Nemrut Dagi ve Diablo II...


Güneydogu Anadolu Bölgesi (In English)...

Brief History...
The Southeastern Anatolian Region has a very rich history and cultural heritage, as can be seen in its magnificent historical sites. Its history begins around 7,000 B.C. in the New Stone Age. Between 2,000 B.C. and 1,500 B.C. came the Hurris who were followed by the Hittites sometime around 1,200 B.C. In the land which encircles the Firat (Euphrates) and the Dicle (Tigris) rivers, lived Abraham, the patriarch claimed by three world religions. Some think that Abraham was born in what is now called Sanliurfa, supposed to have been Ur of the Chaldees, and later moved south from the city to Harran. In Harran, which was an important Mesopotamian historic and cultural center, the ruins of one of the largest and oldest Islamic universities can be seen among the archaeological remains. Restoration of the 18th-century mansion, Küçük Haci Mustafa Hacikamiloglu Konagi in Sanliurfa, is now complete. It has just reopened and now serves as an art gallery. When you travel from the south to the north over the Mesopotamian plains, the first high mountain to be seen is the picturesque Mt. Nemrut, with the mausoleum of the Commagene King Antiochos at its 2,150 meter peak. The most important areas of the region are Diyarbakir, whose city walls are a superb example of medieval military architecture; Mardin with its regional architecture; and Gaziantep, a large trade and industrial center which contains the remains of late Hittite cities. The Atatürk Dam Lake is the region's holiday and water-sports center. There are many beaches along the shore of the lake which can give you an unforgettable holiday experience under the Mesopotamian sun.
The Southeastern Anatolian Project - GAP...
The Southeastern Anatolian Project is the largest and most multifaceted development project in Türkiye as well as one of the, largest development projects in the world. The project includes active farming with extensive irrigation systems and electricity production. It will also benefit the tourism, mining, petrol, education, health, communication, industry and transportation sectors. The Southeastern Anatolia Project covers the lower parts of the Firat and Dicle rivers and the provinces of Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Siirt, Batman and Sirnak, on the plains between the rivers. The project will also bring with it a change in the climate of the area. The Atatürk Dam and Hydroelectric Plant, the largest in Türkiye and the sixth largest in the world, is situated on the Firat River in the town of Bozova in Sanliurfa. Atatürk Dam, which is the foundation of the Southeastern Anatolia Project, began operation in 1994 and is important not only for energy production but also for irrigation. The water obtained from the reservoirs of the Atatürk Dam will be carried to the Harran plain by the Sanliurfa Tunnel System, which is the largest in the world, in terms of length and rate of flow. The waters of the Firat river will pass through tunnels which are 26.4 kilometres in length and 7.62 meters in diameter, and be distributed to the vast croplands of the southeastern Anatolian plains from central and branch channels, bringing a production boom and prosperity to the region.
From Gaziantep to Mardin... Historical Places and Tourism...
To explore the sites along Türkiye's southern border, take the highway which connects Gaziantep, Sanliurfa and Mardin to Syria and Iraq. Gaziantep (685 km southeast of Ankara) is located on a wide and fertile plain cultivated with extensive olive groves and vineyards and produces a wide variety of agricultural crops. It is especially known throughout Türkiye for its excellent pistachios. Industry also contributes to the local economy. The 36 towers of the city's fortress were originally constructed in the Justinian era and were later rebuilt by the Seljuks. The Archaeology Museum has important artifacts from Neolithic, Hittite and Roman times. The Hasan Süzer House, from the turn of the century, has been beautifully restored as the Ethnographical Museum. The artisans of Gaziantep specialise in copperware and furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The kitchens there produce some of the best lahmacun, a delicious pizza topped with spicy meat and herbs, and also baklava, a honey and nut pastry. West of Gaziantep, the Dülük Forest makes a good day's outing, or you can stay overnight in the campsite. In the woods, stroll through the archaeological site which dates back to prehistoric times. A Hittite school of sculpture was centred in Yesemek, where the 200 works of art still reveal the beauty of the Hittite period. Next to the Syrian border, on the banks of the Firat River, Kargamis, once a late Hittite capital, is another important archaeological site. The site's finds, including immense bas-reliefs, have been moved to the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations in Ankara. The ruins of Belkis (Zeugma) are on the edge of Nizip. There is a mound which was turned into a citadel and mosaics from the Roman period, which are well worth seeing. Kilis, near the Turkish-Syrian border en route to Gaziantep, was originally known in the Assyrian archives as Kilizi. Kilis is important for its cotton and silk weaving and also for its leather products. This most charming area is dotted with vineyards and olive groves on all sides. Also interesting are the Canbolat Bey complex, the old baths and a center that once housed a dervish order. Several other sites worth seeing nearby include Ravanda Castle, situated between Kilis and Gaziantep. 5 km to the northeast is the town of Kuzeyne (Korus) that is like an open-air museum with its castle and mosaics. What makes it special is that here one can view ruins from Hittite, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic times all in one place. An ancient Roman center is found 20 km east of Kilis in the town of Korus (Kiriz). Ruins of a castle, a temple and a theatre await your visit. In the 12^th century B.C. Kahramanmaras (78 km north of Gaziantep) was the capital of the Hittite state of Gurgum. A massive citadel built in the 2nd century B.C. now houses the city museum with a good collection of Hittite sculptures. Other sites include the 15th-century Ulu Mosque and the Tas Medrese. The city is famous throughout Türkiye for its ice-cream thickened with gum Arabic and beaten with a wooden paddle.


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Adiyaman (153 km northeast of Gaziantep) the Archaeological Museum houses regional finds from the Lower Firat which date from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic ages. Good quality kilims woven in bright colours sell for reasonable prices in the bazaar. Surrounding monuments include the ruins of an Abbasid citadel (restored by the Seljuks) and the 14^th century Ulu Mosque. The discovery of oil in the region has brought prosperity to Adiyaman. 5 km to the north is Pirin (Perre), that boasts a large Roman necropolis dug out of the rock and soil. Adiyaman, as well as Kahta (which also has good accommodation and camping facilities), make good bases from which to visit Nemrut Dagi (Mt. Nemrut) National Park. You can hire transportation in either town. On the summit of Nemrut Dagi, at 2,150 meters the highest mountain in Northern Mesopotamia, sits the gigantic funerary sanctuary erected in the first century B.C. by King Antiochos I of Commagene. The engineering involved continues to amaze visitors seeing for the first time the artificial tumulus as it is flanked by terraces on which rest the colossal statues of Apollo, Zeus, Heracles, Tyche and Antiochus. Time has inflicted heavy damage on the sculptures - their torsos sit with their beautifully carved heads at their feet. At ancient Eskikale (Arsameia of Nymphaios), a magnificent relief in the ruins of what scholars believe might have been the Commagene Palace depicts Heracles greeting the Commagene king, Mithridates. Opposite this site, separated by the Eski Kahta river, are the remains of Yenikale (New Castle) built by the Mamluks. Other nearby sights include the Roman bridge at Cendere and another Commagene royal tumulus, Karakus. In the great Upper Mesopotamian plain, Sanliurfa, thought by some to be the ancient city of Ur and later known as Edessa, proudly exhibits the legacy of all the civilisations that have prospered in this region. Some of the oldest signs of civilisation, dating to 7000 B.C., were found 70 kilometres northwest of Sanliurfa, at the village of Kantara. The recent development of dams and a hydroelectric plant stand in stark contrast to the ancient site of a temple and Neolithic settlement which is nine thousand years old. The temple has been identified as a religious center for moon worship. This site is still the only one of its kind in the world. Visitors can view small idols and religious figures as well as some very early and beautiful mosaic work from the settlement. On a hill 20 kilometres northeast of Sanliurfa lies Göbekli. This settlement is perhaps 9000 years old, and may rest atop even older settlements in lower layers of the artificial hill. The probable workplace of an ancient idol maker can be seen here where many finished and unfinished human and animal figures and tools have been found. The Sanliurfa area, in the second millennium B.C., was a city of a Hurrite state. Some believe that Abraham was born in a cave near where the Mevlid Halil Mosque now stands. Today the cave is a pilgrimage site and flocks of pigeons do not seem to disturb the elderly men praying around the entrance. The remains of a castle with two lone Corinthian columns rising above the ruined walls stands atop a small crest. At the foot of the hills, the lovely Halil Rahman Mosque is built around a quiet pool in which sacred carp swim. The 17th-century Ottoman Ridvaniye Mosque and the Firfirli Mosque, formerly the Church of the Apostles, are worth a detour. The Archaeology and Ethnography museum, one of the best in Türkiye, houses important Neolithic and Chalcolithic finds from the Lower Firat region. To capture the spirit of Sanliurfa, wander through the vaulted eastern bazaar and linger in the courtyards of the old hans (inns). See if you can find Gümrük Hani and Barutçu Hani - the most interesting of the old hans.


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Believed, to be the ancient city of the same name mentioned in the Old Testament, Harran is known more now for its unusual beehive dwellings than as the place where Abraham actually spent several years of his life. Included among the archaeological are those of the largest ancient Islamic university, city walls dating from the eighth century, four gates and a citadel. The GAP project will transform Harran into one of the most fertile areas in Türkiye. Birecik, 80 km west of Sanliurfa, straddles the Firat river and is dominated by the citadel. A good place to take a break, there are good accommodations and camping facilities here. Diyarbakir, known in ancient times as Amida, spreads across a basalt plateau close to the banks of the Dicle river. The black basalt triple walls which encircle the old town give the city a rather ominous appearance. These ramparts are 5.5 km in length, have 16 keeps and five gates, are decorated with inscriptions and bas-reliefs, and represent a superb example of medieval military architecture. The Ulu Mosque, built by the Seljuk Sultan Melik Shah, is notable for its original design and for its utilisation of both Byzantine and more ancient architectural materials. The mihrab of the nearby Mesudiye Medrese is made of the local black basalt. The Nebii Mosque represents the typical Ottoman style, while the Safa Mosque exhibits Persian influences in its tiled minaret. The third century Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana Kilisesi), which is still in use today, also makes for an interesting visit. For an example of early domestic architecture, stop at the restored home of the writer Cahit Sitki Taranci. The Deliller Hani (1527) by the Mardin Gates, convened and refurbished into a hotel, recreates the atmosphere of the days when trading caravans stopped in Diyarbakir. Just outside the city walls, by the river, stands Atatürk's house, now a museum. South of town at the Dicle Bridge, built in 1065, you can take a great picture of the Dicle River, the bridge and the city walls. In Silvan, 77 km east of Diyarbakir you should stop at the graceful Ulu Mosque, which dates from 1185, to admire the fine flowing lines of stone-relief work that outline the pointed arch portal. Çayönü, one of the earliest Neolithic settlements yet to be discovered, dates from the seventh millennium B.C.

