General view of the east terrace.
The tumulus of stone chips, some 45-50 m in height, has been reduced from its estimated original 60 m due to weathering, previous uncontrolled research investigations and climbing by visitors (which is now forbidden). The interior layout of the funerary mound remains unknown, despite numerous attempts to locate the dromos (corridor) and the funeral chamber (supposing they are present).
Five giant seated limestone statues, identified by their inscriptions as deities, face outwards from the tumulus on the upper level of the terrace. They were eight or nine meters in height (the fallen heads included). They have been identified as (from left to right) Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes, the goddess Commagene-Tyche, Zeus-Oromasdes, king Antiochos I and Heracles-Artagnes-Ares. The multiple names of the gods indicate their syncretic Greek-Persian nature. The gods are flanked by a pair of guardian animal statues – a lion and eagle – at each end. All the heads of the statues have fallen off to the lower level.
On this terrace, which is larger than the one on the west side, stood an altar of burnt offering. Two series of orthostats on the north and south sides of the terrace describe Antiochus’ ascendance; he claimed to be a descendant from both the Persian king Darius I and Alexander the Great.

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