The heads of an eagle (guardian animal) and Apollo-Mithra-Helios-Hermes, on the west terrace, amid other debris of the statues. The god’s head is about 2½ m in height. His multiple names indicate his syncretic Greek-Persian nature. All the statues appear to have Greek-style facial features, but Persian clothing and hairstyling.
There has been some academic discussions about the two beardless ‘portraits’, as to know which one is to attribute to king Antiochus (and consequently the other to Apollo). In the report for the World Heritage List of the Unesco, the head with the ears partly visible is attributed to Apollo – and the one where the cap covers the ears completely, to king Antiochus.
Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: File 448: ‘Nemrut Dağı’ – World Heritage List, Unesco (see: whc.unesco.org) .
& Personal visits (1983, 1987, 1994).