From a distance, the golden stone houses of Mardin blend into the rock of the hills on which the city is built. On closer inspection, the stone carving and decoration of the houses and public buildings reveals the city to be an architectural treasure-chest. Among the jewels are the ancient citadel and several mosques, in particular, Ulu Mosque. The 15th-century Kasim Pasa Medrese is remarkable for its fine stonework. At the lovely Isa Bey Medrese, from the 14^th century, you can admire the magnificently carved portal and climb to its roof to enjoy a fantastic view of the Mesopotamian Plain. Only 7 kilometres east of Mardin is the Syriac Jacobite Monastery of Deyrulzaferan, which was once a thriving religious community. At nearby Kiziltepe, the 13^th-century Ulu Mosque, one of the best examples of Artukid architecture; has superb mihrab reliefs and a beautiful portal. Midyat, famous for its silver jewellery known as "telkari", also has many elegant and historic houses. Eighteen kilometres east of town is the active Syriac-Jacobite monastery of Deyrelumur (San Gabriel), which dates from the beginning of the fifth century. Batman is Türkiye's most important oil-producing center, with oil wells pumping the precious fuel dotting the surrounding area. North of Batman, the Malabadi Bridge, built in 1147, spans the Batman River. Undisturbed by time, peaceful waters still reflect the widest single-arch bridge of its day. Two guard towers ensured the bridge's security. At Hasankeyf are the ruins of the 12^th-century capital of the Artukids. The bridge, which once spanned the Dicle and connected the two pans of the city with the ruined palace inside the citadel, evokes the ghosts of a vanished dynasty. The 15th-century Zeynel Bey Mausoleum, attractively decorated with turquoise tiles, reveals Persian influence. Siirt was an especially eminent city at the time of the Abbasid Caliphate. Among the city's monuments, be sure to visit the 12^th century Seljuk Ulu Mosque and the 13^th century Asakir Çarsi Mosque. At Aydinlar (Tillo), only 6 km from Siirt, the Ibrahim Hakki Mausoleum Complex and nearby private Ibrahim Hakki Astronomical Museum are worth a visit. Siirt produces fine and large pistachio nuts and is known as well for its excellent goat-hair blankets and kilims. Sirnak, on the north face of Mt. Cudi (2,114 meters), derives its name from the Moslem belief that Noah's Ark landed on this mountain: Sir - City, Nak - Noah. Forty-five kilometres from Sirnak, Cizre is the supposed location of his tomb.
Info About "South - Eastern Anatolia Region" in TOPRAK HOME PAGE (In English)...
Adiyaman...

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Info About "Adiyaman" in TOPRAK HOME PAGE (In English)...

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"Kommagene" : Unutulan Krallik (In English)...
The kingdom of Kommagene was situated in the south east of Türkiye, at the upper reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, in Adiyaman. "Oaks and plane trees cover the hillsides. The valleys are full of fig, olive, walnut and pomegranate trees, grapevines and oleanders, nowhere do the corn fields give such an abundant harvest." You can hardly imagine that this description was given less than one hundred years ago, by a German who travelled through this region. If you read his report, it seems as if he describes paradise. Indeed, it is said that here once blossomed the garden of Eden. Today, this land resembles little its former paradise. Most of the trees have been felled and goats are busily eating away the last vestiges of vegetation. Nevertheless, irrigation, presently undertaken, will work miracles, and efforts are undertaken to refoster the land. The soil is very fertile and silver mountain water sparkles from the numerous springs. In the past, Kommagene was a very rich region known for its wealth of minerals and ores such as brown coal, gypsum, iron, gold and petroleum. A part of this richness has been re-discovered. In the sixties for example, an archeologist panned succesfully for gold in the Euphrates. Another discovery has been petroleum. During the last few years there has been extensive drilling for crude oil. verywhere on the landscape the oil riggs of the Turkish Petrol Organisation (TPO) are multiplying, drilling for black gold. But now, we have to travel back in time. Around 850 B.C. Kommagene appears for the first time in the annals of written history. According to the records of an Assyrian king, the population had to pay an annual tribute to him of gold, silver and the famous wood of the cedar trees. Apparently, the valuable cedar tree not only grew on the hillsides of the Lebanon in those days, but also in Kommagene. Kommagene became a satellite state of the Assyrians. Around 700 B.C. a Kommagenian king rebelled against the Assyrians. The Assyrian king, Sargon, defeated him. Sargon has given us a vivid description of this rebel king : "He is a godless man, who does not fear the gods. He plots only bad things and is full of cunning." We may assume that Sargons' description is a little subjective. Sargon continues : "I took his wife, his sons, his daughters, his possessions, his treasures, and finally I took the population of his land and had them deported to the south of Mesopotamia (Iraq). Nobody escaped. The people of the south of Mesopotamia I transferred to Kommagene." As we see, the policy of deporting people was already excercised in those days. Around 600 B.C. the Assyrians were defeated by the Babylonians. The last battle was fought at Samosata, a town which would become the future capital of Kommagene. Here, at the banks of the Euphrates the remains of the Assyrian army had united with the Egyptian army to withstand the Babylonians. The Babylonian king defeated the united forces. The people of Kommagene saw, how in their turn the Babylonians were replaced by the Persians, around 550 B.C. and then the Persians by the Greek intruders under Alexander the Great. Around 300 B.C. one of the heirs of Alexander the Great came into possession of the land. It was King Seleukos I Nicator, who founded the dynasty of the Seleucides. He is one of the Greek ancestors of the Kommagenian kings. Around 130 B.C. Kommagene became an independent kingdom.
King Mithridates I Kallinikos...
Like many of the other small kingdoms of Asia Minor, Kommagene was a melting pot of people from east and west. They had different cultures, habits and spoke different tongues. They certainly did not feel united as one people. Family ties and bonds of blood were more important than belonging to the people of Kommagene. King Mithridates did a great deal to change this attitude. For example, he organised each year in Kommagene, Olympic Games in honour of the ancestors. Those games could virtually be compared with the Olympic Games of the Greeks. In his younger years, King Mithridates was one of the participants, which made him popular amongst the Kommagenians. His skills won him many victories. As a result of his sporting achievements, Mithridates received the honorable name Kallinikos. This means literally "He who triumphs beautifully". Mithridates married a Seleucid princess, named Laodike. They begat three daughters and after bearing their fourth daughter, they began to despair of ever having a son. This was very important, as without a son there was no heir to the throne, so the stability of the kingdom would be threatened. The joy and relief when Laodike bore a son was immense. He was given the name of the father of Laodike, Antiochus. Mithridates was in need of help, for Kommagene was surrounded by powers which outnumbered Kommagene many times. Therefore Mithridates concluded a treaty with the gods. We do not know whether these gods were real or imaginary. Obviously it helped to protect his small kingdom and keep it independent. Secondly this treaty softened the mutual discordance of his people. The population of Kommagene was a varied mixture of people, coming from different origins. They hardly felt that they were related to each other. However, by this treaty with the gods, there grew the feeling amongst them that they were a chosen people, favored by the gods and under their protection. As a consequence of this, Mithridates could forge a link between the different population groups in his kingdom. To honour this treaty, Mithridates had built all over the country small sanctuaries, called temenos. The temenos of King Mithridates were built on top of striking points in the landscape. From there you could always see the most important of them all, the sanctuary on top of holy Mount Nemrud. Each of these sanctuaries consisted of five stone slabs, depicting King Mithridates shaking hands with one of the gods. Mithridates gave each of the five gods a Greek and a Persian name : (a) Apollo/Mithras, (b) Artagnes/Herakles, (c) Zeus/Oromasdes, (d) Hera/Teleia and (e) Helios/Hermes.

The Greek and Persian names of the gods meant that each Kommagenian, whether he had Greek or Persian ancestors, felt close to them. These stone slabs were known as steles. By these steles, Mithridates made everyone aware that through him alone, all of his subjects were under the protection of the gods. These temenos had to bear testimony of his treaty with the gods. The five steles of King Mithridates I Kallinikos welcoming the Gods Apollo/Mithras, Artagnes/Herakles, Zeus/Oromasdes, Hera/Teleia and Helios/Hermes. The 10th of Loos, the 14^th of July was called the day of the "Manifestation of the Great Gods". It was also the day chosen for the coronation of Mithridates. Each year, on that particular day, all the citizens of Kommagene assembled at the small sanctuaries within reach of their village or town, to celebrate this occasion. King Mithridates gathered together the nobles and other important men of Kommagene on top of Mount Nemrud. There, in the presence of hundreds of Kommagenians, the king received the representatives of the Great Gods. For the people of Kommagene this was the annual confirmation of their treaty with the gods.
King Antiochus I Theos...
Antiochus, the son of King Mithridates, received an education from his parents which was a mixture of Greek and Persian. From his mothers side, queen Laodike, he descended from Alexander the Great. While from his fathers side, he descended from the Persian 'King of Kings', Darius I. When Antiochus was still quite young, his father arranged a marriage for him with a Seleucid princess named Isias Philostorgos, 'the Beloved One'. Such a marriage had little to do with love, its purpose was purely political. When Mithridates abdicated the throne in favor of his son, he stayed by his side. Together, they planned the sanctuary on top of Mount Nemrud. This was to be the spiritual centre of the treaty with the gods, for which Mithridates had lain the foundations. As usual, Mithridates had a practical aim. It should become such an impressive monument, that it would give his subjects proof of the greatness of their treaty with the gods. As the Nemrud dominated the landscape, this proof could be seen by every Kommagenian from almost any place in Kommagene. Antiochus had an idealistic aim. The cult of the treaty with the gods had to culminate in a new religion and Mount Nemrud was to become the centre. From Mount Nemrud his religion would radiate all over the civilised world. As the originator of this religion, he called himself Theos (God) directly after his coronation. A legend in his own mind ! For his father, Antiochus felt a deep respect, but his mother Laodike, he loved above all. He mentioned her specifically in various inscriptions, calling himself 'He who loves his mother'. He bestowed upon her the honorary name Thea (Goddess). Together with his mother he immortalised himself between the statues of the gods on Mount Nemrud. He, sitting at the left side of Zeus, as the king of Kommagene, Theos. She, sitting at the right hand of Zeus, as the mother of Kommagene, Thea.

