he piece of land around the city of Adiyaman in south-eastern Anatolia was called "Commagene" in Roman times. The origin of the word is not known and thought to have been derived from the Greek pronounciation of "Kummuhu" which was the name of a kingdom that existed in this area during the Assyrian period in about the nineth century BC. The region consist of high plateaus and mountains of over 2,000? which are seperated by deep valleys through which the tributaries of the Euphrates flow. These smalll rivers are fed with the water of melting snow in the spring and dry up in summer.

Today, in addition to Mt.Nemrut (2,150?), the most striking sight of the region is the Atatürk dam which is expected to change the economy of south-eastern Turkey. Nevertheless, when it is filled, a lake of some 800 km² will be created and hundreds of unexcavated historic sites will remain under the water forever. Samosata, the first capital of the Commagene Kingdom, is one of these ancient sites and is already lost in the depths of water. Ancient sources relates that in Commagene the floors of houses were covered with asphalt during the time of Antiochos I.

Antiochos I. West terrace, Mt. Nemrut.

The remains of the sacred last restling place built by Antiochos I of Commagene on top of Mt.Nemrut. The monuments are made of stone, too heavy and large to be carried to the museums, and remain where they were originally erected.