A 2,600-year-old inscription engraved on a monument in Turkey, generally known as Arslan Kaya or “lion rock,” has been deciphered, in line with analysis by Professor Mark Munn of Pennsylvania State University. This historic carving, which has endured important injury from weathering and looting, comprises references to Materan, a goddess revered by the Phrygians, an historic civilisation that thrived within the area between 1200 and 600 B.C. Materan, usually merely known as “the Mother,” was central to Phrygian non secular beliefs.
Monument Details and Historical Significance
The Arslan Kaya monument is embellished with photos of lions and sphinxes, which had been symbols of energy and safety in Phrygian tradition. The identify Materan, deciphered by cautious evaluation of the broken inscription, seems alongside an outline of the goddess. Materan was later honored by different cultures, generally known as “Mother of the Gods” by the Greeks and as “Magna Mater” or “Great Mother” by the Romans.
At the time the inscription was created, the area was beneath the affect of the Lydian kingdom, which additionally held Materan in excessive regard. The inscription, believed to have been a part of an extended textual content, could have detailed the commissioning occasion and defined the goddess’s significance.
Challenges in Deciphering the Inscription
The textual content has been the topic of scholarly debate for over a century. Munn utilised detailed images and historic data to piece collectively its which means, noting that optimum lighting on April 25, 2024, performed a vital position in capturing the monument’s particulars.
Rostyslav Oreshko, a lecturer on the Practical School of Advanced Studies in France, informed LiveScience that Munn’s work affirms earlier readings from the nineteenth century, which recognized the identify Materan. Despite this, Oreshko emphasised that the examine solidifies earlier interpretations fairly than providing completely new insights.
The deciphered inscription sheds mild on the enduring cultural significance of Materan and highlights the Phrygians’ affect on subsequent civilisations.
