A mysterious inscription carved into a free-standing spire of volcanic rock has been deciphered for the first time.
An archaeologist discovered that an engraving on the 2,600-year-old stone monument, known as Arslan Kaya, showed the word “Materan,” which means “mother goddess” in ancient Indo-European.
The message was left by the Phrygians, who inhabited the region approximately between 1200 and 600 BC.
The ancient tribe also became famous for its legendary King Midas, who was said to turn everything he touched into gold.
The monument, about 52 feet tall, was carved to resemble the facade of a building and engraved with images of lions and sphinxes.
It also carries an image of the mother goddess standing at the entrance with the newly deciphered inscription above.
Arslan Kaya is one of eight similar stone facades located in the Phrygian Highlands.
These ornate statues are believed to represent shrines or temples of the mother goddess.
Arslan Kaya is one of eight similar stone facades located in the Phrygian Highlands. These ornate statues are believed to represent shrines or temples of the mother goddess.
The Phrygians practiced a polytheistic religion, that is, they worshiped multiple deities.
But none was held in higher esteem than the mother goddess, known as Cybele.
“Mother Phrygia is considered to be a powerful goddess who rules the natural world,” said study author Mark Munn, professor of Ancient Greek History and Archeology at Pennsylvania State University. news week.
Munn visited Arslan Kaya for the first time this year in April and accidentally made a “chance” discovery.
The moment provided excellent lighting. take clear photographs of the inscription, which will allow you to capture a correct reading of the mysterious message.
“If the light is not adequate, these footprints cannot be distinguished from cracks in the rock,” he said.
“With my photographs, and comparing them with the best photographs taken by previous visitors from the 1890s and 1950s, I was able to confirm that the Mother’s name – ‘Materan’ – can definitely be read in the center of the inscription,” he said.
“You can read a few more letters, but not enough to make complete words.”
Although he was unable to translate the entire inscription, he was able to obtain new information about its grammatical structure.
The word ‘Materan’ is the accusative form of ‘Mater,’ meaning it is likely the object of a phrase or sentence that follows what could be a verb, Munn explained.
The newly deciphered inscription is located above the entrance and is decorated with carved sphinxes.
If similar to other better preserved Phrygian inscriptions, this one probably gave the name of the person who created or dedicated Arslan Kaya to the mother goddess.
“Mother Phrygia’s name can be read on at least two of the other great Phrygian facades, but Arslan Kaya is the only one where her name and image were carved,” Munn said.
He was also able to provide a more precise estimate of the monument’s age, confirming that it dates to the early to mid-6th century BC based on the style of the carvings.
“I didn’t expect to discover anything new, just to see this monument, which is very worn and severely damaged by treasure hunters, before it suffered further damage or was destroyed,” Munn said.
When Arslan Kaya was first described in the 1880s, the mysterious inscription was badly worn.
“But fortunately I was able to see certain details that had not been seen or accurately reported before,” Munn added.
This was not the first time the inscription had been seen and photographed. But previous scholars had difficulty visualizing it in detail.
Although some thought the word “Materan” could be read, others concluded that the recorded message was illegible.
Munn’s reexamination of this mysterious inscription has resolved a long-standing debate over its meaning, confirming that Arslan Kaya was created in honor of the Phrygian mother goddess.