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Nemrud Dagi, Turkey

A Complex 3D Model

page updated October 27, 2014
SAMPLE  RENDERINGS  FROM  THE  MODELING  PROCESS

Sample images from our model as work progressed since 2000 (with updates during 2004, 2011, and 2014).   Please note that the renderings here are from work that is, in some aspects, incomplete, in its modeling, its texturing, and its lighting.   We will specifically state when a render depicts a completed feature (which tend to be toward the bottom of the page). Be sure to scroll down through each category to find the latest renderings.

Click on each image to view an enlargement.

 East Terrace
  • Colossal Gods

  • Arrayed across the west side of the East Terrace, with the magnificent 50m-high tumulus as a backdrop, is King Antiochus' pantheon (in which he included himself).  The colossal enthroned gods rise 15m above terrace level, seated atop a high stepped podium.  They are constructed architectonically of ashlar limestone blocks, only sketchily carved, and draped in regalia from deities of the Greek West and the Parthian East.  Across the backs of the thrones is carved one of the longest known Greek ritual inscriptions, explaining the ceremonies to be held at the site.
     

    head of the colossal Apollo

    East Terrace colossal Apollo; 
    head as currently preserved (c.1.6m high).
    Photo © 1955 Theresa B. Goell

    rendering from our computer model of Apollo

    East Terrace colossal Apollo; 
    upper body as modeled by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace; rear of the colossal statues

    View from atop the tumulus looking over the East Terrace 
    to the backs of the colossal enthroned gods (rear of Apollo c.5m high). 
    Photo © 1985 Donald H. Sanders

    back of the colossal Apollo

    East Terrace colossal Apollo; 
    back from an early model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    front view of the colossal Apollo

    East Terrace colossal Apollo; 
    front from an early model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace colossal statues and dexiosis reliefs; 
    completed model
    Image © 2014 Learning Sites, Inc.

  • Colossal Animals

  • Guarding each side of the major sculptural groups at Nemrud Dagi are a pair of lions and eagles.  The colossal guardian animals on either side of the colossal enthroned gods have all been destroyed, except for parts of their bodies now strewn across the terraces.  Some of the heads are in fair condition, as you can see from the lion's head below.  Our 3D computer reconstruction shows for the first time what this wonderful lion might have looked like.

    Nemrud Dagi, East Terrace, north colossal lion head

    East Terrace colossal lion head; 
    head as currently preserved (c.1.3m high).
    Photo © 1953 Theresa B. Goell

    Nemrud Dagi, rendering of north colossal lion

    East Terrace north colossal lion
     as currently modeled (9/25/00)
    by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.


    East Terrace - Ancestor Reliefs
    Displayed along the north and south sides of the East Terrace are rows of stelae, upright slabs of sandstone, set into a stepped limestone plinth.  The courtside of the slabs were carved with depictions of Antiochus' ancestors in order back to Alexander the Great on his mother's side (the southern sequence), and to Darius the Great on his father's side (the northern sequence).  On the back of each stela is carved the name and immediate parentage of the ancestor depicted on the obverse, making the line of ancestors the longest and most complete ancient genealogy known (despite its current ruined condition).
    North Socles I & II

    East Terrace, North Socles I & II (test02)
    Persian ancestors in the front row, 
    an early test model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    North Socle I

    East Terrace, North Socle I
    Persian ancestors in the front row, 
    an early test model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace - General Views
    The East Terrace contains many ritual and sculptural features arrayed around the four sides of the rock-hewn flat central space.  At its east, there is a stepped flat-topped pyramid (possibly for a Persian fire altar); at the north and south edges are lines of orthostates depicting King Antiochus' maternal and paternal ancestors; and resting atop a high podium majestically overlooking the terrace below, are seated a pantheon of colossal gods (ca.8m high) flanked at each end by colossal eagles and lions.
    Nemrud Dagi, East Terrace

    East Terrace, view westward toward 
    the North Terrace, preliminary 
    model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    Nemrud Dagi, East Terrace

    East Terrace, view  toward the 
    podium, second stage model by 
    Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    Nemrud Dagi, East Terrace aerial composite

    East Terrace, aerial photo composite 
    view as currently modeled by 
    Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    Nemrud Dagi, East Terrace, test03

    East Terrace, view  toward the 
    podium, as currently modeled by 
    Learning Sites (9/18/00).
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace podium, nearly completed model by 
    Learning Sites (9/25/00).
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    Nemrud Dagi, East Terrace, full view

    East Terrace, view  from southeast 
    toward the podium, nearly completed model
    by Learning Sites (9/25/00).
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace, view  from the east toward the podium, 
    view approximates the ancient approach to the site,
    completed model by Learning Sites (10/31/00).
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace, view over the fire altar toward the podium, 
    completed model by Learning Sites (April 2004).
    Image © 2004 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace, view  from the east toward the podium, 
    view approximates the ancient approach to the site, 
    completed model & image © 2011 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace, detail view of the podium
    completed model & image © 2011 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace, aerial view, 
    completed model & image © 2014 Learning Sites, Inc.

    East Terrace, aerial view at dusk, 
    completed model & image © 2014 Learning Sites, Inc.


     
    West Terrace
    The West Terrace has the same features as those displayed on the East Terrace (except for the Stepped Pyramid), but they are arranged quite differently due to the topography of the mountain on that side.  The major differences in the design of the West Terrace are (1) there is no great stepped podium upon which the colossal gods sit; (2) the row of maternal ancestors are set opposite the colossal gods, rather than along the side; and (3) the "dexiosis" (or apotheosis) reliefs are set next to the colossal statues, rather than below (compare the image below, right, with the East Terrace images above).
    View over the West Terrace (from the model)

    West Terrace, general view north
    an early test model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2000 Learning Sites, Inc.

    West Terrace, close-up view 
    showing the dexiosis reliefs and colossi
    from the final model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2001 Learning Sites, Inc.

    West Terrace, distant view, 
    showing all the features
    from the final model by Learning Sites.
    Image © 2014 Learning Sites, Inc.


     
    Reference Information

    page created: 2000
    page updated: October 27, 2014
    you are here: Learning Sites Home page   ==>  Learning Sites Index page   ==> Nemrud Dagi, homepage ==> Nemrud Dagi, Turkey, 3D modeling
    this page's URL is: http://www.learningsites.com/NemrudDagi/ND_Ekip.html
    page author: Learning Sites, Inc.

    © 2000-2014 Learning Sites, Inc.