Giants Under Stars

Mount Nemrut, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Turkiye. Its peak at 2,134 m is home to the temple-tombs of an ancient civilization. Giant stone statues of the kings and gods lie on the eastern and western terraces of Mount Nemrut. The mountain and its surroundings are preserved as a national park and a special permission is required to enter at night. As a photographer and an admirer of historical and cultural heritage, I’ve always wanted to photograph this magnificent beauty. I consider myself lucky as I had the privilege to have access to Mount Nemrut at night. I preferred a summer day, where the skies would be clear to allow me to display the stars. To reach the peak, there is a bit of a hike at the last mile. During the hike, I witnessed amazing views of the mountains that made me forget the difficulty of climbing on a hot summer day. Despite the day’s heat, the peak was extremely windy, and the temperature dropped severely as the night started to fall.