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Art...
Kommagene had an art tradition which was completely its own. It was an unique synthesis of Greek and Persian art. Antiochus stimulated the art in a special way. He gathered together at his court a group of artists and scientists. They were called Philoi, the "Friends of the King". Under the reign of King Mithridates the art was still dominated by eastern influences. During the reign of Antiochus, the style became more naturalistic and less stylised. Antiochus himself, preferred the Greek culture. He called himself literally a "Friend of Greeks and Romans". The statues on top of Mount Nemrud became the crowning glory of Kommagenian art. Here, east and west fused into total harmony. A beautiful example is the head of Antiochus at the West Terrace. Any superfluous detail that could possibly disturb the form of the statue has been avoided. There are no luxuriant beards, jewelry and other ornaments. In this way a harmonic tension has been realised in the carving of Antiochus. Even today the gazing head of Antiochus impresses the people by its timeless beauty.
Trade...
Trade was an important source of income. The growing difficulties between the Romans and the Parthians hindered the profitable trade between east and west. The only independent state between both super powers, Kommagene, was an acceptable trading partner for the Romans as well as the Parthians. The Kommagenian traders could travel freely through the land of the Parthians. They brought among other things, exotic animals and spices from India and silk from China. Antiochus could levy heavy tolls, as he controlled the passes of the Taurus Range as well as the crossings of the Euphrates river. Because of its wealth, Kommagene was not only a transit point but could afford to import costly goods as well. The traders sold their valuable wares in Samosata to Roman traders and prosperous Kommagenian citizens. Under the reign of Antiochus, Samaosata became the centre of trade between the east and west. Here, Parthians, Kommagenians, Romans, Greeks and Arabs met.
War with Rome...
After the Romans had obtained a foothold in Western Türkiye, they captured one by one, the kingdoms of Asia Minor, Bythinia, Pisidia, Galatia and Cappadocia. After Pergamum, they captured around 80 B.C. Bythinia and Pisidia. At the same time the Parthians reached the borders of Kommagene. Around 70 B.C., the Romans destroyed their greatest enemy, the kingdom of Pontus. Next, the Romans overran the mighty ally of Pontus, the kingdom of Arm. Tocomplete their conquest, the Romans continued swiftly to the last independent kingdom, Kommagene. Like a steam roller, they invaded this small country. In 69 B.C. the capital of Kommagene, Samosata, was besieged. Then the unexpected happened. The Roman war machine was stopped. To their horror, the Roman soldiers were ombarded with an alien substance, unknown outside Kommagene. A Roman historian Plinius recorded; "a soldier who is touched by it, burns with all his weapons". Obviously the fear caused by this weapon was tremendous. Samosata could not be captured. There was a personal meeting between the Roman consul Lucullus and King Antiochus. We do not know what they discussed, but it resulted in the withdrawal of the Roman legions. Still, the situation remained tense for Kommagene, as it was caught between two walls. On one side, the imperialistic, warlike Romans and on the other, the powerful realm of the Parthians.

Asia Minor 100 B.C.: Bythinia, Galatia, Cappadocia, Pisidia, Pontus, Arm, Seleucia, Kommagene, Parthia, Roma.
Asia Minor 80 B.C.: Bythinia, Pergamum, Galatia, Cappadocia, Pisidia, Pontus, Arm, Seleucia, Kommagene, Parthia, Roma.
Asia Minor 70 B.C.: Pontus, Arm, Seleucia, Kommagene, Parthia, Roma.
Asia Minor 60 B.C.: Kommagene, Parthia, Roma.

In 64 B.C. the Romans continued their conquests. The remnants of the Seleucid state were swept away and absorbed into the province of Syria. By this time Rome had subjected all the independent states of Asia Minor, except for Kommagene. Kommagene even profited from the fall of the Seleucid state, by gaining a limited extension of territory. From the strategic position of Kommagene, it was obvious that sooner or later Rome had to conquer that land or halt its eastward expansion. Therefore, Antiochus reinforced his ties with the Parthians by giving his daughter, Laodike, in marriage to the Parthian king. They begat a son named Pakoros. He was the favourite of his father and heir to the throne. The wars in Asia Minor continued. In 53 B.C. the Parthians defeated the Romans and conquered Syria. Now, the subjected kingdom of Pontus felt strong enough to rebel against the Roman ursurper. Julius Ceasar marched to Asia Minor and suppressed the rebellion. On the occasion of this victory, Ceasar spoke the famous words "I came, I saw, I conquered". After the assassination of Julius Ceasar, the Roman empire was divided among his successors. Marcus Antonius received the east and Octavianus the west. Marcus Antonius held court at Tarsus, where his beloved Cleopatra kept him company. Even Julius Ceasar had succumbed to the beauty of the queen of Egypt. Marcus Antonius defeated an army of the Parthians in 38 B.C. He killed Pakoros, the Parthian crown prince. His mother, Laodike and his father, the king of the Parthians, were full of grief. Antiochus felt compassion with his daughter and her husband for the loss of their son and wanted to help them. When the survivors of the battle fled to Kommagene, Antiochus accorded them protection. He refused to yield the fugitives to Marcus Antonius. Instead, to avoid war, Antiochus offered the Roman 1000 talents. An amount equivalent to more than 25 tons of silver.


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Marcus Antonius now saw a possibility to take possession of all the gold and silver of Kommagene, a land famed for its wealth. He refused the offer of Antiochus and demanded the entire treasure of Kommagene. Naturally, Antiochus did not feel inclined to agree. Marcus Antonius, saw this as a grave insult by a petty local chieftain. He ordered his legions to invade Kommagene immediately. He himself stayed at the court of Tarsus in expectation of good tidings. In the meantime, he enjoyed the company of his beloved Cleopatra. Unfortunately, the good tidings did not arrive. On the contrary, he received a message that the siege of Samosata was at a standstill. Marcus Antonius was forced to say farewell to the good life at the court. He left Tarsus and took personal command of his legions. To avoid failure, King Herod of Judea was summoned to his aid. Marcus Antonius felt confident that the job would soon be done. Maybe this has happened : As the siege of Samosata continued the Kommagenian soldiers were amassing in the outlying districts of Kommagene. Loyal to the call of their king, every civilian who could wield a weapon reported for duty. When their numbers were sufficient, they began an attack on the supply columns of Marcus Antonius. Soon the Romans were cut off from their supplies. Marcus Antonius had to send out his cavalry to re establish his provisions. This was exactly what the military council of Kommagene had counted on. Now the time had come for the dreaded elite corps of Kommagene, the heavy armoured cavalry, to move in.

Horse and rider were protected by a heavy armour of black steel, which made them almost invincible. They numbered only a few hundred riders, but when they attacked, no enemy could stop them. This steel hammer was the pride of Kommagene. In the mist of early morning they awaited the Romans. The horses nervously kicked the ground with their hooves. Suddenly, the shrill sound of the trumpets rent the silence. On that signal the riders advanced. It was too late for the surprised Romans to retreat. Hastily, the Roman cavalry closed their ranks to withstand the first blow. When the trumpets sounded a second time, the Kommagenian riders glided into gallop. The earth trembled. Like rolling thunder they approached the Romans. With a tremendous blow the heavily armoured riders clashed onto the Romans. The light armoured Romans were felled like skittles. The Kommagenian riders ploughed through their ranks. Cold bloodedly, the disciplined Romans pulled themselves together. Counting on their far greater numbers, they tried to encircle the small iron force. Again the trumpets sounded shrill. From behind the elite corps, like the wings of an eagle, two regiments of mounted archers swarmed out on both sides. A barrage of arrows was shot into the ranks of the Romans. Their light armour was insufficient protection against the piercing steel arrows and many of them were injured. While the heavily armoured cavalry continued to beat the Romans into the arms of the Kommagenian archers, the archers systematically shot them off their horses. Panic arose and the Romans broke their ranks. First they lost their heads and then their lives. At the end of the day, Marcus Antonius had lost all his cavalry. Caught between the walls of Samosata and the Kommagenian cavalry, he was changed from the besieger into the besieged. Whatever happened, Marcus Antonius was forced to relenquish the siege of Samosata. His ally, Herod, did not wait for the final outcome and had already returned to his kingdom, Judea. Empty handed, Marcus Antonius had to retreat. The magnanimous Antiochus gave him 300 talents to soften the blow. In exchange, Marcus Antonius had to deliver a renegade to Antiochus. Antiochus insisted on this, as he hated faithlessness and treachery.
The End of Kommagene...
Shortly after these events, Antiochus died. Antiochus was interred in the sanctuary on the Nemrud, where his body was laid to rest in the tomb probably next to the tomb of his father. The son of Antiochus, Mithridates II, succeeded him to the throne. Kommagene was no longer a match for the Roman empire. Under the reign of Mithridates II, Kommagene became a satellite state and finally a part of the province of Syria. When the Parthian crown prince was slain in battle against the Romans, the sorrow of the king was so great that he abdicated. It was no comfort to him that Antiochus, the grandfather of the crown prince, was risking his kingdom by providing protection for the survivors of the defeated Parthian army. The Parthian king was succeeded by one of his other sons. This son was merciless. He murdered everyone who could possibly threaten his throne. Laodike and her children were also assassinated. Mithridates II transferred the body of his sister to Kommagene and buried her at the burial mound of Karakus (Black Bird). He placed the beautiful relief slab in memory of her. It shows his farewell to Laodike. From the inscriptions, we learn that Mithridates was very fond of her : "She was the most beautiful of all women..." Mithridates built Karakus on the banks of the river Nymphaios. Also his mother Isias and his second sister Antiochis are buried here, together with Aka, the daughter of Antiochis. From the galleries of his summer residence, high above the dizzy depths of the ravine, he looked out over the green valley of the Nymphaios, at the striking mound of Karakus. In this way his beloved ones would always be close to him, even after their death. His jealous brother, Antiochus II, tried to overthrow Mithridates II from his throne. For this, Antiochus II was adjucated by the Romans. The senate of Rome sentenced him to death and in 29 B.C. he was executed in Rome. Kommagene became independent for the last time under King Antiochus IV. That was only for a short time. Antiochus IV was defeated by the Roman legions during the War of Kommagene in 71 A.D. The small army of Kommagene was disbanded. Its dreaded archers and heavily armoured cavalry were absorbed into the Roman army as the "Cohortes Comagenorum". To avoid any rebellion in the future, the Roman soldiers destroyed all the statues and buildings which recalled the earlier greatness of Kommagene. They demolished the sanctuary on holy Mount Nemrud. Kommagene died and the Nemrud began its long sleep, disturbed only by the howling of the mountain wind and the visit of a lost shepherd.
"Nemrut" : Tanrilarin Krali (In English)...
The Nemrud is a mountain of the Taurus Range, in Adiyaman. From a height of 2,150 metres it dominates the entire landscape. From whatever side you approach it, its distinctive peak can be seen. The mountain is only accessible during the summer months. The rest of the year it is covered by snow and ice. The last priest of Kommagene probably left the sanctuary on Mount Nemrud in 72 A.D., after the rebelling King Antiochus IV had lost the war with Rome. For almost two thousand years, only the wailing of the wind disturbed the rest of the three kings who are buried here. The Christian population, which came later to live here, knew nothing of the origins of the sanctuary. They thought that it had to be the work of the legendary Nimrod from the Old Testament. Therefore they called the mountain after the first powerful ruler on earth, Nemrud. It was not until the nineteenth century, that the German, Karl Sester, discovered the sanctuary on Mount Nemrud. He was less astonished by the impressive ruins than by the total absence of them on any map of Asia Minor. After his discovery, the Turkish archeologist, Hamdi Bey, began the first excavations on the mountain. German and American archeologists took over the work and continued it to this day. The work of Professor D?ner and Professor Sahin is worthy of note. The builder of the sanctuary, King Antiochus, wanted it not only to be his Hierothesion, but also the centre of his new religion. This religion had to unite in a peaceful fashion, the Persian Parthian world with the Greek Roman world. From the top of Mount Nemrud his new religion would radiate over the whole world. Three terraces were built on the mountain. The East, West and North Terrace. To make these terraces large enough, the builders of Kommagene had to cut away almost the whole mountain top. For the East Terrace alone 1,500 cubic metres of solid rock had to be cut away. On the West Terrace, you can see from a ten metre high rock face, left of the summit, what an enormous undertaking it must have been. The tumulus, which covers the top of Mount Nemrud, was built from the innumerable pieces of angular and sharp stones thus produced. The tumulus has a height of 50 metres and at the base a diameter of 150 metres. An ancient processional way surrounds the tumulus.

