A mysterious monument in Turkey. It’s thousands of years old
Arslan Kaya, or Pride Rock, is an ancient monument located in the Turkish province of Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, near the village of Döğer. It is the gateway to the Phrygian Valley. Lion Rock is one of the most interesting free-standing monuments in this area – and a great mystery for scientists.
The monument was first described in the 1880s, and subsequent analyzes of the object allowed us to determine many details about it. Throughout this time, however, researchers were unable to decipher the inscription on the monument.
The inscription on the Phrygian Pride Rock has been subjected to new research
Lion Rock is a Phrygian monument from before the Common Era. It is decorated with various figures and has letters carved on it. It is characterized by a relief showing two lions and the remains of a figure depicting Cybele, the so-called Mother of the Gods, one of the most important figures of the Phrygian pantheon. The high monument is also marked with the above-mentioned signs – which, however, have been a mystery to researchers since the 19th century. Now they have been partially deciphered.
Professor Mark Munn from the University of Pennsylvania read part of the inscription on the monument. The inscription, although fragmented and almost erased by time and vandalism, was identified thanks to an appropriate research approach. The drawings were read based on a series of photos taken in appropriate conditions – at a specific time of day, when the light increased the readability of the signs.
The mystery that has been bothering researchers since 1884 has finally had a breakthrough. For many years it was believed that the engravings under the figure of Cybele were simply a series of characters that seemed to be random, but over time four specific letters were identified. There have also been suggestions that the inscription refers to the goddess placed on the monument. After conducting analyses, Munn pointed to a specific word.
The 2,600-year-old inscription has been deciphered
The inscription on the Munn monument dates back to the first half of the 6th century BC, the same period in which the building was erected. According to the researcher, the deciphered word – Materan – refers to the Phrygian goddess Cybele – the Mother of the Gods – visible in the niche of the monument. According to Munn, the word Materan is crucial to understanding the religious nature of this monument. It could have been dedicated specifically to this goddess, being a testimony to her importance and worship in this region.
Munn’s analysis also suggests that the remaining marks may have marked the name or title of the person who dedicated the monument. Alternatively, there may have been an invocation written there regarding the protection of the object, which was common on ancient monuments. There has been both praise and criticism in response to Munn’s findings. Some researchers believe that the expert’s analyzes do not bring much new information, because many years ago the first scientists suggested that the inscription under the figure may refer to Cybele. Others, however, point out that Munn was actually the first to find a way to decipher the blurred characters and provide details about the way of writing.
The research results were published in the journal “Cadmus“.
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Source: geekweek.interia.pl
