Turkey - Phrygia and the Hittites - May 2012 - Part 1

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Getting settled on the bus - Richard, Elaine and Joan Almost ready to leave Ankara on our first day The Kizilirmak River - the longest river in Turkey, rising in Eastern Anatolia and flowing into the Black Sea The Kizilirmak River - with Wendy Barbara and Wendy enjoying a tea break
Ankara Ankara Kizilirmak River Kizilirmak River
         
Demir tells us about Yazilikaya, the largest known Hittite rock sanctuary, dating from approximately the 13th Century BC Yazilikaya - Chamber A Yazilikaya - a procession of Hittite gods Yazilikaya - on the opposite side of Chamber A, a procession of Hittite goddesses Yazilikaya - King Tudhaliya IV of Hattusa who is thought to have built the sanctuary
Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya
         
Yazilikaya - Hittite gods and goddesses - rather worn after 3,000 years Yazilikaya - Teshub facing Hepatu, followed by their sons and daughters Yazilikaya - sphinx relief guarding the entrance to Chamber B Yazilikaya Yazilikaya - the entrance to Chamber B
Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya
         
Yazilikaya - the reliefs in Chamber B are much better preserved, having been buried until the end of the 18th Century Yazilikaya - Hittite gods similar to those in Chamber A, but much clearer Yazilikaya - 12 Hittite gods Yazilikaya - King Tudhaliya IV Yazilikaya - King Tudhaliya IV
Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya
         
Yazilikaya - Nergal, the Hittite god of the Underworld Yazilikaya - Nergal and King Tudhaliya IV Yazilikaya - Joan and Liz An aerial photograph of Yazilikaya which gives an idea of the layout of the sanctuary Looking across the valley to Kerkenez - 7th Century BC
Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Yazilikaya Kerkenez
         
Heading up the hill to Kerkenez Kerkenez - view from the top Kerkenez - reconstructed wall of the Cappodocia Gate Kerkenez - outside the Cappodocia Gate Kerkenez - looking into the gateway
Kerkenez Kerkenez Kerkenez Kerkenez Kerkenez
         
Kerkenez - Helen and Elaine Continuing our walk round the outside of the walls of Kerkenez The Cappodocia Gate with the acropolis of Kerkenez in the background Our hotel in Bogazkale Our hotel in Bogazkale
Kerkenez Kerkenez Kerkenez Bogazkale Bogazkale
         
The village of Bogazkale Reconstruction of the walls of Hattusa, which were approximately 6.5 km long overall Hattusa was first settled about 2000 BC and abandoned about 1200 BC The walls were built on stone casement foundations, topped with mud bricks The Lion Gate - one of three main gateways to Hattusa
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
The head of this lion is a replacement.... ...this one is original and is over 3,000 years old The two lions on the outside of the gate Hattusa - walking up to the Sphinx Gate Hattusa - the foundations of various temple complexes
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
The Yerkapi or Earth Gate of Hattusa ... ... a 70 metre tunnel to the outside world The outer gateway of the Yerkapi tunnel Liz emerges from the tunnel The stone embankment by the Sphinx Gate is the highest point of Hattusa
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
Steep steps lead up the embankment to the Sphinx Gate Hattusa View of the surrounding countryside from the top of the steps Little is left of the only remaining sphinx of the original four which give the gate its name Two of the four sphinxes are in Istanbul and Berlin museums and the third is missing
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
The remains of various temples of Hattusa View over Bogazkale The King's Gate of Hattusa This relief of Teshuba, the Hittite storm god is a copy... ...the original is in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Ankara
         
