction of the complex to the end. After his death, construction ceased. After the disappearance of Kommagene, Nemrut was forgotten. It was discovered by the crusaders. But oddly enough, it was forgotten. Nemrut was rediscovered in 1881 by an engineer and geologist from Germany Karl Sester. Karl did not find what he was looking for, but rediscovered Miru Nemrut dag. However, serious study of Nemrut began only in the middle of the 20th century.

Attractions of Nemrut

The ritual complex on Mount Nemrut is as follows.

shrine map on Nemrut dag

At the top of Mount Nemrut, 3 terraces are carved - east, west and north. There are numerous statues of the gods (up to 10 meters in height) on them. Previously, these were solid sculptures.

But after the earthquake in these parts, the heads fell. Now they are standing by their bodies. Terraces surround a man-made hill 50 meters high and 152 meters in diameter. It is believed that Antiochus himself is buried somewhere in the bowels of the hill. But, unfortunately, so far these are only guesses and assumptions.

But before you can see the cherished heads, you will have to overcome about 2 kilometers of walking ascent along stone steps. They lead to the East Terrace of the sanctuary at Nemrut Dag.

East terrace of Nemrut dag

According to the reconstruction, the eastern terrace of the sanctuary on Nemrut looked like this

Today the picture of Nemrut dag is a little different.

What is uncharacteristic - the gods are in a sitting position, not standing. According to Antiochus, this is the home of the Gods, and it is here that their heavenly thrones are located. The figures are made of limestone, and the bodies of the gods are made of massive blocks. Once upon a time, the figures were polished. Now time has eaten them up in the truest sense of the word. Gods from left to right

Tyche - the goddess of fate

The gods are guarded by a lion and an eagle. Opposite the statues there is a platform on which the sacrificial fire was lit. Now this platform is used as a convenient place for photographing. And also to meet the sunrise. Bypassing the hill we find ourselves on the West Terrace

West Terrace of Nemrut Dag

The western terrace of Nemrut dag is not as big as the eastern one. And the gods are closer to people here, and do not look down on them. On the West Terrace there are all the same characters: Antiochus, Tyche, etc.

On either side of the figures are the barillefs of the ancestors of Antiochus, both from the Persian and Greek sides.

Pedestal of Persian ancestors from left to right:
1. Darius I, 522-486 BC
2. Xerxes I 486-464 BC
3. Artaxerxes I 464-425 BC
4 . Darius II Ochos 425-404 BC
5. Artaxerxes II Mnemon 404-359 BC
6. Orontes I (Aroandes) 401 BC
7. Princess Rhodogune, wife of Orontes
8.name unknown?
9.name unknown?
10. Samos 250 BC
11.name unknown, 230 BC
12.name unknown 223-187 BC
13. Ptolemaios 163-130 BC
14. Samos II 130-109 BC
15. Mithridates Kallinikos 109 -? BC

Pedestal of Greek ancestors:
1. Alexander the Great 356-323 BC
2. Seleucus I Nikator 304-279 BC
3. Antiochus I Soter 279-262 BC.
4. Antiochus II Theos 261-246 BC
5. Seleucus II Kallinikos 246-225 BC
6. Seleucus III Soter 225-223 BC
7. Antiochus III the Great 223-187 BC
8. Seleucus IV Philopator 187-176 BC
9. Antiochus IV Epiphanes 176-164 BC
10. Demitrios I Soter 162-150 BC
11. Demitrios II Nikator 145-125 BC
12. Princess Cleopatra Thea, married Demitrios II
13. Antiochus VIII Grypos 125-96 BC
14. Princess Tryphaina, wife of Antiochus VIII
15. Princess Laodike Thea Philadelphus, wife of Mithridates I
16. Princess Isias Philostorgos, wife of Antiochus I Theos
17. Antiochus Theos 86-36 BC

In addition to the above, images of a lion have been found on the Western Terrace of Nemrut. It is assumed that this is a horoscope (read more about this in on.

North terrace of Nemrut dag

The northern terrace of Nemrut Dag was intended for gathering people during ceremonies. From here the procession moved towards the East Terrace. Almost nothing has survived on it.