The East Terrace...
The worn treads of a rock stairway lead you to the East Terrace. The first thing you see, as you reach the square, is a row of five enormous statues. Massive and lifeless, they look down on you from their thrones. They are in perfect harmony with the surrounding mountain landscape.The fallen heads of the statues have been set in front of them. You see from left to right :

Apollo/Mithras/Helios/Hermes
The Goddess of Kommagene
Zeus/Oromasdes
King Antiochus I Theos
Artagnes/Herakles/Ares

The gods are shown sitting, not as is usual, standing, because the top of Mount Nemrud is their home. "Here," says King Antiochus, "are standing their heavenly thrones". Originally the statues were 8 to 10 metres high. They are made of limestone, now dull and weathered. Formerly, when the sun shone on their smooth, polished surface, their brilliance must have been visible from a great distance. The statues tower over two raised platforms cut from the rock. On the lower, stood five steles, four showing the king welcoming the gods and one stele, depicting a horoscope. Little has remained of these steles, but on the West errace they are quite well reserved. The court was originally paved with white slabs. A number of these have been found and set by the pedestal of the Lion Horoscope on the West Terrace. Opposite the statues, at the other side of the court, there is a stepped platform. This is the restored fire altar. If you stand with your back to the statues, you see to your left and right, a long row of pedestals with the remnants of steles. On each of those steles was portrayed an ancestor of Antiochus. To the left, were the Persian ancestors, led by the King of Kings, Darius I. To the right were the Greek ancestors, led by Alexander the Great.
The Nomos : The Holy Law of Antiochus...
If you stand behind the statue of Zeus, you can read the letters "N O M O S". Here, the Holy Law of Antiochus begins. The Nomos of the Nemrud can be regarded as the testament of Antiochus. To guide the people Antiochus initiated the Nomos, the Holy Law. Maybe, as part of his education, Antiochus in his younger years, undertook a long journey to the east to visit some of the cities which were founded by his famous ancestor, Alexander the Great, such as Bucephala and Alexandra along the river Indus. It is possible that during this travel he learned about of Buddha. And maybe this impressed Antiochus so much that from the Holy Law of Buddha, Antiochus developed the Holy Law or the Nomos. Whatever has been the cause, in all the sanctuaries in Kommagene the Nomos is inscribed. At Mount Nemrud, Antiochus carved the Nomos on the back of the gigantic statues. In the Nomos, he tells the people how and when they have to honour the Great Gods. Antiochus says: "This Nomos is proclaimed by me, but it is the power of the gods that makes it law." Further, Antiochus says that it is his intention to reveal this law to : "Kommagenians and foreigners, kings, rulers, freemen, slaves, all who are part of humanity and only differ by birth or fate." Antiochus requested firmly that everybody would act according to this law. He also included the people of future times: "All the future generations of humans who will possess this land in the cause of the endless times, are asked to follow the holy law." His reference to future people is remarkable. Antiochus understood that after him and after his people, others will come to live in this region. How humble and how wise. In the Nomos of the Nemrud, we can read his testimony at the end of his life : "I have come to the conviction that being pure and just is not only the most certain possession we humans can gain, but also gives us the deepest joy we can have." "This conviction has led to my prosperous power and the beneficial use of it. The whole of my life, I was standing in front of my subjects as a person who considers his respect to the gods as his most trustworthy defence weapon... That is why I escaped, contrary to all expectation, the greatest dangers, I mastered unforeseen, hopeless situations and I passed my life, rich in years, in happiness." Indeed, it is a historical fact, that Antiochus and his small kingdom were subjected to all kinds of dangers. From the west, the Romans were approaching and from the east, the Parthians. Under the reign of Antiochus, Kommagene became the centre of the ruthless struggle of both super powers. It is remarkable that Kommagene remained independent and even reached its most flourishing period !
The North Terrace...
The pilgrims assembled at the foot of the mountain from the surrounding valleys. Here they were provided with food and drink by the servants of the priests. From there, two processional ways led to the sanctuary on the mountain. Both processional ways are marked with a stele close to the sanctuary. On these steles is carved a text. Here, Antiochus informs the visitors that they set foot on consecrated ground and should behave themselves as such. The southern processional way was for the nobles of Kommagene and ended on the West Terrace. The northern was for the common people and led to the North Terrace. At the North Terrace, in the forecourt of the sanctuary, the people were prepared for their meeting with the gods. With some difficulty you can find the worn ramp, where the people entered the North Terrace. From there, they moved in procession to the East Terrace along the 85 metre long row of steles, which separates the North Terrace from the rest of the sanctuary. These steles bear neither portraits nor inscriptions, as Antiochus intended them for his descendants.

Click on the pic for the larger size...
The West Terrace...
Walking further round the tumulus, you reach the West Terrace, the most sacred place on the mountain. From this terrace, you look out on the edge of the plain of Mesopotamia, the cradle of our civilization. The sun, the moon and all stars of the zodiac rise on your left, reaching their zenith directly in front of you, and descending to your right. The West Terrace was not accessible to the common people. The processional way, which led the nobles to this terrace, ended at the open place on the north side of the terrace. Here was the entrance to this terrace. The entrance was guarded by a monstrous lion with three heads. Walking down, you will find the monster fallen, face down. The statues on this terrace are the same as those on the East Terrace, but greatly surpass them in beauty. The statues are also in a less exalted position than those of the East Terrace which look down on the people from their raised platforms. The fallen heads of the statues have been set in front of them. The resemblance between the head of Antiochus and the god Apollo is striking. Apollo was the only god to whom Antiochus assigned his own priest to celebrate his rites. What made this god so special ? Apollo/Mithras is a combination of the Greek sun god, Apollo, and the Persian god, Mithras. About 1,400 B.C. the god Mithras is mentioned for the first time in a treaty of the Hitites. Further, he is mentioned in the Indian Vedas as a friend of the humans. He is the mediator between the Gods and the humans. In the Vedas we can read:"Mithras ! The mortal. This honourable and friendly Mithras is born as a wise ruling King." Mithras means literally Ally. Each god bestowed a gift to the people of Kommagene. One of the gifts considered to be from Mithras was petroleum, for which people are searching nowadays in this region. The Roman soldiers were so impressed by Mithras, that he became their favourite god. The legions propagated his worship throughout the whole of the ancient world. Finally, Mithras was even worshipped in England in underground sanctuaries. Without Christ, people would probably still worship Mithras. Opposite the statues you see a long row of pedestals, on which stood the steles of the Greek ancestors of Antiochus. At a right angle to this row stood another row of steles, depicting his Persian ancestors. From these steles the ones of Darius and Xerxes are well preserved. In front of each stele is a small altar. Inscriptions have been found on two of those altars. They have, for a large part, been chiselled away. These inscriptions date from ealier times. The following scheme is a survey of the Greek and Persian ancestors who have been depicted. Because there is not much left of the steles, this survey is assumed to be most likely. Standing in front of the row of steles, you could see originally from left to right :

Pedestal Persian Ancestors
1 Darius I, King of Kings 522-486 B.C.
2 Xerxes I 486-464 B.C.
3 Artaxerxes I 464-425 B.C.
4 Darius II Ochos 425-404 B.C.
5 Artaxerxes II Mnemon 404-359 B.C.
6 Orontes I (Aroandes) 401 B.C.
7 Princess Rhodogune, married to Orontes.
8 name unknown ?
9 name unknown ?
10 Samos I 250 B.C.
11 Arsames 230 B.C.
12 name unknown 223-187 B.C.
13 Ptolemaios 163-130 B.C.
14 Samos II 130-109 B.C.
15 Mithridates I Kallinikos 109-86 B.C.

