View source for Mount Nemrut

{{Short description|Mountain in Adıyaman, Turkey}}
{{for|the volcano|Nemrut (volcano)}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Nemrut
| photo = Mount Nemrut - East Terrace (4961323529).jpg
| photo_caption = 
| elevation_m = 2134
| range = 
| location = [[Adıyaman Province]], Turkey
| map = Turkey
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| coordinates = {{coord|37|58|50|N|38|44|27|E|type:mountain_region:TR|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = 
| topo = 
| type = 
| age =
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = 
| embedded = 
  {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
  |child = yes
  |Official_name = Nemrut Dağ
  |ID = 448
  |Year = 1987
  |Criteria = Cultural: i, iii, iv
  |Area = 11 ha
  }}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 15
| mapframe-frame-height=260
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'''Mount Nemrut''' or '''Nemrud''' ({{langx|tr|Nemrut Dağı}}; {{langx|ku|Çiyayê Nemrûdê}}; {{langx|hy|Նեմրութ լեռ}}; [[Greek language|Greek]]: Όρος Νεμρούτ) is a {{convert|2134|m|ft|0|adj=mid|-high}} 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 [[List of World Heritage Sites in Turkey|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] in 1987.<ref name="unesco1">{{cite web |title=Nemrut Dağ |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/448 |website=whc.unesco.org |access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

==Location and description==
[[File:Nemrut_mountain_and_blue_sky.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Some of the statues near the peak of Mount Nemrut]]
The mountain lies {{convert|40|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of [[Kahta]], near [[Adıyaman]]. In 62&nbsp;BC, King [[Antiochus I of Commagene]] built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues {{convert|8|-|9|m|ft|0|adj=mid| high}} of himself, two lions, two eagles, and various composite [[Greek mythology|Greek]] and [[Zoroastrianism|Iranian]] gods, such as [[Heracles]]-[[Artagnes]]-[[Ares]], [[Zeus]]-[[Oromasdes]], and [[Apollo]]-[[Mithras]]-[[Helios]]-[[Hermes]].{{sfn|Widengren|1986|pp=135–136}}{{sfn|Shayegan|2016|p=13}} When constructing this pantheon, Antiochus drew heavily from [[Parthia]]n and [[Armenians|Armenian]] traditions in order to reinvigorate the religion of his ancestral dynasty.<ref>{{harvnb|Canepa|2020|p= 203}}; “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 [[Stele|stelae]], depict [[Antiochus I of Commagene|Antiochus]]' [[Greeks|Greek]] and [[Persian people|Persian]] ancestors.{{sfn|Goell|Bachmann|Sanders|1996|p=3}}{{sfn|Spawforth|Eidinow|Hornblower|2014|p=542}}

The same statues and ancestors found throughout the site can also be found on the [[tumulus]] at the site, which is {{convert|49|m|ft|0}} tall and {{convert|152|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} 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>{{cite book |first=Robert H. |last=Hewsen |title=Armenia: A historical Atlas |year=2001 |page=42}}</ref> The statues appear to have Greek-style faces, but Persian clothing and hair-styling.

[[File:Löwenhoroskop Humann 1883.jpg|thumb|right|The Lion with the Stars]]
The western terrace contains a large slab with a lion, showing an arrangement of stars and the planets [[Jupiter]], [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]], and [[Mars]]. The composition was taken to be a chart of the sky on 7&nbsp;July 62&nbsp;BCE.<ref>{{cite journal |author1-link=Otto Neugebauer |last1=Neugebauer |first1=O. |first2=H.B. |last2=van Hoessen |title=Greek horoscopes |journal=Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society |volume={{sc|xlviii}} |location=Philadelphia |year=1959 |pages=14–16}}<br/>The authors chose that date in preference to 23&nbsp;July 49&nbsp;BCE preferred by other researchers; ''see''<br/>{{cite journal |last1=Belmonte |first1=Juan Antonio |first2=A. César |last2=Gonzales-Garcia |url=http://www.iac.es/proyecto/arqueoastronomia/media/BelmonteGonzalez_JHA2010.pdf |title=Antiochos's hierothesion at Nemrud Dag revisited: Adjusting the date in the light of astronomical evidence |journal=J. Hist. Astronomy |volume=41 |year=2010}}</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 history ==
[[File:APOLLON NEMRUT MOUNTAIN.jpg|left|thumb|150x150px|West Terrace: Head of King Antiochos I in snow at sunset.]]
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 (kingdom)|Cappadocia]], [[Pontus (kingdom)|Pontus]], and [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Armenia]].{{sfn|Canepa|2020|pp=202–203}}

