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Yazilikaya

Yazilikaya which is located 2 km to the northwest of Hattusas historical site was the Open Air Shrine of the Hittite Empire. It consists of a natural rock of two rooms and a Hittite temple in front of it which reflects the characteristics of the Hittite architecture.

In Yazilikaya open air shrine there is a Big Gallery named Room A, and the Small Gallery, named Room B both of which are built into natural rock.

The west wall of the Big Gallery (room A) is decorated with god reliefs while the east wall is decorated with reliefs of the goddesses and the figures on both walls face the section where the main scene is and the east and west walls join the north wall. The gods generally have pointed hats, short garments belted at the waist, shoes with upturned points and earrings. Most of them carry a curved sword or a mace. All of the goddesses wear long skirted garments and on their heads sit cylindrical head dresses. On the north wall where the east and west walls meet there are the chief gods, composing the main scene. Here we see the Mountain God Teshup standing above the air gods, his wife goddess Hepatu and their son Sharruma and a double headed eagle. The relief of King Tuthalia IV is on the east wall and it is the largest relief of the gallery.

The Small Gallery (room B) which has a separate entrance is protected by winged, lion headed and human bodied genie placed on both sides of the entrance. There are twelve gods proceeding towards the right on the west wall of room B and the God of Sword and King Tuthalia IV who is under the protection of God Sharruma on the east wall. Besides the well preserved reliefs, this section has three niches carved into the rock which are assumed to be used for some gifts or the ashes of the Hittite royal familiy.

With all these features and the addition of the spaces built at the front, Yazilikaya has survived to our times as a Hittite shrine.

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