General view of the west terrace.
The tumulus of stone chips, some 45-50 m in height, has been reduced from its estimated original 60 m due to weathering, previous uncontrolled research investigations and climbing by visitors (which is now forbidden). The interior layout of the funerary mound remains unknown, despite numerous attempts to locate the dromos (corridor) and the funeral chamber (supposing they are present).
Five giant seated limestone statues, identified by their inscriptions as deities, face outwards from the tumulus on the upper level of the terrace. On this west terrace, they are severely damaged. The gods are flanked by a pair of guardian animal statues – a lion and eagle – at each end. All the heads of the statues have fallen off to the lower level.
In the west and south, the terrace is closed off by two rows of sandstone stelae, mounted on pedestals with an altar in front of each stele. One row carries relief sculptures of Antiochos’ paternal Persian ancestors, the other of his maternal Macedonian ancestors. Finally, there is an additional row of stelae representing the particular significance of Nemrut, the handshake scenes (dexiosis) showing Antiochos shaking hands with a deity and the stele with a lion horoscope, believed to be indicating the construction date of the cult area.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: File 448: ‘Nemrut Dağı’ – World Heritage List, Unesco (see: whc.unesco.org) .
& Personal visits (1983, 1987, 1994).