There were two important annual celebrations. On the 16th of Audnaios, a day in January/December, the birth of Antiochos was celebrated. The 10th of Loos, the 14th of July, was not only the coronation day of Antiochos, but also the day of the "Manifestation of the Great Gods", as the inscriptions called it.

The daily life of Kommagene came to a halt then and for two days the people joined in the celebrations on Mount Nemrud or the temenos, the local sanctuaries built by King Mithradates I. All these ceremonies were recorded in detail in the Nomos, which Antiochos carved on the back of the statues of both the East and West Terraces.

(*) If we had lived in that time, maybe we could have seen the long ribbon of bright lights climbing the mountain shortly before midnight. Hundreds of people assembled at the North Terrace. From there they proceeded to the East Terrace. They took their places on either side of the court.

The court was bathed in the soft light of the full moon. Motionless, the gods looked down on them, while the Moon sank slowly behind the tumulus. Fires burned in great metal dishes set on tripods. Fitful shadows danced over the lifeless figures of gods and humans.

It was completely silent. The king stood at the fire altar, awaiting the gods. His cloak billowed in the strong wind. The tension mounted. Suddenly the trumpets sounded, clear and shrill. A shudder ran through the mountain. It seemed as if the gods rose from their thrones of stone and their massive forms darkened the stars....

A few hours later the sun bathed everything in a golden glow. The ceremony was at an end and the citizens returned home satisfied. Once again it had been demonstrated that they were under the protection of the gods.