A 2,600-year-old inscription engraved on a monument in Turkey, generally known as Arslan Kaya or “lion rock,” has been deciphered, in accordance with analysis by Professor Mark Munn of Pennsylvania State College. This historical carving, which has endured vital injury from weathering and looting, incorporates references to Materan, a goddess revered by the Phrygians, an historical 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 power and safety in Phrygian tradition. The identify Materan, deciphered via cautious evaluation of the broken inscription, seems alongside an outline of the goddess. Materan was later honored by different cultures, generally 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 underneath 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 pictures and historic information to piece collectively its that 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, informed LiveScience that Munn’s work affirms earlier readings from the 19th century, which recognized the identify Materan. Regardless of this, Oreshko emphasised that the examine solidifies earlier interpretations somewhat than providing fully new insights.
The deciphered inscription sheds gentle on the enduring cultural significance of Materan and highlights the Phrygians’ affect on subsequent civilisations.
