NEMRUT DAĞI MILLI PARKI

The park features several mausoleums. The main one is that of King Antiochos ^I.

The mausoleum of Antiochos ^I. The proud, megalomaniac king Antiochos ^I was right to have a mausoleum of this scale built for himself, so that he would never be forgotten. The year was 64 BC, and Asia Minor was under Roman control, except for Commagene! "I, the great king Antiochos [...] will enter my eternal rest here, and my spirit will join that of Zeus in the heavens". The tumulus, 50 m high and 150 m in diameter, increases the height of the mountain, surpassing the surrounding mountains. The mausoleum is made of rock and rockery. Surrounded by altar terraces to the east, north and west, the tumulus seems to emerge from the ground. The western terrace houses the famous stone heads of the 6 colossal statues (in seated position). The gigantic heads (the tallest reaches 8 metres) lie on the ground, having fallen after an earthquake.

The statues represent nothing more than Greek and Persian gods (Antiochos is of Persian origin) and two majestic eagle and lion heads. The eastern terrace is similar to the western one, but the heads of the deities on the floor are much more degraded. The altar on this terrace was probably used for animal sacrifices. Fulfilling the function of a sanctuary, the site was also designed to honor the gods.

The origin of the name Nemrut Dağı. After the fall of the Commagene kingdom during the reign of King Antiochos IV in 74 A.D., the Romans destroyed the statues and buildings reminiscent of the ancient Commagene reign. For almost 2,000 years, the three buried kings remained undisturbed. The name Nemrut attributed to the mountain dates back to the arrival of Christian populations, who, unaware of the mausoleum's origins, believe they are looking at the work of the famous Nimrod (Nemrut Daği, in Turkish).

The Karakuş mausoleum, 9 km above Kâhta. Like Mount Nemrut, it is man-made. Here lie the female relatives of King Mithridates ^I, founder of the Commagene dynasty. Three massive columns are in place, originally crowned by an eagle, a lion and a bull.

The Cendere Bridge, a ^2nd-century Roman bridge with two columns on either side.

The Yeni Kale, "new citadel", protected the village of Eski Kâhta.

Eski Kale , "old citadel", also known as Arsameia, was the capital of the Commagene kingdom. The view is well worth the detour. Admission charge.