Nemrut or Nemrud is a mountain in south Eastern Turkey, notable for the huge statues at a burial tomb on the summit.

Visiting Nemrut

The best period to visit is between May 15 and October 15. The sunrise and sunset in Nemrut is magnifient and fascinating. The road is ashpalt up to the village Karadut and the rest is basalt. Near the peak there is a 15 minutes walk. Touring vehicles can be hired form Adiyaman or Kahta district. Long Tour: For those who aiming to watch the sunrise, it starts at 2 AM form Adiyaman, going through the places of interest all over the Nemrut National Park, lasts 3-4 hours. Those who want to see the sunset, the tour starts at 2 PM from Adiyaman. Short Tour: Tours including only Nemrut Mountain but not the other ruins and relics of the Commagene civilization. There are also daytime tours.

The mountain lies 25 miles north of Kahta, near Adıyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek, Armenian and Persian gods, such as Hercules-Vahagn, Zeus-Aramazd or Oromasdes (associated with the Persian god Ahura Mazda), Tyche, and Apollo-Mithras. These statues were once seated, with names of each god inscribed on them. The heads of the statues are now scattered throughout the site; the pattern of damage to the heads (notably to noses) suggests that they were deliberately damaged because of belief in iconoclasm. The site also preserves stone slabs with bas-relief figures that are thought to have formed a large frieze. These stones display the ancestors of Antiochus, who included both Macedonians and Persians.

Mt.Nemrut (Nemrut Dagi,) is the highest mountain of Northern Mesopotamia, overlooking passes along the Euphrates and great southern plains. On the summit, at on altitude of 2150 m., is the gigantic funerary sanctuary erected in the first Century B.C. for the King Antiochos 1. of Commagene. It comprises and artificial flanked by terraces where colossal stone statues of Apollo, Zeus, Hercules, Tyche and Antiochos stand, the toppled heads of which lying on the ground. This magnificent scene is considered as an eight wonder of the world. On the western terrace, in addition to colossal statues, there are relief's reflecting King Antiochos 1. Greeting the Gods.

Mount Nemrut is part of a geographic area named the Armenian highlands by Russian and Soviet geographers.