Much attention was given by Antiochus that everyone would be aware that he was related to the dynasty of the King of Kings, Darius I, by the marriage of princess Rhodogune to his ancestor Orontes. The father of Rhodogune was the Persian king, Artaxerxes. In 401 B.C. he defeated his younger brother, who tried to throw him from his throne. Because of the help Artaxerxes received from his military commander, Orontes, he gave his daughter in marriage to him.

Pedestal Greek Ancestors
1 Alexander the Great 356-323 B.C.
2 Seleukos I Nikator 304-279 B.C.
3 Antiochus I Soter 279-262 B.C.
4 Antiochus II Theos 261-246 B.C.
5 Seleukos II Kallinikos 246-225 B.C.
6 Seleukos III Soter 225-223 B.C.
7 Antiochus III the Great 223-187 B.C.
8 Seleukos IV Philopator 187-176 B.C.
9 Antiochus IV Epiphanes 176-164 B.C.
10 Demitrios I Soter 162-150 B.C.
11 Demitrios II Nikator 145-125 B.C.
12 Princess Kleopatra Thea, married to Demitrios II.
13 Antiochus VIII Grypos 125-96 B.C.
14 Princess Tryphaina, married to Antiochus VIII.
15 Princess Laodike Thea Philadelphos, married to Mithridates I.
16 Princess Isias Philostorgos, married to Antiochus I Theos.
17 Antiochus I Theos 86-38 B.C.

The same ancestors have been depicted in the same sequence on the East Terrace. The necessary sandstone to carve the steles from the East Terrace, has been taken from two quarries at the foot of the mountain. The steles form a great contrast to the massive forms of the rest of the complex. The soft sandstone from which they are made, appears anything but "imperishable", like Antiochus called it in the inscriptions. This material was suitable for i.e. Samosata but not for the harsh climate on top of the mountain. Next to the statues are five large steles. They are equal to those from the lower platform of the East Terrace. On four of them King Mithridates I Kallinikos welcomes the gods. From left to right you see the Goddess of Kommagene, next Apollo, then Zeus and finally Herakles. Their name is carved at the back of the stele. Archaeologists have found that those names have been carved over an earlier text. To honour the god he greets, the king wears on his tiara the stylized leafs of the plant dedicated to that god. For the Goddess of Kommagene the king wears the leaves of a pomegranate, for Apollo, laurel leaves, for Zeus oak leaves and for Herakles, vine leaves. Next to the stele of Herakles, you see the fifth stele, known as the Lion Horoscope. Just like the row of 5 statues from Antiochus, the row of 5 steles of Mithridates, is flanked on both sides by an eagle and a lion.
The Tomb of the Three Kings...
Under the tumulus is hidden a tomb. Several attempts were made to find it by digging tunnels straight through the tumulus (burial mound). Many have tried, but neither Romans nor modern man have been able to disturb the rest of the dead. The reason for this, is that the burial chamber lies in the massive rock of the mountain itself and not under the loose stones of the tumulus. There is a theory that there exists a tunnel, cut from the living rock. First, you have to go down a few steps, after which the tunnel gradually descends to the interior of the mountain. After passing a side tunnel, you reach the burial chamber. In this chamber there are three tombs of marble. In the middle tomb lies King Antiochus and in the two other tombs, rest his father Mithridates and another king. Their bodies are still in good condition. The burial chamber measures about 5 x 9 metres with a height of 2.40 metres. According to the inscriptions, one cannot enter the burial chamber without danger: "The face of a demon has been set as a guard, whom men can neither defy nor free themselves from."
The Manifestation of the Great Gods...
There were two important annual celebrations. On the 16th of Audnaios, a day in January/December, the birth of Antiochus was celebrated. The 10th of Loos was not only the coronation day of Antiochus, but also the day of the "Manifestation of the Great Gods", as the inscriptions called it. The daily life of Kommagene came to a halt then and for two days the people joined in the celebrations on Mount Nemrud or the temenos, the local sanctuaries built by King Mithridates I. All these ceremonies were recorded in detail in the Nomos, which Antiochus carved on the back of the statues of both the East and West Terraces. If we had lived in that time, maybe we could have seen the long ribbon of bright lights climbing the mountain shortly before midnight. Hundreds of people assembled at the North Terrace. From there they proceeded to the East Terrace. They took their places on either side of the court. The court was bathed in the soft light of the full moon. Motionless, the gods looked down on them, while the Moon sank slowly behind the tumulus. Fires burned in great metal dishes set on tripods. Fitful shadows danced over the lifeless figures of gods and humans. It was completely silent. The king stood at the fire altar, awaiting the gods. His cloak billowed in the strong wind. The tension mounted. Suddenly the trumpets sounded, clear and shrill. A shudder ran through the mountain. It seemed as if the gods rose from their thrones of stone and their massive forms darkened the stars. A few hours later the sun bathed everything in a golden glow. The ceremony was at an end and the citizens returned home satisfied. Once again it had been demonstrated that they were under the protection of the gods. The tenth of Loos was not only the coronation day of Antiochus, but also the day of the "Manifestation of the Great Gods", as the inscriptions called it. If we had lived in that time, maybe we could have seen the long ribbon of bright lights climbing the mountain shortly before midnight. Hundreds of people assembled at the North Terrace. From there they proceeded to the East Terrace. They took their places on either side of the court. The court was bathed in the soft light of the full moon. Motionless, the gods looked down on them, while the Moon sank slowly behind the tumulus. Fires burned in great metal dishes set on tripods. Fitful shadows danced over the lifeless figures of gods and humans. It was completely silent. The king stood at the fire altar, awaiting the gods. His cloak billowed in the strong wind. The tension mounted. Suddenly the trumpets sounded, clear and shrill. A shudder ran through the mountain. It seemed as if the gods rose from their thrones of stone and their massive forms darkened the stars. A few hours later the sun bathed everything in a golden glow. The ceremony was at an end and the citizens returned home satisfied. Once again it had been demonstrated that they were under the protection of the gods.
The Legend of the White People...
It is remarkable that simular to the Manifestation of the Great Gods in Kommagenian times, the local people have worshipped the manifestation of the so-called white people. On a hot summers evening of July 1987, an old woman named Firat from the village of Eski Kahta, told me following : "Long ago, before the Prophet , there was a group of soldiers on their way to the town of Malatya. They were passing through the Taurus mountain range. At sunset they wearied. They had very little food. One of the soldiers saw in the distance a light. They went towards the light and came upon a house. The house was inhabited by an old man with white hair together with his daughter and a boy. The soldiers were given food. After they had finished their meal they saw to their astonishment that there was as much food left as when they began. They did not understand this. They left the house and reached the town of Malatya without any further events. On their return from Malatya they decided to visit the house again. They refound the house and received hospitality again. The commander of the soldiers took a fancy to the daughter of the old man. After the meal, the commander then asked the old man for the hand of his daughter in marriage. The old man did not want, but he was afraid that the soldiers would take his daughter by force. That's why he granted the request and the soldiers left with his daughter. When they arrived at Eski Kahta, at the same place where the holy house now stands , the girl asked them to stop for a moment. She descended into the dry streambed of a water course. She passed her hand lightly over the dry soil and magically a spring of water bubbled up. That spring still exists. She drank the water and washed herself. Then she asked the earth to open and bury her. Before the soldiers knew what was happening, the earth opened and she disappeared. Since that time it is a holy place and the people built a house on her grave. The girl, together with some friends appeared after some time to the people at this place and at three other places in the region. In spring at Eski Kahta, in summer on a mountain nearby Malatya, in autumn at Gerger and in winter somewhere in the Taurus mountain range. At Eski Kahta, the annual appearance took place at the holy house." The old woman said that when she was a child, each wednesday and friday in spring, the villagers gathered at the end of the day in front of the holy house. They lit candles in the holy house and prayed. After sunset the people had to return to their houses. Nobody should disturb the girl and her friends who came at night to pray in the holy house. Only a few people were allowed to stay. The old woman told me that her parents have witnessed the appearance of the girl and her friends. She said that they were smaller than normal people and had white hair.
Info About "Mount Nemrut" in TOPRAK HOME PAGE (In English)...
Nemrut Dagi...

