MOUNT NEMRUD: THE THRONE OF THE GODS divides itself neatly into two parts. The first tells of its discovery, first by a German archaeologist in the 1880s, and subsequently by the American architect Theresa Goell and German archaeologist Friedrich-Karl Dormer working in collaboration during the Fifties and the Sixties. Since then there have been further expeditions led by Turkish as well as non-Turkish specialists, most notably Sencer Sahin of Ankara University.
The second half takes us back to the creation of the massive tombs, reliefs and tumuli on the Mount, the work of the Kommageneian ruler Antiochus, who not only managed to unify his people but determined that there should be some permanent structure erected in his memory. He had every right to assume that he deserved it; he had won a great victory against the Romans, led by Mark Antony, although horribly outnumbered in terms of troop-numbers. This achievement forced the Romans to abandon their colonialist aspirations and leave Antiochus and his people in peace. His reputation soared; to such an extent that he likened himself to a god; hence his desire to build the structure.
Although successive expeditions have yielded much information about his life, there is much that remains to be discovered. Ornek's documentary doubts whether this task will ever be accomplished: the site is in a state now that further excavations might destroy it permanently. Perhaps Antiochus's kingdom will remain intact forever, resistant to foreign colonizers, just at it did when Mark Antony tried to invade.
In light of Ornek's previous work on ATATURK, it is clear that MOUNT NEMRUT is inspired by the same nationalistic beliefs. Antiochus is a forerunner of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who inherited a divided nation and unified it, while resisting any invading forces. Like Antiochus against the Romans, Ataturk also won a great victory against the Allies at Gallipoli, and thereafter cemented his place at the helm of a new nation. While Ataturk did not consider himself a God, he also has a monument constructed in his honor in Ankara: the Ataturk Mausoleum, or Anitkabir, which went up fifteen years after his death.
This celebration of Antiochus's work on behalf of his nation also sets the archaeologists' work into sharper focus. While they might be inspired by the noblest motives (to reveal the past to present- day scholars), their efforts are still neo-colonialist, especially when the majority of archaeologists come from outside the Republic of Turkey. MOUNT NEMRUT suggests that there are certain aspects of local cultures that they never will discover, despite the use of increasingly sophisticated scientific equipment.
