Kürtül

The basalt stele is about 64 cm in length and width. It was found near the İsmailli village, south of the town of Kürtül in the province of Kahramanmaraş. The front side of the stele displays a Storm-God figure in a typical pose with a raised arm holding an axe and the extended left arm holding the trident-shaped thunderbolt. The winged sun disc above the figure testifies to divine attributes. The rounded backside of the stele has 4 lines of Hieroglyphic Luwian inscription. J. D. Hawkins indicates that this is a dedication by a private citizen to the Storm God Tarhunza. Stylistically, a date in the 8th century BCE is suggested. The stele is currently in the Kahramanmaraş Museum.


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