Archaeologists have finally revealed what the inscription on a 2600-year-old monument means.
Deciphered for the first time, the free-standing spire of volcanic rock contained an exciting message.
The Arslan Kaya monument featured the word “Materan,” which means “mother goddess” in ancient Indo-Europe.
This message was left by the Phrygians, who inhabited the region from roughly 1200 to 600 BC. The Phrygians worshipped multiple deities, the highest being the mother goddess, Cybele.
The ancient tribe was also made famous for their legendary King Midas, who was said to have turned everything he touched into gold.
Mark Munn, professor of Ancient Greek History and Archaeology at Pennsylvania State University, visited Arslan Kaya for the first time this year in April.
He could take clear photos of the inscription to capture a reading of the message.
Munn told Newsweek: “If the light is not right, these traces cannot be distinguished from cracks in the rock.
“With my photographs, and comparing them to the best photographs taken by earlier visitors from the 1890s and 1950s, I could confirm that the name of the Mother – ‘Materan’ – can definitely be read in the center of the inscription.
“A few other letters can be read, but not enough to make whole words.”
Munn was unable to translate the entire inscription but was able to note some significant points about Arslan Kaya.
He said the monument likely gave the name of the person who created or dedicated the Arslan Kaya to the mother goddess.
Munn said the monument dates back to the early or middle 6th century BC based on the style of the carvings.
He added: “I did not expect to discover anything new, only to see this monument, which is very worn and had been badly damaged by treasure seekers, before it was further damaged or destroyed.”
The monument was first discovered in the 1880s, but its inscription was very worn.
Munn’s new finding on this inscription has settled a long debate about its meaning, confirming that Arslan Kaya was created in honour of the Phrygian mother goddess.