Eflatunpınar

It is located about 22 km north of the town of Beyşehir. The monument is formed as a rectangular-shaped pond fed with the waters from a nearby spring. The most prominent part is the high wall of reliefs that stands on the north edge of the roughly 34 by 30 meter rectangular pond. It is built with large stone blocks. In the center are the Storm God and the Sun Goddess with winged sun disks above each. Around them are ten spirits or hybrid creatures supporting the two winged sun disks above the gods and an enormous winged sun disk at the top. The base has five mountain gods that are partially visible. The central three of the mountain gods could be interpreted as mountain-spring gods with multiple spring holes on them. The stage altogether may be interpreted as a cosmic scene with heavens at the top and earth at the bottom, with gods and spirits holding the heavens in between. The façade of the monument is roughly 7 meters in length and 7 meters in height, including the mountain gods at the base.

To the right and left of this facade are a couple of goddess figures embedded into the walls of the pond. On the pond side of the rectangular platform by the south wall is another goddess figure. The damage block next to it probably had a god figure, and this pair probably also represented the Storm God and the Sun Goddess. On the pond-facing side of the east wall, there is another block with the reliefs of two figures, the upper part of which is broken. Several other sculptured fragments have been found inside and around the pond. The largest piece is a triple bull protome to the south of the pond, which is not in its original location. That piece was used as a filling material in the wall of a Roman-era dam that was built on the southwest side of the pond.

A large block of rock a few meters behind the wall of reliefs has the remnants of a highly weathered lion on its side. A reconstruction of it suggests that this was a double lion base possibly intended to serve for another statue. It may have been left unfinished.

No inscriptions were found at the site, but based on its proximity to Yalburt, Köylütolu, and Hatip, this monument may be dated to the second half of the 13th century BCE. The site was subjected to rescue excavations and surface cleanup between 1996 and 2002, and landscaping, restoration, and fencing in 2011-2012.


Click on the pictures for larger images.

Old pictures

Prior to restorations (2009)


After 2011-2012 restorations (2018, 2023)


Aslantaş (Lion Statue Base)