High in the Anatolian heartland rises Nemrut Dağı (Mount Nemrut), a 7,000-foot peak crowned with a site unlike any other in Turkey. Here, colossal stone heads stare pitilessly into the distance—their features partly mutilated, partly worn by centuries of wind and time—creating an atmosphere both haunting and awe-inspiring.
A Monument to a Kingdom
In 62 BC, King Antiochus I of Commagene ordered the construction of a vast tomb and temple complex at Nemrut. This extraordinary monument, combining Greek and Persian influences, was designed as a testament to his reign and remains the most significant relic of his kingdom. The terraces and statues that survive today continue to fascinate historians, travellers, and archaeologists alike.
A Dwelling Place of the Gods
Antiochus envisioned Nemrut not just as his final resting place, but as a sacred meeting ground of deities. He called it a hierothesion—the “common dwelling place of all the gods beside the heavenly thrones.” On the eastern and western terraces of the tumulus, visitors can still see rows of five immense limestone statues, seated and gazing outward across the landscape. Each row is guarded by powerful animal figures, symbolising protection.
An inscription reveals Antiochus’s intent: the summit was to serve as his eternal sanctuary, where the “God King” would rest among the gods themselves, his soul united with theirs in the celestial realm.
Over the centuries, the colossal statues of Nemrut Dağı have all been decapitated—their immense heads now resting on the terraces below. Scholars believe the damage was caused either by powerful earthquakes, which frequently shake the region, or by acts of iconoclasm. Originally, the statues are thought to have towered nearly 30 feet high, their design blending the artistic traditions of both Greece and Persia—a reflection of the Kingdom of Commagene’s position between these two great civilisations.
The 8th Wonder of the Ancient World
Today, Nemrut Dağı is often hailed as the 8th Wonder of the Ancient World. Recognised for its cultural and historical significance, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 and designated a National Park the following year. For travellers, it remains not only a site of deep historical intrigue but also a dream location for photographers, who are captivated by the surreal presence of the weathered stone heads scattered across the mountain terraces.
Here, we share a collection of images of Nemrut Dağı’s colossal stone heads, captured by Nichola Chapman.
And if that’s not enough for you, just look at that view…
To see more of Nichola’s work, please visit Nichola Chapman Photography
This article was first published on 15 August 2019 and updated on 1 September 2025
