Four of the heads on the east terrace. They are up to 2½ m in height.
From right to left: an eagle (guardian animal), Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes, the goddess Commagene-Tyche, and Zeus-Oromasdes. The multiple names of the gods indicating their syncretic Greek-Persian nature. All the statues appear to have Greek-style facial features, but Persian clothing and hairstyling.
The altitude - 2150 m for the top of the tumulus - gives environmental conditions (serious seasonal and daily temperature variations, freezing and thawing cycles, wind, snow accumulation and sun exposure) that have caused serious damage to the sculptures.
Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: File 448: ‘Nemrut Dağı’ – World Heritage List, Unesco (see: whc.unesco.org) .
& Personal visits (1983, 1987, 1994).