17.01.2013 Views

Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:52 AM Sayfa<br />

240<br />

Eastern terrace. The Commagene monarch, Antiochos Epiphanes I built a<br />

tumulus grave for himself here, on mount Nemrud, at a height of 2300 m.<br />

above sea-level, <strong>and</strong> declared the site of the tumulus a sacred temenos. On<br />

the north eastern <strong>and</strong> western flanks of the tumulus, which is 50 m. high,<br />

when their l<strong>and</strong> was annexed by the Roman Emperor Vespasianus<br />

to the province of Syria. The king, who had his tumulus erected on<br />

this sacred terrace, also placed an inscription tablet on the southern<br />

face of the ancient fortress, which stated that the capital of<br />

Commagene was Arsameia, describing the city, borders <strong>and</strong> the<br />

religious ceremonies of the Commagene. Immediately above the<br />

inscription, at a height of 3.43 m., was a relief depicting Mithridates<br />

I, the father of Antiochos <strong>and</strong> Hercules. This relief was studied by<br />

J.S. Young, who concluded that it dated back to 50 BC.<br />

Apart from these, another tumulus of interest is to be found 10 km.<br />

south west of the city of Arsameia, which lies on the Nymphaios<br />

River, (today's Kahta Stream), built for the ladies of the court.<br />

Uncovered here were three columns, bearing the statues of a lion, a<br />

bull <strong>and</strong> an eagle. A bridge over a tributary of the Kahta Stream, also

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!