The King's Gate of Hattusa Possibly a cult chamber associated with the nearby reservoirs This Hittite inscription is badly worn, but is purported to be a memorial to the last king of Hattusa Hittite inscription A very fine snail
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
Another cult chamber, this time with hieroglyphs and reliefs It is possibly a symbolic entrance to the Underworld The relief on the end wall is said to be the Hittite Sun God Hieroglyphs on the side wall View over Hattusa from the cult chamber
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
More views Hattusa - the cult chamber in context Buyukkale, the Great Citadel of Hattusa View of Bogazkale and the Great Temple area of Hattusa from the Buyukkale A rest before our next bit of exploration
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
Broken Lion Basin at the entrance to the Great Temple complex A green cubic nephrite stone in the Great Temple Complex. There are all sorts of theories about the origin of this stone ... ... a meteorite, a present from Rameses II or maybe just a rock carved from a local source? It is very tactile These are entrance thresholds to side rooms. Mud brick walls were built on the stone foundations Julia examines a stone trough
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa
         
Demir tells us about the Great Temple Complex View over the lower part of the Great Temple complex Hattusa - storage jars still in situ Marks from a wooden door, opening over a stone threshold Lunch back at Bogazkale
Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Hattusa Bogazkale
         
Museum at Corum Abi drives a chariot though Hattusa Some of the cuneiform tablets found at Hattusa Back to Ankara - the old style houses are now under renovation Temple of Augustus, built 29-25 BC
Corum Corum Corum Ankara Ankara
         
Turkish ladies The Temple of Augustus became a Christian church during the 5th Century AD... ...and a mosque in the 15th Century AD Gill and Wendy take part in a TV interview with the Mayor of Ankara Views of the hills of Ankara with their old style houses
Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara
         
One house has been restored and the other is on its way The entrance to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara Demir and his daughter, Deniz Bronze cuneiform tablet from Hattusa - 1235 BC - a rare example of a bronze tablet. Cuneiform table from Hattusa circa 1275 - 1220 BC - a letter from the wife of Rameses II to the Hittite queen, Pudahepa
Ankara Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
         
Bull shaped ritual vessels from Hattusa, representing the Storm God - circa 1500 BC Bird shaped ritual vessel from The Midas Tomb at Gordion - Phrygian circa 750 BC Ritual vessel in the shape of a double headed bird from Gordion Bird shaped ritual vessel from the Midas Tomb at Gordion Drinking vessels in the shape of a lion's head and a ram - from Gordion
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
         
Mother Goddess from one of the houses at Catal Hoyuk - 6000 - 5500 BC Bronze Hittite sundisk from Alacahoyuk - 2100 - 2000 BC Hittite sun disk Bull statuette from Alacahoyuk Demir and Deniz in front of a copy of the basalt Hittite stone which is at Fasillar
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
         
Juliette - and a lot of storage jars Entrance to the Byzantine Citadel of Ankara. Note the Roman column rounds in the wall on the right The Clock Tower of the Citadel of Ankara Roman masonry is embedded in the walls - upside down... ... and at random
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara
         
Old houses in the Citadel A local resident The Citadel Local market - nuts, dried fruit, herbs and spices Going down through the local market
Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara
         
Local market of Ankara A man making drums... ... another hammering hoops... ...this time, making metal bowls Demir's school friend shows us her new shop and how she dyes fabrics by marbling
Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara
         
She also provides lunch for us Lunch A lot of scarves were purchased A very pleasant visit Some of the 80 or more Phrygian tumuli at Gordion
Ankara Ankara Ankara Ankara Gordion
         
The Great Tumulus or Midas Mound of Gordion, the capital of Phrygia The Midas Mound Once believed to be the burial place of King Midas or his father, Gordion, hence the name, Midas Mound This excavation tunnel leads to... ...a burial chamber made from juniper and pine trees
Gordion Gordion Gordion Gordion Gordion
         
This wood has survived from 750 - 725 BC, along with spectacular grave goods Gateway to the Citadel of Gordion built in the 8th Century BC The gateway to the Citadel of Gordion with the Midas Mound in the background Foundations of several megara of the palace within the Citadel. These stone foundations would have been topped with mud brick walls Alexander the Great cut the Gordion knot here in 333 BC
Gordion Gordion Gordion Gordion Gordion
         
         
         
         
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