Two of the heads on the east terrace. They are up to 2½ m in height.
In the foreground: king Antiochos I; the second one is Zeus-Oromasdes. The multiple names of the god indicate his syncretic nature, Greek and Persian (Ahura Mazda is the Avestan name for a higher spirit of the Old Iranian religion). All the statues appear to have Greek-style facial features, but Persian clothing and hairstyling.

There has been some academic discussions about the two beardless ‘portraits’, as to know which one is to attribute to king Antiochus (and consequently the other to Apollo). In the report for the World Heritage List of the Unesco, the head with the ears partly visible is attributed to Apollo – and the one where the cap covers the ears completely, to king Antiochus.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: File 448: ‘Nemrut Dağı’ – World Heritage List, Unesco (see: whc.unesco.org) .
& Personal visits (1983, 1987, 1994).