In 2008 I had the opportunity to travel to the top of Mt. Sinjar in Iraq. To the Yezidis in the area, this mountain was significant in that the legend around it was that this was the first place on earth where a god (God) had set foot on earth. The legend surrounded the god Shaitan, or The Peacock God.
This lone tree on the ridge is on the northern side, that as you approach the wire, you can see the olive orchards and the Syrian plains to the north of Iraq.
(c) Joseph Evans July 2008
The peak gives you a view from more than 4,000 feet above the surrounding plains. High enough that you can see the curve of the earth as you look out at the plains below.
(c) Joseph Evans July 2008
(c) Joseph Evans July 2008
There is a small temple that sits at the peak.
(c) Joseph Evans July 2008
These sites would later become the location of atrocities committed against the Yazidis by ISIL terrorists and extremists.