The second name of this famous city Troy was Ilion. The major reason for acquiring thus famous among the other cities during ancient period was the myths of the Trojan War and the events described in Homer Poem “Iliad”. In the latter was described 10-year long wars, by coalition of Achaean kings, led by Agamemnon,king of Mycenae, which ended with the fall of the city-fortress Troy. People living in the city of Troy, were called Teucer by the ancient Greek sources.

Troy (Ilion) is considered to be the main city in northwest of Asia Minor. For centuries, the reality of Troy has been questioned, thus it existed as a city of legend. But there are always people looking for events in “The Iliad” as a reflection of real history. However, serious attempts to find the ancient city have been made only in the XIX century. The city was re-opened in the 70s of the XIX century by Heinrich Schliemann. Before him it was believed that the ruins of Troy were to be found under Bunarbashi village in Turkey, but Schliemann proved that Troy was located on a hill Hissarlik.

The myth about founding the city goes like this: according to the instructions of the oracle, the Phrygian king gave Ill colorful cow and said that he founded the city where the cow lies to rest. This happened on a hill, which was formerly called Ata, in honor of the goddess of madness Ata, overthrown by Zeus from Olympus. Ill-founded the city, and Zeus gave him a sign that Ill did the right to do. Thus was born the legend of Troy.

During excavations on the hill of Hissarlik Heinrich Schliemann discovered the ruins of the nine cities that lie one above the other. Troy in his opinion was in between the second and third layers. This theory was confirmed later. Schliemann also discovered a big amount of treasure, belonging of which he attributed to King Priam, however, later it was proved that the treasure had been buried long before the Trojan war itself.
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According to Greek legend, the Trojan War broke out because of the fact that one of the 50 sons of King Priam – Paris, stole the beautiful Helen – the wife of Spartan King Menelaus. On the hot print, the Greeks sent troops just to take Elena back. However, according to some historians, it is likely just the tip of the conflict, which was the last straw and gave the background to start a war. Prior to that, presumably, there were lots of trade road conflicts between the Greeks and the Trojans, who controlled trades on the coast near the Dardanelles Strait.

It is important to mention that the war lasted for 10 years. Such persistence was encouraged with the support brought though the other lands. According to available sources, the army of Agamemnon encamped before the city from the sea-side, and didn’t siege a fortress on all sides. This could have been caused of the strategically handful location of the city, which didn’t allow the enemy to cut all the roads from outside. So or not, King Priamtook advantage of the situation and established close ties with Karya, Lydia and other countries of Asia Minor. That’s exactly where he got his assistance from during the whole war period.

There are quite few episodes of the war, which have not found its archaeological and historical confirmation in reality. Saying it clear, in the Poem ‘Iliad”, one can’t find a word about the famous Trojan horse, but it is described in details by the Homer in his “Odyssey.” Furthermore, this is not the only source. All the events associated with the Trojan horse were also described by the Roman poet Virgil in the “Aeneid”, 1. BC, i. e. almost 1,200 years later after the case. Some historians suggest that a Trojan horse was understood as a weapon, such as a battering ram. Others argue that Homer named “horse” after the Greek ships. It is possible that the horse didn’t exist at all, and Homer used it in his poem as a symbol of the death of unsuspecting Trojans.

However, keeping track to the legend, Trojan horse appeared in town thanks to a clever ploy of the Greeks. The Greeks spread the rumor that there was a prophecy that if the wooden horse would stand within the walls of Troy, it will forever protect the city from the Greek invasion. Most residents were inclined to believe that the horse must enter the city. However, there were opponents of this idea also. Priest Laocoön offered to burn a horse or throw him off the cliff. He even threw in a horse with a spear, and all around heard that the horse was hollow inside. Soon Greek named Sinon was captured, who told Priam, that Greeks built the horse in honor of the goddess Athena, to redeem a perennial bloodshed. This was followed by the tragic events: during the sacrifice of the god of the sea Poseidon, the water floated two huge snakes that strangled the priest and his sons. Witnessing this, Trojans believed in the magic power of the horse and ordered to roll itinto the city.

As a result Trojan horse was exactly the cause of the fall of city. According to legend, the night after the horse was in the city, Sinon let out of his belly hiding inside the soldiers who killed the guard and quickly opened the city gates. Being asleep after riotous celebrations in the city, even a very strong resistance didn’t help them. Several Trojan warriors, led by Aeneas tried to save the palace and the king. According to ancient Greek mythology, the palace fell by giant Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, who broke the front door with his ax and killed King Priam.

