A researcher has managed to decipher a hidden message in a 2,600-year-old monument in Turkey known as the Arslan Kaya or “lion’s rock”. This monument, decorated with lions and sphinxescontains a mention of “Materan”, a goddess worshiped by the Phrygians, a civilization that inhabited the region between 1200 BC and 600 BC. According to Mark Munn, professor of ancient history and archeology at the University Pennsylvania State UniversityMateran was known to the Phrygians as “the Mother” and her worship was so influential that the Greeks called her “Mother of the Gods” and the Romans “Magna Mater” or “Great Mother”.
The inscription of Arslan Kaya, although affected by the passage of time and looting, had been the subject of debate since the 19th century. Munn used detailed photos and specific lighting to be able to observe previously invisible details. Although the inscription mentions Materanthe monument could have had a longer message, which would perhaps explain the importance of the goddess and who ordered its construction.
They decipher an inscription dating from 2,600 years ago in Türkiye
Arslan Kaya has baffled archaeologists for over a century due to the deterioration of the inscription adorning the stone. However, a researcher finally managed to decipher a fragment of this inscription which dates back 2,600 years. This inscription mentions Materan, a deity of great importance in the Phrygian civilization, who inhabited the region between 1200 and 600 BC. Materan, recognized as “the Mother” by the Phrygians, was a central figure in their religious beliefs.
Mark Munn, professor of history and archeology at Pennsylvania State University, was responsible for interpreting this inscription, the remains of which had been the subject of debate and study since the 19th century. According to Munn, the goddess Materan was not only revered by the Phrygiansbut his cult spread to other cultures. The Greeks knew her as the “Mother of the Gods,” while the Romans called her “Magna Mate” or “Great Mother.”
The Arslan Kaya monument is decorated with sculptures of lions and sphinxessymbols of power and protection in Phrygian culture. The inscription, although seriously deteriorated by the passage of time and looting, reveals details of Materan’s cult, and Munn was able to clearly identify her name, which appears alongside a depiction of the goddess. The discovery of this hidden message not only confirms the importance of Materan, but also offers insight into the religious beliefs of a civilization that left a lasting mark on the region.
The process of decryption of the inscription It wasn’t easy. The monument has suffered wear and tear over the centuries, making it difficult to interpret its message. To address this challenge, Munn turned to detailed photographs taken under favorable lighting conditions, particularly on April 25, 2024, when natural lighting helped reveal crucial details that had previously gone unnoticed. Munn also combined these images with earlier historical documents, allowing him to reconstruct the meaning of the inscription.
Despite Munn’s advances, Materan’s identification is not entirely new. In the 19th century, other researchers had already suggested that the goddess mentioned on the monument was Materan. However, Munn’s recent work has helped to consolidate this reading, by offering a clearer and more precise interpretation. According to Rostyslav Oreshko, an expert on Phrygian inscriptions, Munn’s study does not introduce new concepts, but rather reinforces previous conclusions, establishing with greater certainty the read the name of the goddess.
The Arslan Kaya monument, probably built in first half of the 6th century BC., has great religious and historical value. At the time of its construction, the region was under the influence of the Lydian kingdom, a civilization which also revered Materan. This suggests that the monument may have been created in a context of cultural interaction, where various religious traditions intertwined. Munn suggests that the inscription may be part of a longer text, detailing who commissioned the work and what its purpose was, although this fragment has not yet been fully deciphered.
For more than a century, Arslan Kaya remained a fascinating enigma to researchers, and Munn’s work represented a fundamental advance in our understanding. Materan, known as the “Mother of the Gods”, continues to be one of the most important deities in the study of the world’s religious beliefs. ancient cultures of the Near East. The recent decipherment of this inscription offers deeper insight into the cultural and religious significance of the Phrygians and provides new insights into how these civilizations influenced the religious traditions of later cultures.
