One of the largest intact Roman sculptures in Turkey on the side of Mount Nemrut. Nemrut Dag (Mt Nemrud) is a mountain measuring 2,150 meters. It is located near the village of Karadut in Kahta county in the province of Adiyaman. The relief showing Antiochos shaking hands with different divinities are very well preserved in the western terrace. Of the slabs that depicted the same scenes on the east terrace, only a few fragments remain.
The handshaking scenes that are to be seen on the west are as follows: Antiochos and the goddess Kommagene; Antiochos and Apollo-Mithras; Antiochos and Zeus-Oromasdes; Antiochos and Herakles-Artagnes.
The site on the moutain top was constructed by Antiochus 1, who prided himself on his royalty and power. He was deposed in 38 BC by the Romans after a 26 year reign. Antiochus believed himself to be the descendent of Apollo, and he built a statue of himself along with those of Apollo, Zeus, Tyche (Fortuna) and Hercules flanked by a lion and an eagle. An artificial mountain peak of rock 50 meters high is piled between the two ledges of the gods, and some suspect Antiochus’ tomb may be underneath it.
The colossal heads of the ancient gods now lie scattered at the summit of the mountains making an impressive picture at sunrise.