Now around Nemrut Dag there is nothing but mountains. And before - it was part of the kingdom. Something of this kingdom can be seen today. But this cannot be done on foot. objects are at a sufficiently large distance from each other

Other attractions in the Nemrut Dag area

Nemrut Dag area map

In the area of Nemrut Dag, a number of sights from different times have been preserved.

map of the vicinity of Nemrut Dag (Arsameya, Karakush, Yeni Kale, bridge (clickable)

Lonely Planet map source

Arsameia

Arsamey is a summer residence built during the reign of the ancestors of Commagene by Arsemez I. Founded by Arsamey in the 3rd century. BC. The city was not just a summer residence, but served as an administrative center. Today, only the following remains of the former greatness

Stella Apollo - Inscribed Miter

A well-preserved bas-relief depicting King Mithridates shaking hands with a naked Hercules.

Nearby is a 158-meter tunnel that leads to a small room where religious rituals were performed. You need a flashlight to get through the tunnel. Above the entrance, there is a well-preserved inscription in Greek, which says about the foundation of Arsamey.

There is also one more tunnel, but smaller.

In the same area, there is the grave of Mithridates Kalinikos, the organizer and participant of the local Olympic Games, and the ruins of his palace.

Yeni kale

The fact that a fortress existed in this place is stated in the inscriptions of Arsamey. But the fortress, or rather its ruins, which we see today, does not belong to the era of Commagene. The fortress was rebuilt by the Seljuks. And the Mamluks, who came here in the 13th century, gave the fortress the look, the remains of which we can admire today ... alas, only from the outside. In any case, at the time of my visit (May 2010), Yeni Kale was closed for visits, because the fortress is in a deplorable state (even, it seems, someone died there from among the tourists). According to the stories, there are various military and household structures on the territory of the fortress. And there is even a pond. And there is also an underground passage leading from the fortress to the outside across the river.

The bridge of the Seljuk times is also well preserved. It still performs its direct function today.

Jendere Bridge (Cendere köprüsü)

The Jendere Bridge was built in 200 - 198 BC. e under Septimius Severus. Its length is 120m, width - 7. The bridge consists of 92 stone blocks. Each block weighs about 10 tons.

There is an inscription on the Jendere Bridge stating that the bridge was built in honor of Septimius Severus, his wife and sons. In the original version, there were 4 Corinthian columns at the entrances to the bridge - 2 on each side. They symbolized the family of Severus: his family, wife and two sons - Goethe and Marcus Aurelius. Now there are 3 columns. One column of the Jendere bridge did not just collapse (stolen, taken as material for construction). Everything is much sadder. During the power struggle, Goethe would be killed by his brother. And in order to erase any memory about him, the column was also destroyed.

The Jendere Bridge is located at the narrowest point of the river. From here, a beautiful view of the canyon opens up along which you can walk.

Karakuş Tümülüs

Karakush tumulus is a man-made burial mound, similar to the mound on Nemrut. Karakush tumulus family cemetery, where women of the royal family are buried. A mound was laid at Mithridates Kalikikos in honor of his mother Isias in the 1st century BC. Initially, the mound was 35 meters high. It was surrounded by columns. How many columns were originally - such information has not reached us. Today, 3 columns have survived. One of them - with a statue of an eagle, and gave the name to the mound.

A column with a bas-relief of a handshake and a sculpture of a lion have also survived on the Tyumulus mound.

There are tombs inside the mound. but they were plundered long before us - in Roman times. It is also known that the Tyumyulus mound was a place of worship.

panoramas are clickable

Actually, we went on a trip to Eastern Turkey for this very place. A year earlier, while traveling in Georgia, we were at the observatory in Abastumani and our astronomer guide Givi Kimeridze caught a glimpse of a picture of giant statues on the mountain against the background of the starry sky. Said: This is a beautiful place in Turkey. An old photo so stuck in my head that when I arrived, I found Mount Nemrut in Google and now we were going to visit it.

