Mount Nemrut - A Perfect Way to Start the Day

One of the well-documented iconic experiences to have in Turkey - in addition to balloon rides in Cappadocia and visiting the ruins of ancient civilizations - is the experience being on Mount Nemrut at sunrise.  So, we had planned to do just that when we'd finalized our itinerary.  We stayed in Adiyaman and left there just before 4 am yesterday morning.  It took about 1 1/2 hours to get to the base of the mountain and from there, you have to hike up to the site.  The "trail" is a combination of stairs and stone walkway, most of it very uneven and, in the dark, more that a bit tricky.  To be honest, there was more than one time I considered giving up and turning back.  However, the increasing glow on the horizon promising a sunrise and multiple stops to catch our breaths, we made it to the top.  We reached it just before 6:30 and what we were rewarded with was one of those unforgettable moments one experiences in a lifetime.  It was breathtaking as the grey stone monument gradually turned to a rust colour as the rising sun shone on it.  Below is the description of the site.

Mount Nemrut is home to one of the most remarkable ancient monuments of the Hellenistic world.  At its summit, a massive burial mound and colossal statues mark the tomb-sanctuary of King Antiochus I of Commagene (69-34 BC), a kingdom founded north of Syria and the Euphrates after the breakup of Alexander's empire.  The statues, depicting gods, eagles, lions, and the king himself, once stood upright but now lie scattered across the site.  The enigmatic arrangement and the blend of Greek and Persian influences make Mount Nemrut a site of historical and archaeological intrigue.  Its breathtaking sunrise and sunset views over the statues add to its mystique.  Five giant seated limestone statues, identified by their inscriptions as deities, face outwards from the tumulus on the upper level of the east and west terraces. These are flanked by a pair of guardian animal statues – a lion and eagle – at each end. The heads of the statues have fallen off to the lower level, which accommodates two rows of sandstone stelae, mounted on pedestals with an altar in front of each stele.













After taking tons of photos, Atahan explained that there was an easier way down the mountain  – a combination of stairs and a ramp took us back to the parking lot.  It would have been much too dark to have used it before sunrise.  I was quite proud of myself that I managed to do it – as was Atahan – but it was certainly not easy.  By the time we left it was just past 7 am and we’d walked more than 6.5 km.  Yeah!
  
We saw these additional statues when we took
 the ramp and stairs back on the west side of the site




This, however, was just the first of two experiences this day that made it one of the most wonderful and memorable days of my trip!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Not Just My Happy Place - My VERY Happy Place!!

Image
During my first trip to Europe in 1979, I stumbled upon a place just east of Nice called Villefranche sur Mer.  It was so quaint and charming that I just knew I would keep returning to it.  Over the years, I now cannot count the times I have been here.  However, things change and I can no longer cope with the steep hills there. I do always make sure though that I spend some time there when I am in this part of the world.  A visit there never disappoints.   So, after a couple of days in Nice, I got to introduce my friends to the magic of Villefranche sur Mer.  Not surprisingly, they liked it as well.  I will let the following photos speak for themselves! La Rue Obscure dates from the 14th century Lunch at Olivula
Read more

The Med is Beckoning!

Image
Well, it is autumn and, once again, the Mediterranean is calling to me.  So, I am about to head off for 7 weeks, visiting many places I've never seen before but also returning to some that I love.  As usual, I am a bit daunted by it all but I recently read something that gives me courage.  The quote was "As you travel solo, being totally responsible for yourself, it's inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are."  It is something I wish my younger self had believed in! So, this trip will started in Spain where I will be staying at a seaside town called Sitges, not far from Barcelona.  I spent several days in Barcelona with a friend a few years ago and did an extensive tour there.  I find big cities a bit overwhelming, particularly when I am on my own, so picking a smaller seaside venue seemed a good place to start.  After several days there, I will head to Barcelona's port to embark on a ten day cruise called Islands of the Mediterranean...
Read more

Mallorca - No Rafa but Lots to See

Image
As any tennis fan knows, Raphael Nadal is probably Mallorca's most famous citizen.  There is an internationally famous tennis academy here established by him.  There were no "Rafa sightings" on my visit here although I did see a tour bus that had his name emblazoned across the back of it.  For background, Palma de Mallorca is the capital of the Balearic Islands.  It was founded by the Romans in 123 BC and later shaped by Byzantine, Moorish, and Catalan rule.  Under the Moors, it thrived as Medina Mayurqa until James I of Aragon conquered it in 1229 ushering in Christian rule and Gothic architecture.  Over centuries, Palma evolved into a vibrant Mediterranean port, with landmarks like La Seu Cathedral and Bellver Castle.  The 20 th century brought a tourism boom, transforming it into a cosmopolitan city rich in history, culture and coastal charm.   I had booked a Viator tour called  Best Palma de Mallorca and Valldemossa Tour from Cruise...
Read more