Muwatalli Relief It is near the old Misis-Ceyhan road by Sirkeli village. Located southwest of the Yılanlıkale ruins, the relief is carved on a rock wall facing the Ceyhan river about 50 m. above the water level. It shows a bearded Hittite king with a long robe. Inscriptions to the right of the relief has been identified as Muwatalli son of Mursili (Muwatalli II, 1306-1282 BC). That makes the monument the oldest identified Hittite rock-relief currently known, that of an Hittite king. Muwatalli had moved the capital from Hattusa to Tarhuntassa, location of which is uncertain but believed to be close to Sirkeli. That may explain the significance of the location of this relief. Another suggestion was that the site was used as a crossing point on Ceyhan river. The rock platform above the relief has two separated rock with deep columns between them. Two recesses are to be found at the rear end of the surface, probably related to libation ceremonies. These pits were part of a larger cultic installation which also included a building to the west of the rock reliefs. In 1994 another rock-relief was found to the right of Muwatalli relief, though far less well preserved. It may have been chiseled out during antquity. It is thought to be one of Muwatalli's sons, either Kurunta (Ulmi-Teshup) or Mursili III (Urhi-Teshup) Click on pictures for a larger image.

Image sources:
Tayfun Bilgin, Bora Bilgin, Ertuğrul Anıl, 2009.
Sirkeli Project www.sirkeli-project.info
Kurt Bittel, Die Hethiter, Beck, München 1976, ISBN 3406030246.
Ekrem Akurgal, The Hattian and Hittite Civilizations, KTB, Ankara, 2001.