October 24, 2009

Hello,

October 24, 2009

Abraham, Nimrod, Alexander, Caracalla, Saladin, Ataturk - these "heads of state" I had met before.

North of Sanliurfa, Turkey, I met a few new ones - Mithradates, the Commagene family, Septumus Severus.

At Mt Nemrut, I met a guy with one heck of a name:

Antiochus I Theos Dikaios Epiphanes Philorhomaios Philhellen

In Greek: Ἀντίοχος ὀ Θεός Δίκαιος Ἐπιφανής Φιλορωμαίος Φιλέλλην

"Antiochos the Just and Eminent God, friend of the Romans and friend of the Greeks" (c.86 BCE-38 BCE) was the king of Commagene from 70 BCE until his death, and the most famous ruler of that kingdom.

Tell me, why do I always have to climb a rocky path up a mountainside to meet these guys?

Please...climb along with me. It's nice to have the company.

http://travelwithjan.com/asia2009turkeyheadsofstate

Jan