You can get to Nerut from Malatya or from Adiyaman by taking a dolmush ticket to Kahta (Kyakhta). There we decided to spend the night in a hotel, the name of which, luckily for them, I don’t remember. They called to their place, as to the best and cheapest hotel in the city, however, in fact it turned out to be a rather creepy and dirty bedbug, while a cozy and cheap teachers house was located 200 meters away. By the way, teachers house is kind of like hotels for civil servants. Ordinary tourists can also stay there. Slightly more expensive, but still very cheap. At the same time, the level of the hotel is quite 3 stars. But we met them only in eastern Turkey. If anyone knows in more detail - tell me, pliz. In general, we doubted for a long time whether to stay in our terrible hotel, then we spat, threw our things, went out, saw the hotel better and returned exactly 10 minutes later with the aim of checking out. It seems, of course, that we are not a fountain which is consistent, but the administrator at the reception threw us a form of tantrum, demanding to pay per day for two, tk. he has losses because of us. Yeah, losses. We arrived at 10pm and canceled 10 min after check-in without even checking in. In general, there was a terrible and lengthy scene, as a result of which we checked out, the administrator yelled that we would not be accepted in any hotel in the city, we went to the teachers house, but they didn’t let us there, saying that the owner of the hotel had connections , he forbids taking his clients and they will have troubles with the measure, tk. the administrator just called. As a result, two lovely Turkish teachers saved us by sending us to a third hotel that was not involved in the swara.

In the morning we went up the mountain. Nemrut-Dag (Nemrut, Nemrud, tur. Nemrut Dağ or Nemrut Dağı, Greek Όρος Νεμρούτ, Armenian Նեմրութ լեռ, Pers. کوه نمرود, Kurd. Çiyayê Nemrûd) - a mountain in the southeast of Turkey in the mountains and Tavleam ... Height is 2150 meters above sea level. In 62 BC. BC, the king of Commagene Antiochus I Theos from the Armenian dynasty Ervandov built a tomb on the top of Mount Nemrut - a sanctuary surrounded by huge statues 8 - 9 meters high. The center of the tomb is a mound of small stones on the top of the mountain, 49.8 meters high and 150 meters wide at the base. Under the mound is the coffin of Antiochus I of Commagene (69-38 BC). The edges of the rocky peak, on which the tomb is located, have been turned into large terraces on three sides. Two of them are decorated with five majestic seated statues 8 meters high: in the middle is the figure of Zeus, on the sides personified by "Commagene" and King Antiochus, on the edges of Apollo and Hercules.

King Antiochus was a perky guy with Armenian roots and megalomania. He claimed that his mother came from the family of Alexander the Great, and his father was a descendant of the Persian king Darius. He himself wanted to become famous no less than the Macedonian and did not think of anything better than to create his own religion with himself at the head. In this religion, he tried to combine the traditions of the gods of the West (Greek) and the East (Zoroastrianism) and, like the kings of antiquity, commanded to deify himself. On the wall of the temple, he ordered to knock out his will, which was to immortalize his name: “My birthday should be celebrated every year and every month. On these days, let the chief priest burn incense in honor of the gods and me and put the most exquisite dishes and wines on the festive tables, and let him bring livestock for sacrifice. My subjects gathered here must taste everything, and let there be a holiday. "

In principle, there is a version that the whole thing was built by aliens, because how could ancient people drag 8-9 meter statues onto such a high mountain. But, in my opinion, although this whole sanctuary looks very impressive, the questions of the complexity of the construction disappear when you have slaves.

Like the Egyptian rulers, Antiochus in the center of the tomb built a kind of pyramid - a 50-meter mound of stones. However, the greatness of this project lies in the fact that the mound was crowned with a 2-kilometer mountain.

