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In this early Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 time exposure photo, massive stone head statues are seen at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. The ancient site, which includes giant 10-meter high, seated statues of King Antiochus I surrounded by ancient Gods, including Zeus and Apollo, was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
ADIYAMAN, Turkey (AP) - Visitors snap photos of massive stone heads that stare down on them from the summit of Mount Nemrut, in Turkey's southeastern Adiyaman province, their faces illuminated by sunset lighting.
Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters (over 7,000 feet), the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom, built as a monument to himself. A 50 meter (164-foot) -high, man-made mound - the presumed tomb of Antiochus - sets the background.
Son of the founder of the Commagene kingdom, Antiochus reigned between 64 and 38 BC, until he was deposed by the Romans. The kingdom spanned an area from the eastern edge of the Taurus mountains to the Euphrates River.
The ancient site - which includes giant 10-meter (33-foot) -high, seated statues of Antiochus himself surrounded by ancient Gods, including Zeus and Apollo - was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer. Excavations began there in the 1950s.
Today, the site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the monuments are among the best-known images of Turkey, featuring on postcards and Turkish tourism posters and ads.
Visitors climb to the site at dawn or at dusk to see the statues under the spectacular lighting. It's also a favorite spot for stargazers to watch the night sky.
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Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey contributed.
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, Nesibe Irem Erdem and Faysal Macit, watch the sunset after spending the night at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Visitors climb to the site, perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, at dawn or at dusk to see the statues under the spectacular lighting. It's also a favourite spot for star gazers to watch the night sky.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, tourists take photos at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. The ancient site, which includes giant 10-meter high, seated statues of King Antiochus I surrounded by ancient Gods, including Zeus and Apollo, was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this early Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 time exposure photo, massive stone head statues are seen at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, tourists visit the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the ancient site, which includes giant 10-meter high, seated statues of King Antiochus I, seen at centre of this photo, surrounded by ancient Gods, including Zeus and Apollo, was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sep. 23, 2019 photo, tourists take photos at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the ancient site, which includes giant 10-meter high, seated statues of King Antiochus I, seen at centre, surrounded by ancient Gods, including Zeus and Apollo, was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, tourists take photos at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this early Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 time exposure photo, massive stone head statues are seen at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Today, the monuments are among the best-known images of Turkey, featuring on postcards or Turkish tourism posters and ads. Visitors climb to the site at dawn or at dusk to see the statues under the spectacular lighting. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, tourists take photos at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. The monuments are among the best-known images of Turkey, featuring on postcards or Turkish tourism posters and ads. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, tourists take photos at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, depicted in statue seen in this photo, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. It was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer and the monuments are among the best-known images of Turkey, featuring on postcards or Turkish tourism posters and ads. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 time exposure photo, massive stone head statues are seen at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the ancient site, which includes giant 10-meter high, seated statues of King Antiochus I himself surrounded by ancient Gods, including Zeus and Apollo, was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this early Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, people wait for the sunrise at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Visitors climb to the site, perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, at dawn or at dusk to see the statues under the spectacular lighting. It's also a favourite spot for star gazers to watch the night sky.(AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, a tourist waits for the sunset at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Visitors climb to the site, perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters at dawn or at dusk to see the statues under the spectacular lighting. It's also a favourite spot for star gazers to watch the night sky. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, tourists take pictures at sunset at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the ancient site, which includes giant 10-meter high, seated statues of King Antiochus I, himself surrounded by ancient Gods, including Zeus and Apollo, was discovered in 1881 by a German engineer. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this Monday, Sept. 23, 2019 photo, tourists walk at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Today, the monuments are among the best-known images of Turkey, featuring on postcards or Turkish tourism posters and ads. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this early Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 time exposure photo, a woman waits for the sunset at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this early Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, people wait for the sunrise at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Visitors climb to the site at dawn or at dusk to see the statues under the spectacular lighting. It's also a favourite spot for star gazers to watch the night sky. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
In this early Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019 time exposure photo, massive stone head statues are seen at the archaeological site of Mount Nemrut in Adiyaman, southeastern Turkey, an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Perched at an altitude of 2,150 meters, the statues are part of a temple and tomb complex that King Antiochus I, of the ancient Commagene kingdom built as a monument to himself. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
