A 2,600-year-old inscription engraved on a monument in Turkey, often known as Arslan Kaya or “lion rock,” has been deciphered, in keeping with analysis by Professor Mark Munn of Pennsylvania State College. This historic carving, which has endured important harm from weathering and looting, accommodates references to Materan, a goddess revered by the Phrygians, an historic civilisation that thrived within the area between 1200 and 600 B.C. Materan, typically merely referred to as “the Mom,” was central to Phrygian non secular beliefs.
Monument Particulars and Historic Significance
The Arslan Kaya monument is adorned with pictures of lions and sphinxes, which have 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, often known as “Mom of the Gods” by the Greeks and as “Magna Mater” or “Nice Mom” by the Romans.
On 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, might 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 pictures and historic records 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 Sensible Faculty of Superior Research in France, told LiveScience that Munn’s work affirms earlier readings from the nineteenth century, which recognized the identify Materan. Regardless of this, Oreshko emphasised that the research solidifies earlier interpretations relatively than providing solely new insights.
The deciphered inscription sheds mild on the enduring cultural significance of Materan and highlights the Phrygians’ affect on subsequent civilisations.
