Both the east and the west terrace had two rows of sandstone stelae, mounted on pedestals with an altar in front of each stele. One row carries relief sculptures of Antiochos’ paternal Persian ancestors, the other of his maternal Macedonian ancestors. Inscriptions on the backs of the stelae record the genealogical links. The stelae on this west terrace are in better condition than those on the east side of the tumulus.

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).