The terrace facing the east side was the most revered, here, in addition to mystical statues, there is an altar in the form of a stepped pyramid and a stone wall. The ledges in the west and east of the tomb are connected by a gallery, at the entrance of which are sitting huge stone eagles. On the eastern terrace, in addition to the main altar, five wonderful, 8-9 m high, throne statues of King Antiochus I and the Greek, Western Asian and Iranian gods - Zeus-Ahuramazda, Apollo-Mithra-Helios, Artagen-Hercules-Ares and the goddess Tyche of Commagens were preserved. Each statue was guarded by statues of lions and eagles on the sides. Nearby there are four monumental reliefs depicting a king and four gods, as well as a relief with a horoscope, where the deified ruler is placed in the constellation Leo.

The mountain offers superb views of the Ataturk reservoir. By the way, the third largest "lake" in Turkey.

In the pyramid hill, most likely, there is the tomb of Antiochus, although archaeologists still have not been able to find it. The lower part of the hill was surrounded by a stone wall, along the top of which a road for solemn processions ran, connecting three terraces located on the sides of the hill - from the east, west and north. For unknown reasons, the northern terrace remained unfinished, while the western and eastern were built according to a single plan, with the only difference that on the eastern one there was a huge stone altar (apparently intended for making solemn sacrifices in the light of the rising sun).
The western terrace statues are in significantly worse condition. On both terraces, six reliefs of the royal ancestors of Antiochus I have also survived. Even today, fragments of these huge sculptures amaze the imagination of tourists.

One interesting feature of the complex is the position of the gods. In both Greek and Persian culture, it was customary for statues of the gods to stand. In exceptional cases - in the nominal temples of this or that god - the deity was given the right to sit on the throne. On Mount Nemrut-Dag, the gods sit on their thrones, because, according to Antiochus's idea, it was here that the gods found their refuge.

In the first picture, Hercules and Apollo, in the second - Apollo and Seryozha.

It’s been a long time since we climbed the mountains and admired the natural wonders. So let's correct the situation now and go to a place full of secrets - to Mount Nemrut-Dag in Turkey and look at the mysterious stone heads.

Where are the stone heads on Mount Nemrut-Dag

Nemrut-Dag is the southeastern mountain of Turkey, located near the city of Adiyaman. The height of this mountain is 2150 meters above sea level.

In order to easily get to Mount Nemrut-Dag from Adiyaman, you need to take a direct transport to Kyakhta and calmly wait for the “final stop”. A little more and you are at the foot of one of the most mysterious mountains in the world, a little more and you will see mysterious stone heads.

It is worth noting that the back of Mount Nemrut-Dag has a huge history of tens, hundreds and thousands of years. And further! There is something unusual, secret on it - these are stone heads.

Who created the stone heads on Nemrut Dag and the tomb of King Antiochus I

The amazing "mausoleum" on Nemrut-Dag is one of the most popular attractions in Turkey, as well as. Indeed, this place, like no other, is steeped in the history and culture of antiquity.

To be convincing, let's start with the history of the creation of statues on Nemrut Dag.

In the distant 2nd century BC, Nemrut belonged to the dwarf state of Kommagen. The state itself was small, but the rulers were very proud and powerful individuals. Each of them tried to "stand out", to show their power over others. Tsar Mithridates I organized the Olympic Games here, thereby “attracting and luring” those around him. It would seem, what could be better and more ambitious?

But King Antiochus I simply surprised everyone with his idea. He created his own, new religion! And he gave himself the "title" of God.

At that time, Nemrut became a religious center. And it was here that it was planned to build something like a ritual complex. But the construction was not completed, since after the death of Antiochus I, the work stopped.

At the top of the mountain there is a huge burial ground with a sanctuary - this is the tomb of King Antiochus 1.

The king wished to deify himself and ordered to write a will on the walls of the temple with a request to "celebrate" his birthday from year to year. He said that, in spite of everything, literally every citizen was obliged to taste the treats and sacrifice an animal. "Let there be a holiday!" - with these words the will ends.

The riddle of stone heads on Mount Nemrut-Dag

Summit Nemrut-Dag consists of three terraces - western, eastern and northern. It is there that these mysterious statues of the gods are located - stone heads.

At the moment, the statues have already been "dismembered," so to speak. Just after a strong earthquake, the stone heads of the statues "fell off their shoulders" and now stand next to "their bodies"!