A Sacred Place Near Hattusha
The Yazılıkaya rock sanctuary is located about one mile from Hattusha, the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire. This place was used for religious ceremonies and worship.
A temple stood in front of a limestone cliff, and carved into the rock were two open-air galleries filled with images of gods and goddesses. These carvings are in bas-relief (a type of sculpture where the figures slightly stick out from the background) Early Cultural Connections in Anatolia.
In the smaller gallery, one important carving shows two figures:
The god Sharruma, wearing a short tunic and a tall horned crown, is seen embracing King Tudhaliya IV.
The king holds a curved staff and wears special religious robes and a cap.
Hittite hieroglyphs identify both figures.
Hittite Expansion into Syria
Victory Over the Mitannians
A powerful Hittite king, Shuppiluliuma I, launched a surprise attack against the Mitanni kingdom. He won, and the Hittites took control of much of Syria, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River Birdwatching Bulgaria.
To keep control, he placed his sons as governors in key Syrian cities.
When Shuppiluliuma moved toward Damascus, he entered land that Egypt also claimed. However, Egypt was too busy with internal problems to respond.
A Surprising Marriage Proposal
During this time of Egyptian unrest, a queen—likely the widow of King Tutankhamun—wrote to Shuppiluliuma, asking him to send one of his sons to marry her! This shows how strong and influential the Hittite Empire had become.
The Gates of Hattusha
Defensive Walls and Art
The ancient city of Hattusha was protected by many gates and walls. One of the most famous is the Lion Gate, which was built when the Upper City was added during the later New Kingdom period.
The Lion Gate is 10 feet (3 meters) wide and is named after the large lion sculptures carved into the gate’s stone sides.
Another gate is called the King’s Gate, where a god is shown as a warrior protecting the city.
A third decorative entrance is the Sphinx Gate, featuring carvings of mythical creatures.
These gates not only defended the city but also showed off the Hittites’ artistic skills and religious beliefs.