Click on the pic for the larger size...
Cografik Konum ve Jeolojik Yapi...
Tatvan yakinindaki Nemrut dagi 3,050 m. yüksekliginde sönmüs bir volkan dagidir. Bitlis ili sinirlari içerisinde yer alan bu dag, Van Gölü'nün güneybati kenarinda yükselir. Nemrut daginin güneydogu'sunda, Tatvan, kuzeyinde ise, Ahlat ilçelerimiz yer almaktadir. Dogu Anadolu volkan dizisinin en güneyinde yer alan Nemrut dagi, bu dizinin en genç volkanidir. Yapilan birtakim arastirmalara göre, IV. jeolojik zaman içerisinde püskürmeye baslayan ve volkanik faaliyetinin 1441 yilina kadar devam ettiren Nemrut dagi "Strato Volkan" özelligi tasir. Nemrut daginin püskürmesi sonucunda, tek havza olan Van Mus havzasi ikiye ayrilarak, Van ve Mus havzalari olusmustur. Nemrut Dagi volkani püskürmeden evvel, açik bir havza olan ve sulari Murat irmaginin kollan tarafindan bosaltilan Van havzasi; Nemrut volkanindan çikan lavlarin, kuzey-güney dogrultulu bir set teskil etmesi sonucunda, kapali bir havzaya dönüsmüstür. Bu yolla denizden 1,720 metre yükseklikte ve 3,765 kilometre kare büyüklügünde bir lav set gölü olan Van Gölü meydana gelmistir. Nemrut daginin etekleri ve asagi kesimleri bazalt, orta kesimleri andesit ve trakit, üst kesimleri ise volkan camlarinin teskil ettigi volkanik katmanlardan meydana gelmistir. Van Gölü'nün güneybati kiyisinda yükselen Nemrut dagi üzerinde 6 km. çapinda ve 650 m. derinliginde bir krater mevcuttur. Krater çanagi içerisinde ise büyüklü küçüklü 5 göl ile birkaç parazit volkan konisi yer almaktadir. Krater çanaginin kuzeydogu kesiminde ise ayrica 2 adet sicak su kaynagi mevcut olup, krater çanagi 2,400 m. yüksekliktedir. Donma ve çözülme hareketleri ile yüzey asindirmasina ugrayan Nemrut dagi, parçali ve sarp görünümü olmayan düzgü yüzeyli topografyasiyla dikkat çekmektedir. 3,050 m. yükseklikteki dagin, özellikle jeolojik olusumu ve üzerinde bulunan büyük ve derin krateri "Kaidera" nedeni ile dünya dagcilari ve doga arastiricilarinin dikkatini çekmektedir.
Gezi ve Tirmanis...
Nemrut Dagi tirmanisina, dagin Güneydogu eteklerinde yer alan Tatvan'dan baslanir, yaklasik 4-5 saat süren normal bir yürüyüsten sonra Nemrut dagi kraterinin güney veya güneydogu kenarina ulasilir. Bu noktaya varan dagcilar Nemrut volkan daginin kraterini, yada tabani çöken bu kraterin olusturdugu dünyaca ünlü "Nemrut dagi calderasi"ni yukaridan izleme olanagi bulabilirler. Nemrut dagi ve calderasini görebilmek için yürüyüs ve tirmanma gücüne sahip olmayan dag ve doga sever arastiricilar ise otolari ile Ahlat ve Tatvan'dan Nemrut daginin tepesine ulasabilme olanagina sahiptirler. Dag çiplak bir dag olup, güneyinde Mese ve hus türü agaç topluluklarina rastlanir. Nemrut kraterine gezi ve tirmanis için en uygun zaman Haziran, Temmuz, Agustos ve Eylül aylaridir. Özellikle güneydogu ve dogu yüzeylerinden doruk ve krater tirmanisi yapan dagcilar, yürüyüs boyunca Van Gölü'nün doyulmaz güzelliklerini izleme olanagi bulabilirler.
Nemrut Efsanesi...
Nemrut, zamaninda Tatvan yakininda bulunan dagi yayla olarak kullanirmis. Nemrut daginin volkanik patlamasi baslayinca dag eteklerine yerlesmis olan köylerin üzerine ates parçalari gelmeye baslar. Bu arada halkin aklina Nemrut'un Ibrahim Peygambere yapmis oldugu zülüm gelir, yayla olarak kullandigi dagin verdigi zarar karsisinda sözler söylenmeye baslanir, Nemrut'un zulmü gibi oldu derler ve dagin ismi Nemrut olarak kalir.
Nemrut Dagi ve Mezarin Sirri...
Hz. Ibrahim’den tarihi kaynaklara göre yaklasik 3000 sene sonra insa edilen Nemrut dagi tapinagi bugün aralarinda UNESCO’nun da bulundugu bir çok uluslararasi kurulus tarafindan dünyanin en önemli kültür hazinelerinden biri olarak kabul görmektedir. Ilk ortaya çikarildigi 19. yüzyildan beri bölgede birçok arkeolojik kazi yapilmis, Türk ve yabanci arkeologlar bu tapinagin özelliklerini arastirmislardir. Bugün sadece bir bölümü ortaya çikartilan kalintilarin yapimi sirasinda Nemrut Dagi’nin tepesi insan gücüyle traslanmis, 6 ton agirliginda blok kayalar kilometrelerce uzakliktan dagin tepesine tasinmistir. Nemrut dagi üzerinde çalismalar yapan Türk Alman ve Amerikali arkeologlarin üzerinde ittifakla birlestigi önemli bir nokta vardir. Dagin içinde oyularak hazirlanilmis ikinci bir bölüm vardir. Bu bölümün mezar odasi oldugu sanilmaktadir. Bu odalari bulmak için Roma döneminden günümüze kadar defalarca tüneller açilmistir. Fakat bu girisimlerin hiçbiri basarili olamamistir. Bu kadar gizli korunmasindan dolayi bilim adamlari bu bölümün çok önemli oldugunu ve içeride çok degerli belgeler oldugunu düsünmektedirler. Bu bölgede yapilan arkeolojik kazilar bu gerçegi göz önüne alarak ilerlemelidir. Dinler tarihini ortaya çikaracak, farkli dinlerden insanlarin Islamiyete bakisini degistirecek ve en önemlisi Hz. Ibrahim’in gerçek dinini vasiyetine uygun olarak insanlara gösterecek bu kesif ortaya çikartilmali, çalismalar hizla sonuçlandirilmalidir.
Milli Park...
Dogu ve Bati Medeniyetlerinin, 2,150 m. yükseklikte muhtesem bir piramitteki kesisme noktasi, Dünyanin sekizinci harikasi Nemrut, Yüksekligi on metreyi bulan büyüleyici heykelleri, metrelerce uzunluktaki kitabeleriyle, UNESCO Dünya Kültür Mirasinda yer almaktadir. Nemrut Dagi, üzerinde barindirdigi dev heykellerin ve anit mezarin yani sira, dünyanin en muhtesem gündogumu ve gün batisinin seyredilebildigi yer olmasiyla da ilgi çekmektedir. Her yil binlerce insan gündogumu ve gün batisini seyretmek için Nemrut Dagina gelmektedir. UNESCO tarafindan Dünya Kültür Mirasi olarak ilan edilen Nemrut Dagi, çevresindeki Kommagene Uygarligi eserleri ile birlikte ülkenin önemli Milli Parklarindan biridir. Nemrut Dagindaki dev heykeller ve tümülüs, Arsameia (Eski Kale), Yeni Kale, Karakus Tepesi ve Cendere Köprüsü Milli Park sinirlari içerisinde yer almaktadir.
Kisa Tarihçe...
Iki bin yildir günesin dogusunu ve batisini 2,150 m. yükseklikte izleyen dev heykellerin sirrinin çözülmesi için Kommagene Uygarligi'nin kesfine gitmek gerekir. Nemrut Dagi'nin Kraliyet Akademisi tarafindan arastirma yapmak üzere bölgeye gönderilen genç bilim adami Otto Punchtein baskanligindaki ekip, Nemrut Dagi'nin tepesindeki tümülüs ve tümülüsün dogu ve bati yanlarinda olusturulmus teraslar üzerindeki devasa heykeller ve çesitli kabartmalardan olusan eserler üzerinde çalisir. Uzun çalismalar sonunda Grekçe yazili kitabeyi çözen Punchstein, bu eserlerin Kommagene Uygarligi'na ait oldugunu ve Kommagene Krali I. Antiochos tarafindan yaptirildigini kesfeder. Antiochos'un agzindan yazilan kitabe, Nemrut Dagi'nin sirrini ve Antiochos'un yasalarini içermektedir. Kommagene Uygarliginin ortaya çikmasini saglayan kazilar, Nemrut Dagi'ndan baska Arsameia, Samsat ve Firat Havzasinda gerçeklestirilmistir. Bölgede yapilan kazilarda ortaya çikartilan tasinabilir eserler müzelerde, geri kalanlari da Milli Park Alani içerisinde korumaya alinmistir.

