Akpınar/Sipylos Monument

The large, almost statue-like, relief is about 8 meters in height and 4.5 meters in width and is located in Sipylus Mountain (Spilos, Sipil) near Manisa in the locality of Akpınar. The badly worn-out relief appears to be a seated figure, carved into a large niche. For a long time it was thought to be a seated goddess (cf. the 3rd picture below). However, more recently, several scholars suggested that the figure is a male with a beard. There are two inscriptions by the relief/statue, one to its right and one to the left, but it is uncertain whether they have any association with the relief itself. The one on the left, which is a relief-type inscription, is read as Ku(wa)la(na)muwa, Prince. This name also appears in the Hanyeri and İmamkulu monuments, but he may not necessarily be the same person. About 3 meters to the right of the head is a second inscription carved into the rock. The first part might be read Zuwani, the Palace Official, possibly followed by another epithet. The monument may date to the 13th century BCE. Although originally a Hittite/Luwian monument, it was also a popular attraction in the later ages and was believed to have been a representation of the goddess Kybele.


Click on the pictures for larger images.

Second inscription