Following the practice of the [[Mithridatic dynasty|Mithridatic]] rulers of Pontus, Antiochus stressed his descent from the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenids]] and [[Seleucid Empire|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.{{sfn|Canepa|2020|pp=202–203}}

==Modern history==
[[File:Mount nemrut in Turkey.jpg|left|thumb|150x150px|Head of King Antiochos I (left) and Heracles-Artagnes-Ares (foreground) on the West terrace]]
The site was excavated in 1881 by {{ill|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. 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 Site==
In 1987, Mount Nemrut was made a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 5: Urban Geology, Sustainable Planning and Landscape Exploitation |editor1= Giorgio Lollino|editor2=Andrea Manconi|editor3=Fausto Guzzetti|editor4=Martin Culshaw|editor5=Peter Bobrowsky|editor6=Fabio Luino |edition= illustrated |publisher= Springer |year= 2014 |isbn= 9783319090481 |page= 45}}</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>{{cite book |title= Volcanic Tourist Destinations; Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism |editor= Patricia Erfurt-Cooper |edition= illustrated |publisher= Springer Science & Business Media |year= 2014 |isbn= 9783642161919 |page= 93}}</ref>

The UNESCO entry states:<ref name="unesco1"/>{{blockquote|The mausoleum of [[Antiochus I of Commagene|Antiochus I]] (69–34 B.C.), who reigned over [[Commagene]], a kingdom founded north of [[Syria (region)|Syria]] and the [[Euphrates]] after the breakup of [[Alexandrian Empire|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 mythology|Greek]] and [[Persian mythology|Persian]], is evidence of the dual origin of this kingdom's culture.}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" height="200">
File:Mount Nemrut (1).JPG|Mount Nemrut, East Terrace thrones in foreground
File:Mount Nemrut (4).jpg|Mount Nemrut: Head of [[Antiochus I of Commagene|Antiochus I]] (?)
File:Heads on Mount Nemrut.JPG|Heads of statues
File:Mount Nemrut 1.jpg|Heads of statues
File:Mount Nemrut (3).JPG|East terrace: Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes, Heracles-Artagnes-Ares, Persian eagle, and lion 
File:NemrudOstThrone.jpg|East Terrace: Thrones
File:West Terrace (4961375519).jpg|West terrace
File:Mount Nemrut - Antiochus (4962117788).jpg|West terrace: Head of Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes
File:Zeus Oromasdes (4961550509).jpg|West terrace: Zeus-Oromasdes
File:Heracles Artagnes Ares (4961567803).jpg|West terrace: Heracles-Artagnes-Ares
File:Goddess of Kommagene (Tyche) (4961562037).jpg|West terrace: Head of Goddess of Kommagene (Tyche)
File:NemrudWestAdlerkopf.jpg|West terrace: Head of Persian eagle
File:Eagle and Lion (4962096376).jpg|West terrace: Sandstone eagle and lion bodies
File:Nemrut Dagi (3823873001).jpg| West terrace: Sandstone stele / stelae of Persian
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[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

