Mount Nemrut and the Euphrates: history shaped by stone and water

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Mount Nemrut and the Euphrates: history shaped by stone and water  In Türkiye’s southeast, monumental archaeology meets living tradition. From the summit of Mount Nemrut to the banks of the Euphrates, this region reflects shifting power, belief and adaptation.  In partnership with GoTürkiye  READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/10/06/mount-nemrut-and-the-euphrates-history-shaped-by-stone-and-water  Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages

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00:00I'm on my way to Mount Nemrut, one of the most mysterious and breathtaking places in

00:10Turkiye. Here, legend and adventure meet, and I can't wait to discover it one step at a time.

00:23We are in southeastern Turkiye, about 800 kilometers from the capital Ankara, a region

00:29shaped over millennia by ancient cultures, fallen empires and powerful rivers. Today the local

00:35hiking group is taking me along as they climb up Mount Nemrut. This mountain is known for its

00:43ancient statues spread across two areas. The route is striking, but at the top the mountain's real

00:50magic is revealed. At over 2100 meters above sea level, Mount Nemrut is home to tombs and colossal

00:57stone statues left by King Antiochus the first of Comagene over 2000 years ago as a

01:04tribute to the gods and his ancestors.

01:06These giant statues of gods and kings, sitting rows on stone thrones,

01:12gazing towards the sun. It's no surprise, Mount Nemrut's summit was added to the UNESCO World Heritage

01:20List in the United States.

01:21These giant statues of gods and kings sitting rows on stone thrones,

01:25and then there was a way to show life for Antiochus.

01:29That's why I chose this place.

01:31These giant statues of gods and kings sitting rows on stone thrones,

01:35gazing toward the sun.

01:37It's no surprise, Mount Nemerut Summit was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987

01:44and it's considered one of Anatolia's must-see sites.

01:48We can go to this kind of place, especially in this kind of place.

01:55We can also choose the history of our own,

01:57and we can also choose the history of our own community

02:00and other communities.

02:02We prefer to go to this place.

02:05As evening falls, I'm helping the team set up their camp.

02:08I'd love to stay the night, but I have other plans for tomorrow.

02:12Still, I can't leave without seeing this place at its very best,

02:16in the glow of sunset.

02:18I can't describe how beautiful this is.

02:21You don't just visit Mount Nemerut.

02:23It really gets under your skin.

02:31Our adventure isn't over yet.

02:33From the heights of Nemerut, we now head down toward the river

02:37that shaped the entire civilizations, the Euphrates.

02:41It's one of the longest rivers in Western Asia, flowing to 1,850 km,

02:46a line through history from ancient Mesopotamia to modern Turkey.

02:51About 40 years ago, this stretch of the river was transformed

02:54with the construction of the Ataturk Dam, one of the biggest in the world.

02:59It's here that today I'm trading my hiking boots for a boat and a fishing rod.

03:04We are heading out with a local fisherman to enjoy the river and try a bit of fishing.

03:09I'm not just looking to bring home a catch.

03:12It's about my experience out here on the water.

03:16Fishermen here usually work with large nets, but it shows the old way,

03:20or at least the one I grew up with.

03:23Thank you very much.

03:25The last time I did it, it was when I was a child with my dad.

03:28A long time ago.

03:30Fishing on the Euphrates isn't just a local tradition.

03:34It plays a key role in the regional economy too.

03:37Beyond fishing, the dam's biggest impact is on the land itself before it was built.

03:55Most of this region was dry and barren.

03:58It was a great benefit from the land and the land itself.

04:01It was a great benefit from the land.

04:02It was built from the land, and it was built from the river.

04:06It changed the land and the land itself.

04:09It changed the land itself.

04:11It changed the land itself.

04:12It changed the land itself.

04:13It started a new life.

04:14A new life that still flows with the river.

04:19Well, I didn't manage to catch any fish, but at least I had fun!

04:24Along these banks, people live in harmony with nature,

04:27fishing, farming or just enjoying this stunning landscape.

04:34This journey has been pure magic.

04:36From stone gods to river adventures, this land moves you.

04:40Mount Nemrut and Euphrates aren't just beautiful places for a quick visit.

04:45They stay with you forever.

04:47Gorushuruz!

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