Nemrut Dağı (Nemrut Dagi - Mount Nemrod) Travel Guide in Photos

Eagle head on top of Nemrut Dağı (Nemrut Dagi - Mount Nemrod)

During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the region that lies between the Taurus Mountains and the Euphrates was called Commagene. Commagene was established originally as an independent kingdom in 162 BC by Mithridates Kalinikos I. Mithridates brought together Persians and Macedonians and other communities in the area to found this powerful state and named it Commagene, which means community of geness in Greek. The kingdom was at the height of its splendor during the period of King Antiochos I (69-36 B.C.), who succeeded Mithridates. Most of the archeological remains which survive to our times, including the tumulus at the peak of Nemrut Dag, which still refuses to reveal all its secrets, are from the time of Antiochos I.

Mount Nemrod can be reached easiest from the Kurdish town of Kahta (54 km) in the Adiyamnan province. A tour of about 3 hours takes you to the top. On the way you visit the other remains of Commagene: Karakuş with the graves of the royal ladies, the Cendere Bridge that spans the Kahta Cay, and the site of Arsemia ad Nymphaios, the ancient capital of Commagene.

Nemrut Dagi combines 8-10 meter-tall statues, the likes of which are to be seen nowhere else in the world, a pyramid located at a height of 2,000 meters, a king's tomb, whose precise location has not yet been determined, the world's oldest horoscope, and a mixture of ancient Greek and Persian art styles. Thus, it is little surprise that archeology circles refer to Nemrut Dağı as the eighth wonder of the world.

For more info on Commagene and some video, please click here

After being several times in this area, I'm convinced Kommagene Hotel – Camping Tel. (0416)-715 10 92 - 725 55 48 is the best place to stay at Kahta. The photos on this page are from our 2002 tour of Eastern Turkey, coming from Urfa.

Here are the photos of Mount Nemrod and surroundings, click on the thumbnails to see greater pictures