By
Juan Antonio Belmonte (author)
Summary
The world heritage site of the hierothesion of Antiochos I, King of Commagene, at Mount Nemrud (Turkey) certainly constitutes one of the most fascinating historical enigmas in human culture. The monument includes the famous lion ?horoscope? which has often been used in various attempts to interpret and date the ruins with controversial results. According to recent analyses, Antiochos? monument reflects the situation of the skies at exclusive moments of the year 49 B.C., when the monument would have been started. This alternative explanation considers the lion slab together with the orientation of the eastern and western terraces of the hierothesion, and the inscriptions on the monument.