Nemrud Dagi, Turkey, mountaintop sanctuary

The Sanctuary of Nemrud Dagi is one of the most remarkable, best preserved, but least known monuments of Asia Minor. The mountain-top site was constructed by King Antiochus I of Commagene in the mid-1st century BCE to command a 360-degree view of the ranges, plains, and towns that comprised his ancient kingdom. It became the main sanctuary of his ruler cult to which worshipers from all over this kingdom were expected to go on the monthly and yearly anniversary of the king's birth and his accession to the throne. This reconstruction and subsequent animation was built for the History Channel's documentary about the discovery, excavation, and publication of the site (entitled The Hidden Tomb of Antiochus which aired in 2001).