Mount Nemrut
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Infobox mountain Mount Nemrut or Nemrud (Template:Langx; Template:Langx; Template:Langx; Greek: Όρος Νεμρούτ) is a Template:Convert 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. It is one of the highest peaks in the east of the Taurus Mountains.
It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.<ref name="unesco1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Location and descriptionEdit
The mountain lies Template:Convert north of Kahta, near Adıyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I of Commagene built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues Template:Convert of himself, two lions, two eagles, and various composite Greek and Iranian gods, such as Heracles-Artagnes-Ares, Zeus-Oromasdes, and Apollo-Mithras-Helios-Hermes.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn When constructing this pantheon, Antiochus drew heavily from Parthian and Armenian traditions in order to reinvigorate the religion of his ancestral dynasty.<ref>Template:Harvnb; “Antiochus looked to contemporary Parthian and, especially, Armenian traditions, to design his pantheon and reinvigorate his ancestral religion.”</ref> The statues were once seated, with names of each god inscribed on them. At some point the heads of the statues were removed from their bodies, and they are now scattered throughout the site.
The pattern of damage to the heads (notably to noses) suggests that they were deliberately damaged as a result of iconoclasm. The statues have not been restored to their original places. The site also preserves stone slabs with bas-relief figures that are thought to have formed a large frieze. These slabs, or stelae, depict Antiochus' Greek and Persian ancestors.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
The same statues and ancestors found throughout the site can also be found on the tumulus at the site, which is Template:Convert tall and Template:Convert in diameter. It is possible that the tumulus of loose rock was devised to protect a tomb from robbers, since any excavation would quickly fill in.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The statues appear to have Greek-style faces, but Persian clothing and hair-styling.
The western terrace contains a large slab with a lion, showing an arrangement of stars and the planets Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars. The composition was taken to be a chart of the sky on 7 July 62 BCE.<ref>Template:Cite journal
The authors chose that date in preference to 23 July 49 BCE preferred by other researchers; see
Template:Cite journal</ref> This may be an indication of when construction began on this monument. The eastern portion is well preserved, being composed of several layers of rock, and a path following the base of the mountain is evidence of a walled passageway linking the eastern and western terraces. Possible uses for this site are thought to have included religious ceremonies, owing to the astronomical and religious nature of the monument.
The arrangement of such statues is known by the term hierothesion. Similar arrangements have been found at Arsameia on Nymphaios at the hierothesion of Antiochus' father, Mithridates I Callinicus.
Ancient historyEdit
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.Template:Sfn
Following the practice of the Mithridatic rulers of Pontus, Antiochus stressed his descent from the Achaemenids and Seleucids, and also claimed the royal legacy of Armenia. One of the essential parts of this identity was the then newly established Greco-Iranian pantheon, which was worshipped at specific sanctuaries in Commagene.Template:Sfn
Modern historyEdit
The site was excavated in 1881 by Template:Ill, 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. This is nevertheless still believed to be the site of his burial. The statues, all of them "beheaded", have not been restored to their original condition.
World Heritage SiteEdit
In 1987, Mount Nemrut was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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. There are also overnight tours running out of Malatya or Kahta.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The UNESCO entry states:<ref name="unesco1"/><templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
The mausoleum of Antiochus I (69–34 B.C.), who reigned over Commagene, a kingdom founded north of Syria and the Euphrates after the breakup of Alexander's empire, is one of the most ambitious constructions of the Hellenistic period. The syncretism of its pantheon, and the lineage of its kings, which can be traced back through two sets of legends, Greek and Persian, is evidence of the dual origin of this kingdom's culture.{{#if:|{{#if:|}}
— {{#if:|, in }}Template:Comma separated entries}}
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GalleryEdit
- Mount Nemrut (1).JPG
Mount Nemrut, East Terrace thrones in foreground
- Mount Nemrut (4).jpg
Mount Nemrut: Head of Antiochus I (?)
- Heads on Mount Nemrut.JPG
Heads of statues
- Mount Nemrut 1.jpg
Heads of statues
- Mount Nemrut (3).JPG
East terrace: Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes, Heracles-Artagnes-Ares, Persian eagle, and lion
- NemrudOstThrone.jpg
East Terrace: Thrones
- West Terrace (4961375519).jpg
West terrace
- Mount Nemrut - Antiochus (4962117788).jpg
West terrace: Head of Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes
- Zeus Oromasdes (4961550509).jpg
West terrace: Zeus-Oromasdes
- Heracles Artagnes Ares (4961567803).jpg
West terrace: Heracles-Artagnes-Ares
- Goddess of Kommagene (Tyche) (4961562037).jpg
West terrace: Head of Goddess of Kommagene (Tyche)
- NemrudWestAdlerkopf.jpg
West terrace: Head of Persian eagle
- Eagle and Lion (4962096376).jpg
West terrace: Sandstone eagle and lion bodies
- Nemrut Dagi (3823873001).jpg
West terrace: Sandstone stele / stelae of Persian
See alsoEdit
- Cities of the ancient Near East
- List of megalithic sites
- List of colossal sculptures in situ
- Queen of the Mountain — 2005 documentary about the excavation of Mount Nemrut
ReferencesEdit
SourcesEdit
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- Template:Cite journal
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- Template:Cite encyclopedia
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External linksEdit
- Template:Cite encyclopedia
- Mt. Nemrut
- International Nemrud Foundation
- Commagene Nemrut Conservation and Development Program
Template:World Heritage Sites in Turkey Template:National parks of Turkey Template:Mountains of Turkey