Kommagene Kralligi...
Yunanca "Genler Toplulugu" anlamina gelen Kommagene, ismiyle bagdasircasina, Grek ve Pers uygarliklarinin inanç, kültür ve geleneklerinin bütünlestigi güçlü bir kralliktir. Toros Daglarindaki çesitli yollarin birlestigi noktada bulunan antik Kommagene Kralligi, Suriye'nin Kuzeyi, Hatay, Pinarbasi, Kuzey Toroslar ve doguda Firat Nehri'nin çevreledigi verimli topraklarda yer almistir. Tarima ve hayvanciliga elverisli ve ekonomik önemi yüksek sedir agaci ormanlarini barindiran Kommagene topraklarinin, ilk çaglardan beri yerlesim alani olarak kullanildigi civardaki magara ve arkeolojik buluntulardan anlasilmaktadir. Antik dünyanin küçük ancak güçlü ülkesi Kommagene, baba tarafi Pers Krallarindan "Krallar Krali olarak anilan Darius'a ile, anne tarafi Makedonya Hükümdari Büyük Iskender ile akraba olan bir prensin oglu Mithradates Kallinikos tarafindan, I.Ö. 109 yilinda bagimsiz bir krallik olarak kurulmustur. Farkli topluluklardan meydana gelen ve ayri inanç ve kültürlere sahip Kommageneliler arasindaki birligi saglamak konusunda büyük basari saglayan Mithradates Kallinikos, tanrilarla olan bagini kuvvetlendirecegi ve böylece ulusunu baris içerisinde yasatacagi inanciyla ülkesinin çesitli yerlerinde tapinaklar yaptirmistir.
Iklim...
Kahta ilçe sinirlarindaki Nemrut Daginda karasal iklim özellikleri görülmektedir. Ilçe sinirlarindaki Atatürk Baraj gölü nedeniyle, iklim yapisi önemli bir ölçüde degisiklige ugrayarak Akdeniz iklimi ile benzerlik göstermeye baslamistir. Ancak yaz ortasinda bile, Nemrut Daginda gün dogumu oldukça soguk olur.
Nemrut Dagi ve Krater Göl...
Bitlis ili, Tatvan ilçesi sinirlari içindeki volkanik dagin kolay çikilabilen yamaçlari, yayvan bir görünümdedir. Yüksek kesimleri ise kesik koni biçimindedir. Dogu Bati ekseni 8,4 km., Kuzey Güney ekseni 7,2 km. olan elips biçimli kalderasinin kuzeyinde Sivritepe (2,935 m.), dogusunda Dogu Nemrut Tepesi (2,625 m.), güneyinde Tursuktepe (2,828 m.) ve batisinda da Nemrut Dagi Tepesi (2,80l m.) yükselir. Nemrut Dagi günümüzdeki Jeomorfolojik görünümünü jeolojik çaglarda baslayip tarihsel çaglarda da süren püskürmelerle almistir. Tarihsel kayitlarda Nemrut Daginin en son 1441'de püskürdügü belirtilse de yeni arastirmalardan elde edilen bulgulara dayanarak, 1443'te de bir püskürmenin meydana geldigi ileri sürülmektedir. Dagin tepesindeki, Türkiye'nin en büyük ktater gölü olan yarimay biçimli ve tatli sulu Nemrut Gölü 12 km'lik bir alani kaplar. Gölün deniz yüzeyinden yüksekligi 2,247 m., en derin yeri ise yaklasik 150 m., uzunlugu 600 m. genisligi 500 metredir. Derinligi 7-8 m. olan kuzeydeki Iligöl'ün kuzeybati kenarindan sicak su kaynaklari, güneydogusundaki kayalik yamaçtan ise su buhari ve karbondioksit gazi çikar. Göltepe'nin dogusunda yer alan elips biçimli küçük gölün deniz yüzeyinden yüksekligi 2,285 m.dir. Nemrut Dagi yörenin önemli turizm merkezlerinin basinda gelir. Burada yetisen endemik bitkiler ve bazi çesitleri sadece buraya özgü kus türleri ile de dikkati çekmektedir.Nemrut dagi bitki örtüsü bakimindan da ilgi çekici bir özellik gösterir. Dagda Titrek Kavak, Mese (Quercus sp.) ve Hus (Betula sp.) türü agaç topluluklari bulunur. Yine kraterin içerisi endemik bitki türlerinin bulundugu önemli bir yerdir. Bir Kus bilim adami (doga arastirmacisi) tarafindan kesfedilen ve kendi ismi ile anilan "Sarmustahtayani" adli bitki (mese çesidi) dünyada sadece burada bulunmaktadir. Diger bir endemik tür olan "dügün çiçegi" (Altin çiçegi Ranunculus) yine buraya özgü bir bitkidir. Genel bitki türleri ise çesitli orkideler (orchis umbrasa, orchis caucasia, orchis punetorum ve epipactic latifolia), laleler ve otsu step türü bitkilerdir.
Tanrilarin Dagi Nemrut...
Nemrut Dagi yüzyillar önce iki dünyanin; doguyla batinin bulustugu bir yerdi. Bir dinin dogusuna, zorlu savaslara, büyük sevinç ve hüzünlere taniklik eden heybetli bir dag. Adiyaman'daki Nemrut Dagi simdi görkemli tarihinin anilariyla bas basa, gökyüzünü seyrediyor. Yüzyillar önce Anadolu'nun essiz bir kösesinde, en kutsal yer olarak Nemrut Dagi'ni seçmis bir krallik hüküm sürdü. Kommagene adindaki bu krallik, uzun yillar Asur egemenliginde kaldiktan sonra çetin savaslar vererek bagimsizligini kazandi. Nemrut Dagi'nin gizemli tarihinin kesfinin üzerinden yüz yildan fazla bir zaman geçti. Kesif hikayesi Berlin'deki Prusya Kraliyet Bilimler Akademisi'ne gelen bir mektupla baslamisti. Akademi üyelerini heyecanlandiran mektup, genç yasta ülkesini terk ederek Anadolu'da yol yapimi için güzergah belirleyen bir Ingiliz grubun asçiligini yapan Karl Sester'den gelmisti. Sester, Nemrut Dagi'ndaki harabelerle ilgili söylentiler duymus, merakini yenemeyerek daga çikmaya karar vermisti. Gördükleri karsisinda adeta dili tutulan Sester, yalnizca bir merak sonucu baslayan bu kesif hikayesiyle Nemrut Dagi'nin gizli tarihinin ortaya çikmasina yardimci olacakti. Kommagene Kralligi, Toros Daglari'ndaki çesitli yollarin birlestigi noktada bulunan, Suriye'nin kuzeyi, Hatay, Pinarbasi, Kuzey Toroslar ve doguda Firat Nehri'nin çevreledigi, Adiyaman, Kahramanmaras ve Gaziantep illerini kapsayan bir cografyaya yayiliyordu. Antiochos, Nemrut Dagi'nin teraslari üzerine yaptirdigi heykel dizilerinin sag ve sol baslarina kraliyetin cennet ve asaletin sembolleri olan kartal ve aslan heykelleri diktirir. I.Ö. 1. yüzyilda kurulan Kommagene IS 72 yilina kadar bu bölgede yasamini sürdürdü. Yazili belgelerde IÖ 850 yilinda görülen kralligin ismi o dönemlerde Kummuh olarak geçer. Asur egemenliginden kurtulmasiyla birlikte bagimsizligina kavusan Kommagene'nin bu dönemine ait ilk yazili belgelerde ilk kez I. Antiochos dönemine aittir. I. Antiochos Kommagene'nin en önemli kraliydi. Onu bu kadar önemli yapan sey, büyük hedefleriydi. Küçük bir kralliktan beklenemeyecek kadar büyük hedefler; Antiochos yeni bir din kurmayi planlamisti. Amaci Batililarin, yani Yunanlilarin dini ile Dogulu Perslerin dinini birlestirmekti. Böylece bir dünya dini yaratacak, Nemrut Dagi'ni onun merkezi yapacak ve bu dinin buradan tüm dünyaya yayilmasini saglayacakti. Kendisi de bu sayede tüm dünyaya hükmedecekti. Ve ölümsüzlüge kavusacaktir. Antiochos bu hayaline ulasmak için elinden gelen her seyi yapti. Kendisini Tanri ilan etti. Nemrut Dagi'nin 2,150 metre yükseklikteki zirvesinde yapimina basladigi görkemli kutsal alan ve mezar aniti ne yazik ki ölümünden önce bitirilemedi. Oglu Kral I. Antiochos da devam etmedi çalismalara, mezar aniti yarim kaldi. Kutsal alanin dogu ve bati yamaçlarinda teraslar üzerinde yaptirdigi heykeller ise Nemrut'un sert hava kosullariyla bogusarak yüzyillarca ayakta kalmayi basardi. Antiochos'un ölümünden sonra fikirleri de unutuldu, yaratmayi düsündügü din kendisiyle birlikte öldü. Ama yine de yaptirdigi heykellerle kendinden yüzyillar boyu bahsettirdi. Kommagene'de tanrilar ve krallar adina yaptirilmis heykeller disinda kraliyet mensubu kadinlar için yaptirilmis bir anit mezar bulunur. Antiochos bu kutsal alani teraslar halinde tasarlamisti. Kutsal kabul edilen teraslarda yer alan heykellerin sirasi ayniydi. Bu tanrilardan her biri hem Dogu hem Bati tanrilarini temsil ediyor ve bu nedenle iki ayri isimle aniliyorlardi. Yüzleri doguya ve batiya çevrili Pers ve Yunan tanrilari Kral Antiochos'un bu iki kültürü birlestirme amacini da simgeliyordu. Antiochos yaptirdigi heykellerin arka yüzüne 200 satirdan olusan vasiyetini yazdirdi. Yazitta kendinden sonra gelecek krallari tapinagi güzellestirmeleri için görevlendiriyor, ibadet için gelenleri övdügü gibi, kötü niyetle gelenlere beddua ediyordu. Antiochos, kutsal alani ziyarete gelenlerin en iyi sekilde agirlanmasini istedi ve bu amaçla rahipleri en iyi saraplarini sunmalarini emretti. Hatta törenlerin çok renkli geçmesi için müzisyenleri bile görevlendirdi. Ama Antiochos'un bütün bu titizligine ragmen vasiyette yazilanlar yerine getirilmedi.
Dünyanin Sekizinci Harikasi...

Click on the pic for the larger size...
Bati terastakileri göre daha saglam kalan, ancak depremle yerinden düstügü tahmin edilen Zeus-Oromasdes heykeli oldukça hasar görmüs. Nemrut Dagi'ndaki kutsal alanda heykellerin disinda birçok da kabartma bulunuyor. Bati terasinda bulunanlardan ilginç olan biri de aslan kabartmasidir. Gezegenlerin dizilisleri incelendiginde bunun Kommagene'nin I. Krali Mithradates'in taç giydigi geceye; IÖ 109 yilinin temmuz aksamina denk geldigi ortaya çikar. Dünyanin dört bir yaninda ziyaretçilerin görmek için geldigi Nemrut Dagi 1987 yilinda UNESCO'nun (Birlesmis Milletler Egitimsel, Bilimsel ve Kültürel Organizasyonu) kültür mirasi listesine alindi. Dünyanin sekizinci harikasi olarak nitelenen Nemrut Dagi, yeryüzünde günesin dogus ve batisinin gözlendigi en güzel yer belki de. Yüzyili askin bir süredir ayakta kalmak için çabalayan devasa heykellerin bazilari artik zamana yenik düstü. Su siralarda dagda bir faaliyet var; bu güzel eserlerin daha fazla tahrip olmasini önlemek ve kopan parçalari yerine koymak için çalismalar yapiliyor. 2002 yilinda baslayan bu çalismalarla tonlarca agirliktaki heykellerin konservasyonu ve korunmasi amaçlaniyor.
Aslanli Horoskop...
Nemrut Dagi'nin 2,150 metrelik zirvesindeki aslanli horoskop bilinen en eski horoskoptur. Aslanin üzerinde 16 isindan olusan 3 adet yildiz bulunur. Bu üç yildiz Mars, Merkür ve Jüpiter gezegenlerini temsil eder. Aslanli horoskop gök cisimlerinin bir anlik konumunu gösterir. Önümüzdeki 25.000 yil içerisinde bir daha yasanmayacak bir ana taniklik edilir. Günesin, etkisi azalan isiginin altinda çikan yeni ayin ve onun hemen üzerinde Kral yildizi olarak bilinen Regulus yildizinin güçlü pariltisi yüzleri aydinlatir. Önceki gecelerde Jüpiter, Merkür ve Mars gökyüzünde adeta krallara layik bir geçis töreni sergiler. Tüm bu seremoni bittikten sonra Kommagene halki tanrilarinin yeni krallarini ziyarete geldiklerine inanarak evlerine dönerler.
Selamlasma Kabartmalari...
Kum tasindan yapilma kabartmalar I. Antiochos'un Herakles, Zeus, Kommagene ve Apollon ile selamlasmasini sembolize eder. Tanrilarin isimleri kabartmalarin arkasina yazilmistir.
Nemrut ve Kommagene Uygarligi...
Dogu-Bati Medeniyetinin, 2,206 m. Yükseklikte muhtesem bir piramitteki kesisme noktasi, Dünyanin sekizinci harikasi Nemrut. Yüksekligi on metreyi bulan büyüleyici heykelleriyle, metrelerce uzunluktaki kitabeleriyle, UNESCO Dünya Kültür Mirasinda yer almaktadir. Iki bin yildir günesin dogusunu ve batisini 2150 m. Yükseklikte izleyen dev heykellerin sirrinin çözülmesi için Kommagene Uygarligi’nin kesfine gitmek gerekir. Osmanli Imparatorlugu’nda askeri danisman olarak görev yapan ve tarihi eserlere ilgi duyan Alman subay Helmut Von Moltke, 1838’de bölgedeki arastirmalari sirasinda bölgedeki tarihi kalintilar hakkinda bilgi verdigi "Türkiye’deki Durum ve Olaylar Hakkinda Mektuplar" adli kitabinda nedense Nemrut Dagi’ndaki heykellerden söz etmemistir. Nemrut Dagi’nin zirvesindeki eserlerden ilk söz eden ve bunlarin Asurlular’dan kalma oldugunu tahmin eden, 1881’de Diyarbakir’da yol yapim islerinde görevli Alman Mühendis Karl Sester’dir. Sester’in verdigi bilgiler dogrultusunda Kraliyet Akademisi tarafindan arastirma yapmak üzere bölgeye gönderilen genç bilim adami Otto Punchtein baskanligindaki ekip, Nemrut Dagi’nin tepesindeki tümülüs ve tümülüsün dogu ve bati yanlarinda olusturulmus teraslar üzerindeki devasa heykeller ve çesitli kabartmalardan olusan eserler üzerinde çalisir. Uzun çalismalar sonunda Grekçe yazili kitabeyi çözen Punchstein, bu eserlerin Kommagene Uygarligi’na ait oldugunu ve Kommagene Krali 1. Antiochos tarafindan yaptirildigini kesfeder. Antiochos’un agzindan yazilan kitabe, Nemrut Dagi’nin sirrini ve Antiochos’un yasalarini içermektedir. Daha sonra Alman Mühendis Karl Humann ve Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzesinin kurucusu Osman Hamdi Beyin de katildigi Nemrut Dagi çalismalari 1953’ten 80’li yillara kadar Amerika’li Arkeolog Theresa Goell ve Friedrich Karl Dörner ve 1986 yilindan itibaren, Dörner’in ögrencisi Sencer Sahin tarafindan sürdürülmüstür. Kommagene Uygarligi'nin ortaya çikmasini saglayan kazilar, Nemrut Dagi’ndan baska Arsameia, Samsat ve Firat Havzasinda gerçeklestirilmistir. Bölgede yapilan kazilarda ortaya çikartilan tasinabilir eserler müzelerde, geri kalanlari da Milli Park Alani içerisinde korumaya alinmistir.
Kaynak : www.google.com...
Nemrut Dagi ve Diablo II - Görev : "Dry Hills"...
Diablo II PC Oyunu Ile Ilgili Genel Bilgiler (In English)...