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

== Sources ==
{{refbegin|colwidth=25em|small=yes}}
* {{cite book|last= Canepa|first= Matthew |author-link=Matthew P. Canepa |year=2020 |title=The Iranian Expanse: Transforming royal identity through architecture, landscape, and the built environment, 550&nbsp;{{sc|BCE}} – 642&nbsp;{{sc|CE}} |location=Oakland, CA |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |isbn=9780520379206}}
* {{cite journal |first=Theresa |last=Goell |date=Oct 1957 |title=The Excavation of the "Hierothesion" of Antiochus&nbsp;I of Commagene on Nemrud Dagh (1953-1956) |journal=Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research |volume=147 |pages=4–22 |publisher=The University of Chicago Press |doi=10.2307/1356011 |jstor=1356011 |s2cid=163611794 }}
*{{cite book |editor-first1=Theresa |editor-last1=Goell |editor-first2=H. G. |editor-last2=Bachmann |editor-first3=Donald Hugo |editor-last3=Sanders |year=1996 |title=Nemrud Dagi: The hierothesion of Antiochus&nbsp;I of Commagene: Results of the American excavations directed by Theresa B. Goell |volume=1 |publisher=Eisenbrauns  |quote=The east and west terraces each contain colossal statues of Antiochus and his syncretized Greco-Persian tutelary deities, dozens of relief stelae portraying the Persian, Macedonian, and Commagenian ancestors of Antiochus}}
* {{cite book |first=Martin |last=Hengel |year=1980 |title=Jews, Greeks, and Barbarians: Aspects of the hellenization of Judaism in the pre-Christian period |publisher=Fortress |page=73 }}
* {{cite book |last=Shayegan |first=M. Rahim |year=2016 |chapter=The Arsacids and Commagene |editor-last1=Curtis |editor-first1=Vesta Sarkhosh |editor-last2=Pendleton|editor-first2=Elizabeth J. |editor-last3=Alram |editor-first3=Michael |editor-last4=Daryaee |editor-first4=Touraj |title=The Parthian and Early Sasanian Empires: Adaptation and expansion |publisher=Oxbow Books |isbn=9781785702082}}
* {{cite book |editor-first1=Antony |editor-last1=Spawforth |editor-first2=Esther |editor-last2=Eidinow |editor-first3=Simon |editor-last3=Hornblower |year=2014 |title=The Oxford Companion to Classical Civilization |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=542 }}
* {{cite encyclopedia | last = Widengren | first = G. | year = 1986 | title = Antiochus of Commagene | encyclopedia  = Encyclopaedia Iranica |volume=II, Fasc.&nbsp;2 | pages = 135–136 | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/antiochus-of-commagene }}
*{{cite book |last=Siliotti |first=Alberto |year=2006 |title=Hidden Treasures of Antiquity |publisher=VMB |location=Vercelli |isbn=88-540-0497-9 }}
* {{cite journal |first=John H. |last=Young |date=Jan 1964 |title=Commagenian tiaras: Royal and divine |journal=American Journal of Archaeology |publisher=Archaeological Institute of America |volume=68 |issue=1 |pages=29–34 |doi=10.2307/501522 |jstor=501522 |s2cid=193017631 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Brijder |editor-first=Herman A.G. |year=2014 |title=Nemrud Dağı: Recent archaeological research and conservation activities in the tomb sanctuary on Mount Nemrud |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |place=Boston, MA / Berlin, DE |ISBN=978-1-61451-713-9 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Mount Nemrut}}
* {{cite encyclopedia | title = NEMRUD DAĞI | last = Jacobs | first = Bruno | url = http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/nemrud-dagi | encyclopedia  = Encyclopaedia Iranica | year = 2011 }}
* [http://mtnemrut.com  Mt. Nemrut]
* [http://www.nemrud.nl/ International Nemrud Foundation]
* [http://www.nemrut.org.tr/ Commagene Nemrut Conservation and Development Program]
{{World Heritage Sites in Turkey}}
{{National parks of Turkey}}
{{Mountains of Turkey}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nemrut}}
[[Category:Commagene]]
[[Category:Mountains of Turkey]]
[[Category:National parks of Turkey]]
[[Category:62 BC]]
[[Category:Landforms of Adıyaman Province]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Adıyaman Province]]
[[Category:History of Adıyaman Province]]
[[Category:Historic sites in Turkey]]
[[Category:Nimrod]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Turkey]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Southeastern Anatolia]]