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Hittite Civilization Discovery Route

Yazılıkaya Openair Temple

Yazılıkaya Openair Temple's image
Hattusha's most impressive sacred site is the open-air shrine of Yazılıkaya open-air shrine (Yazılıkaya Açık Hava Tapınağı), hidden among the high cliffs slightly outside the city. This open-air temple, used for the New Year celebrations of the period, features reliefs of the country’s important gods and goddesses, engraved in rows on the rock. Yazılıkaya, which can be visited in two sections, Rooms A and B, reflects the Hittite pantheon with its majestic rock carvings, depicting the gods and goddesses of the ancient world. Yazılıkaya, regarded as the national temple of the Hittite Empire, is believed to have been isolated from the outside world by a wall during its first construction phase. The second phase of the temple, along with the reliefs in the Grand Gallery, was built during the reign of Hattusili III, while the reliefs in the Grand Gallery and the third phase of the temple, including the depiction of Tudhaliya in the Small Gallery, were completed during the reign of Tudhaliya IV. This national temple, now called Yazılıkaya, lies two kilometers northeast of Hattuşaş (Boğazköy). Built on natural rock, the open-air temple is surrounded by structures from three distinct periods. In the first period, a siege wall was erected to isolate the rock temple from the outside world. In the second phase, a traditional Hittite temple was added, complete with a monumental entrance. In the third period, the eastern wing of the main structure was transformed into a more functional entrance in front of the Small Gallery. The first figures in Room A include reliefs of twelve underground gods, and the central scene on the back wall depicts the meeting of God Teshub and Goddess Hepat. At the end of the goddess figures, opposite the main scene, stands Tudhaliya IV, the largest figure in this open-air temple.

Boğazköy Museum

Boğazköy Museum's image
The Boğazköy Museum, located in Boğazkale district near Hattusha, opened in 1966 and was reorganized in 2011. The museum showcases artifacts excavated from the Hittite capital, Hattusha, organized in a thematic and chronological display within its exhibition halls. It also displays artifacts from various periods, including the Chalcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Assyrian Trade Colonies Era, Phrygian, Roman, and Eastern Roman periods. Highlights include the Boğazköy Yerkapı Sphinx, returned from Berlin in 2011, and another sphinx from the İstanbul Archaeology Museum. The Hittite Hall showcases the kingdom's political and social structure, while the garden features artifacts like Roman and Eastern Roman milestones. The Bull-Headed Vase from the Hittite period, used in religious rituals, and the Lion Gate, a symbolic entryway with lion statues, are among the notable exhibits.

Hattusha: The Hittite Capital

Hattusha: The Hittite Capital's image
Since 1986, Hattusa, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List has been located within the borders of Çorum province. According to Hittite written sources on UNESCO's "World Memory List", Hattusa became the capital of the Hittites when Hattusili I came to power (1665-1640 BCE). It is known that most of the buildings that remained from the city and can be traced, are from the 13th century BCE. In Büyükkale, where the royal buildings are located, ruins of a large palace have been revealed, with courtyards surrounded by masted tunnels, residences, warehouse buildings and a large reception room. With the fall of the Hittite Empire just after 1200 BCE, the Anatolian Bronze Ages also ends. However, the settlement date of the land of Hattusa city continues. At the beginning of the 12th century BCE, the new settlement, which dates to the Early Iron Age, began to turn into a hick town reflecting the Phrygian effects and to grow only in the eighth century BCE. The settlement in Hattusa continues during the Persian period. Hattusa also has traces of settlement and fortification belonging to the Hellenistic period, Galatians, Roman.

Alacahöyük Museum and Archaeological Site

Alacahöyük Museum and Archaeological Site's image
This area, which has been inhabited since the transition of humankind to a sedentary lifestyle, contains significant royal tombs, objects within them, temples, and civil structures, making it essential for understanding the Hatti Civilization. At the center of the side walls, adorned with reliefs depicting a religious ceremony with music, stands the monumental Sphinx Gate, 10 meters wide. Artifacts obtained from excavations initiated nearly 100 years ago under the instructions of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Türkiye, are displayed at the Alacahöyük Museum, located at the entrance of the archaeological site. Considered one of the first large-scale dams in history, the Gölpınar Hittite Dam is located 500 meters from Alacahöyük and dates back to the Hittite Empire period. Constructed during a time of famine, the dam has been restored and is still in use today.

İncesu Canyon

İncesu Canyon's image

İncesu Canyon (İncesu Kanyonu) is located in the Ortaköy district and stretches for 12 kilometers. Within the canyon are wall ruins from the Hellenistic Period, stair-cascading water cisterns locally referred to as caves, and wooden beam hollows carved into the rocks that rise on both sides of the canyon, through which the Çekerek River (anciently known as Scylax) flows. The width of the canyon varies between 40 and 60 meters. Both sides of the canyon are cliffs, with patches of forested areas appearing sporadically. The canyon is highly suitable for rafting and trekking. A 1,600-meter wooden walkway extends through the canyon, leading to the Kybele relief.