Since the beginning of time, the forces of order and chaos have been engaged in an eternal struggle to decide the fate of all creation. That struggle has now come to the mortal realm. And neither man nor angel will be left unscathed. Diablo, the Lord of Terror and the youngest of three prime evils, awoke from his long sleep with plans to free his exiled brothers, Mephisto and Baal. But, a nameless hero stood in Diablo's way, confronting the Lord of Terror in the hellish labyrinth beneath Tristram. Diablo's spirit could never be truly destroyed, so the hero made the noblest sacrifice of all. He took the spirit of Diablo into himself, hoping that his own strength of will could contain the demon within. The hero could never have known that his selfless act would not only ensure Diablo's victory, but irrevocably damn his soul for all time. Within this mammoth guide, you'll discover a wealth of statistics, strategies, and solutions for one of the most popular games of all-time, Blizzard's incredible Diablo II.

Inside this sub-section of the Diablo II game guide, you'll find :

The Amazon: This section introduces you to the Amazon character class, covering attributes, skills selection, and strategies. Here you'll find suggestions on choosing your skills to improve your Amazon character.
The Barbarian: Head here for an introduction to the Barbarian character class, with strategies for applying attribute points, acquiring skills, and perfecting combat techniques. The section also includes suggestions for choosing your skills to improve your Barbarian character.
The Necromancer: This section introduces you to the Necromancer character class, covering summoning minions and applying attribute and skill points. Inside you'll also find suggestions for choosing skills to become a Necromancer like no other !
The Paladin: Here, you'll find an introduction to the Paladin character class, featuring strategies for applying attribute points, acquiring skills, learning importance of hotkeys, and supporting fellow party members. The section also includes suggestions on choosing skills and improving your Paladin character.
The Sorceress: Head here for an introduction to the Sorceress character class, complete with strategies for selecting attributes, acquiring spells, applying skill points, and perfecting combat techniques. Inside you'll find suggestions on choosing skills and improving your Sorceress character.
Act I walk-through: This section features a complete walk-through for Diablo II's Act I. The walk-through sections include solutions to all quests, the location of important quest items, and vital information on monsters, townspeople, and dealing with boss creatures.
Act II walk-through: This section includes a complete walk-through for Diablo II's Act II.
Act III walk-through: This section includes a complete walk-through for Diablo II's Act III.
Act IV walk-through: This section includes a complete walk-through for Diablo II's Act IV.
Experience points chart: The chart depicts the experience points needed for each level up to 99.
Shrines: Look here for a list of Diablo II shrines and their functions.
Potions: This section explains the various potions you'll discover in Diablo II.
Weapon and armor statistics: This section includes charts revealing the base statistics for Diablo II's common weapons and armor.
Gems and skulls: Here, you'll find the magical properties for Diablo II's gems and skulls, including their effects when socketed in a weapon, shield, or helm.
Unique monsters: This section includes the list of unique monsters encountered in Diablo II, their unique attributes, and their location.
Diablo II PC Oyunu Ile Ilgili Bazi Önemli "Ip Uçlari" (In English)...
The Secret Cow Level : To get to the Secret Cow Level, you must have beaten the game on that difficulty, then go to the Rogue Encampment, take Wirt's Leg and a Tome of Town Portal into the Horadric Cube, transmute it and a portal to the Cow Level appears, there are hordes or cows here, be warned, once you kill the Cow King, you cannot go there again on that difficulty so you can go there 3 times, once on each difficulty if you kill him. However if you do not kill the Cow King, you can keep going there and get lots of items and gold.

Increase Difficulty In-Game : To do this, you must press the ENTER key as soon as you join the game, and type in "/players X", replacing X with a number from 1 to 8. For example, entering "/players 8" will make the game as hard as it would be if there were 8 players in it, which will give way more EXP and better drops, but the monsters will be much harder. Note: This does not work with the Lord of Destruction expansion.

Codes : Press "enter" in a game to open the chat box and type : "Every Sound" "soundchaosdebug"

Recipes for the Horadric Cube : Here is the main info !

Ingredients: Wirts Leg, Tome of Town Portal
Result: Red Portal to Secret Cow Level
Special Note: Must finish the game first and be in the Rogue encampment on the same level as when you finished
Ingredients: Amulet, 1 Perfect Gem of each type except Skull
Result: Prismatic Amulet - 18-24% Resist All
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 3 Perfect Gems: same type, 1 Magical Item
Result: 1 Random Magical Item
Special Note: Works with Magical Armor, Weapons or Jewelry
Ingredients: 3 Gems: same type and quality
Result: 1 Gem of next higher quality
Special Note: 3 Perfect Gems will not transmute
Ingredients: 1 Ring, 2 Topaz gems
Result: 1 Coral Ring
Special Note: Ring gives +21-30 lightning resistance; quality of gems and ring properties do not matter
Ingredients: 1 Ring, 1 Sapphire, 4 Thawing potions
Result: 1 Cobalt Ring
Special Note: Ring gives +21-30 Cold resistance; Quality of gem and ring properties do not matter
Ingredients: 1 Ring, 1 Ruby, 4 Exploding potions
Result: 1 Garnet Ring
Special Note: Ring gives +21-30 Fire resistance; Quality of gem and ring do not matter
Ingredients: 1 Ring, 1 Emerald, 4 Antidote potions
Result: 1 Viridian Ring
Special Note: Ring gives +21-30 Poison resistance; Quality of gem and ring do not matter
Ingredients: 3 Rings
Result: 1 Amulet
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 3 Amulets
Result: 1 Ring
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 3 Healing Potions, 3 Mana Potions, 1 Gem
Result: 1 Full Rejuvenation Potion
Special Note: Gem quality does not matter; quality of potions does not matter
Ingredients: 6 Gems: any type or quality, 1 Sword
Result: 1 Socketed Longsword
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 3 Healing Potions, 3 Mana Potions
Result: 1 Rejuvenation Potion
Special Note: Quality of potions does not matter
Ingredients: 1 Healing Potion, 1 Strangling Gas Potion
Result: 1 Antidote Potion
Special Note: Quality of Healing Potion does not matter
Ingredients: 1 Quiver of arrows, 1 Spear
Result: 1 Set of Javelins
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 2 Quivers of Arrows
Result: 1 Quiver of Bolts
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 2 Quivers of Bolts
Result: 1 Quiver of Arrows
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 1 Dagger, 1 Axe, 1 Stack of Throwing Knives
Result: 1 Stack of Throwing Axes
Special Note: Axe/Dagger class and properties do not matter
Ingredients: 1 Axe, 2 Daggers
Result: Throwing Axe
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 3 Perfect Skulls, 1 Amulet
Result: 80% chance of getting +1 or +2 char skills ring
Special Note: -
Ingredients: 6 Perfect Gems(Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Amethyst, Emerald, Diamond)+ 1 Ring of Greed
Result: 1 Prismatic Ring of Greed - All resistances +16%, 50% Extra Gold from monsters
Special Note: unfortunately, Required Level = 46 (Submitted by: David Carlisle)

Spell & Affect :

Whirlwind: Wind attack that strikes all squares around character
Zealotry: Lowers speed, but boosts attack strength and hit points
Enchant: Makes target sword flame, and makes other weapons magical
Glacial Spike: A cold spike that freezes target
Summon Blood Golem: Blood golem fights to the death for you
Wall of Bone: An impassable wall with tough hit points
Control Monster: Temporarily turns a monster into an ally

Oyunda Kaydedilen Görüntüler... (Screen Shoots)...


Nemrut Dagi'ndaki Kral Heykeli... (Monument of the King in Mount Nemrut)...


Türk Olmakla Gurur Duyuyoruz... (We are too proud to being Turkish)...
Filmler... (Movies)...

	Film - 1... (Animasyon, Sessiz, "avi" formatinda, 1,017.86 Kb)
	Film - 2... (Orijinal, Türkçe, Ingilizce alt yazili, "mpeg" formatinda, 3,919.87 Kb)

Mount Nemrut and Diablo II
Last updated on January 25th, 2005
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