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Sultanhanı Monument

The monument was found in two pieces on two different occasions. The base known as the "Sultanhan I inscription" was found in 1928 near the town of Sultanhanı during the construction of the Kayseri-Sivas railway. The "Sultanhan II stele" was found much later, in 1939, in a farmer's field. The stele is inscribed in Hieroglyphic Luwian on all sides as well as on its rounded top. The base is also inscribed on all four vertical sides and the top, but one of its sides is missing. The entire inscription forms one text. The author Sarwatiwara is apparently a vassal of King Wasusarma of Tabal (Wasusarma's name also appears on Topada, Sivasa, Göstesin, and Kayseri). Sarwatiwara makes a dedication to god Tarhunza and praises Wasusarma. Sarwatiwara is asking the god for a better harvest from the vineyards and the orchards. A section at the end of the inscription is concerned with the damnation of the ones who will disrespect the gods, or damage the city or the land or the monument. Through Wasusarma, the monument is dated to the second half of the 8th century BCE. It is on display in the Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara.


Click on the pictures for larger images.

Sultanhanı I and II - B. Bilgin, 2022 S-II front (A) - B. Bilgin, 2022 S-II right side (B) - B. Bilgin, 2022 S-II back (C) - B. Bilgin, 2022 S-II left side (D) - T. Bilgin, 2006 Drawing of Sultanhanı II - J. D. Hawkins, 2000     S-I top (F) - B. Bilgin, 2022 S-I left side (B) - B. Bilgin, 2022 S-I front (C) - B. Bilgin, 2022 S-I right side (D) - B. Bilgin, 2022 Drawing of Sultanhanı I, base - J. D. Hawkins, 2000


Literature:
Hawkins, J. D. Corpus of Hieroglyphic Luwian Inscriptions, Vol 1, Berlin, 2000: 463–72 and plts. 258–61.
Hawkins, J. D. Corpus of Hieroglyphic Luwian Inscriptions, Vol 3, Berlin, 2024: 262–63, 342.
Payne, A. Iron Age Hieroglyphic Luwian Inscriptions, Atlanta, 2012: 98–102.


Image sources:
Bora Bilgin, 2022.
Tayfun Bilgin, 2006.
J. David Hawkins, 2000.