How much of all above-mentioned is true is still up to the reader to discover itself. One is true, that to the south of the Dardanelles, the ancient Gelesponta, lie the ruins of this legendary city. These ruins are attracted by travelers, as the very names of Troy and the Trojan War conjure epic heroes of Homer, from which counts the history of European literature. From antiquity until today survived not so much, but the stones are definitely worthwhile to see.

But nevertheless, not everyone has been on Nemrut, and here we talk not only about foreigners who have visited Turkey once, but even Turkish Cypriots who have resided in the country through years. There could be several reasons found for this. First of all, it is in the East of Turkey, far enough. Secondly, a visit to Nemrut Dag is during limited times of the year.

Generally, Nemrut Dag is not only a mountain, but also a National Park. Furthermore, there is not only pantheon, which visitor can look through (those of the heads), but also lot more which has been kept through centuries of debris, as once here was located the Commagene kingdom.
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Once, approximately on the 2ndcentury BC, Mount Nemrutlaid on the territory of the state of dwarf Commagene. Though the state was small, it appears to have been very proud at the same time. This particularly applies to the rulers. King MithridatesI, nicknamed Kalinikos, which means “beautifully wins”,on this spot arranged parochial Olympic Games and has been directly involved in them. However, King Antiochus I

surpassed all kings. Bearing in mind that he had the Greek and Persian roots and moreover, he imbibed the western and eastern world, Antiochus set up his own religion. At the same time, he ranked himself as God. Mount Nemrutwas declared as a religious center. Antiochus started to build ritual complex. Although, having a plan of widely spreading his religion, and to finish the complex to the end, Antiochus failed. This process was stopped with an unexpected death of the ruler. After this, the existence of Commagene Nemrut was forgotten. It was found by Crusaders. However strange it should not sound, nobody paid attention to this fact and it was again forgotten. Next time the mountain Nemrutwas discovered in 1881 by engineers and geologists from Germany Karl Sisters. Karl did not find what he was looking for, but reopened the World Nemrut Dag. Serious studies about Nemrut Dag began only in the middle of the 20th century.

At the top of Mount Nemrut 3 terraces are cut – the eastern, western and northern. There are numerous statues of gods, up to 10 meters in height, which used to be one-piece sculptures.

But, after the earthquake in these areas, the heads fell down. Now they are located nearby their bodies. Terraces are surrounded by a man-made hill which amounts to 50 meters in height and 152 meters in diameter. It is believed, that somewhere in the bowels of the hill, Antiochus is buried himself. Unfortunately, this is only speculation and rumors, which has not been proved by any evidence.

Before one would see the sacred heads of the gods, he/she has to overcome some 2 kilometers walking path of the stone steps. They lead to the sanctuary on the eastern terrace Nemrut Dag.

According to the reconstruction of the sanctuary on the eastern terrace looked like Nemrut:

Gods are in a sitting position, which is quite unusual one. According to Antiochus, here was a home of the Gods, where they relaxed their heavenly thrones.

The figures are made of limestone, and the bodies of the gods are built of massive blocks. Once, the pieces of the figures were polished. It is interesting to observe that while constructing this place, the idea of guarding gods was considered. One can see the lion and an eagle.


In front of the Statues there is a platform on which the sacrificial fire was being ignited. Now this platform is used as a convenient place to take pictures and to meet the sunrise.

Going round the hill one can reach the West Terrace. West Terrace of Nemrut Dag is not as large as the East. Here, the gods are closer to the people, instead of looking down on them from above. On the western terrace there are all the same characters: Antiochus, Tyche, etc. On the sides of the figures are the ancestors of Antiochus, both from the Persian and the Greek side.

North Terrace of Nemrut Dag was intended to be a gathering place for people during ceremonies. Nearly all times the procession moved towards the eastern terrace, hence not much of it is left for visitors.

Nowadays around Nemrut Dag there is nothing but mountains. And before that, it was part of the kingdom. Something of this kingdom can be seen today,but one cannot have this feeling during walking around by feet, because sites are located at a great distance from each other, thus the connection chain is difficult to ascertain.

One more notice. One should not confuse this amazing sightseeing place with the same Nemrut Dag volcano Nemrut, which is also located in modern Turkey near Lake Van. This is completely different mountain.

It is strongly suggested to everyone planning to visit Turkey, to plan their trip so that beyond seeing the majestic cities and countryside, to bear in mind that there is the Mountain of Gods – Nemrut Dag, waiting for them as well.