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Peiying Mo | profile | all galleries >> Travel >> Turkey >> Mt. Nemrut - Nemrut Dagi tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Mt. Nemrut - Nemrut Dagi

At the peak of the 2150m-high Mt. Nemrut lies the tomb of King Antiochus I Theos (64-36BC). To glorify his rule, the king had these colossal of statues built of himself and the Greek/Persian gods. They were placed on two terraces facing east and west with almost identical layout, the king then ordered to fill in between an artificial 50 meter high hill with crushed rocks. He is believed to be buried here with his three wives. Due to erosion and earthquakes, the statues had collapse and the heads fallen to the ground. The site was discovered by a German engineer in 1881 and was't excavated until 1990s by American archeologists.
The mountain is inaccessible to tourists between late October and early May due to severe weather conditions and snow bound roads. The short hike was streneous because of strong wind, the grade and the condition of the road. The stone heads have been moved around and are now chained off from tourists. I hiked to the top for sunset and sunrise. We left the hotel at 2:45am in order to make it for the sunrise. Again the rest of my day was ruined because of lack of sleep.
Entering Mt. Nemrut National Park, a UNESCO historical site
Entering Mt. Nemrut National Park, a UNESCO historical site
The tomb of the king is about 500 meters away
The tomb of the king is about 500 meters away
Take a break to enjoy the view in the direction of Kahta
Take a break to enjoy the view in the direction of Kahta
Apollo and Heracles on the eastern terrace
Apollo and Heracles on the eastern terrace
Zeus
Zeus
Eagle
Eagle
Heracles, eagle, lion and the thrones of gods in the background
Heracles, eagle, lion and the thrones of gods in the background
Antiochus and Tyche of western terrace
Antiochus and Tyche of western terrace
Eagle and Lion
Eagle and Lion
Life-size stone reliefs
Life-size stone reliefs
Shivering in the stiff wind on the western terrance
Shivering in the stiff wind on the western terrance
Zeus
Zeus
The sun is far from setting
The sun is far from setting
Postcard vendor
Postcard vendor
The head is about 2 meters tall
The head is about 2 meters tall
Tyche
Tyche
Zeus in the foreground
Zeus in the foreground
Antiochus
Antiochus
The sunset wasn't worth the wait
The sunset wasn't worth the wait
At 4 am at a tea house, watching documentary on the history of the site
At 4 am at a tea house, watching documentary on the history of the site
Morning has broken...
Morning has broken...
My driver swaddled in a wool blanket, is too cold to enjoy the sunrise
My driver swaddled in a wool blanket, is too cold to enjoy the sunrise
All the Turks are joyous that the watch of sunrise is quickly over, some even brought wine
All the Turks are joyous that the watch of sunrise is quickly over, some even brought wine
They quickly snap a few shots of the stone heads before fleeing the scene
They quickly snap a few shots of the stone heads before fleeing the scene
Zeus, Antiochus, Heracles, lion and eagle
Zeus, Antiochus, Heracles, lion and eagle
Eagle, Apollo and Tyche
Eagle, Apollo and Tyche
Watch guard Osman stays in a tin-roof shelter on the mountain top year round
Watch guard Osman stays in a tin-roof shelter on the mountain top year round
Layered in woollen sweaters and blanket, I am still cold as an ice sculpture
Layered in woollen sweaters and blanket, I am still cold as an ice sculpture
Western terrace at sunrise
Western terrace at sunrise
Zeus and Heracles
Zeus and Heracles
Toppled statues of the Western Terrace at sunrise
Toppled statues of the Western Terrace at sunrise
Lion facing the stone heads
Lion facing the stone heads
My driver wrapped in blanket heading down the mountain
My driver wrapped in blanket heading down the mountain