Karatepe-Aslantaş (Azatiwataya) Open-Air Citadel
Karatepe-Aslantaş · Azatiwataya · Karatepe-Arslan Taş
Iron Age Neo-Hittite (732–650 BCE) with EBA substrate·Neo-Hittite Luwian–Phoenician (Adana plain)·🇹🇷 Osmaniye Province, Kadirli District, Ceyhan River, Taurus foothills, Turkey
About
About Karatepe-Aslantaş (Azatiwataya) Open-Air Citadel
Karatepe-Aslantaş (Azatiwataya) Open-Air Citadel is a multi-period tell/ancient village in Osmaniye Province, Kadirli District, Ceyhan River, Taurus foothills, Turkey — Northern Cilician gateway fortress with longest Phoenician and Luwian hieroglyphic bilingual Excavated evidence reveals Neo-Hittite Luwian–Phoenician (Adana plain) cultural horizons with limestone architecture. The fortress 400×300 m double wall; north and south gates 15 m with orthostats preserves stone socle double casemate, orthostat reliefs and phoenician-luwian bilingual slabs technique. Position on Osmaniye Province illustrates rosetta for anatolian hieroglyphs — phoenician-luwian bilingual enabled decipherment.
Why it mattersRosetta for Anatolian hieroglyphs — Phoenician-Luwian bilingual enabled decipherment.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Azatiwataya = biblical Azitawadda or separate toponym?
- 02Why hilltop fortress not on plain?
Theories
- 01Bossert post-Hittite continuity vs. Hawkins Adana theory
- 02Bilingual public literacy vs. scribal display debate
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.732 BCE Neo-Hittite Azatiwataya fortress founded by Azatiwatas; used to 650 BCE
- Period
- Iron Age Neo-Hittite (732–650 BCE) with EBA substrate
- Culture
- Neo-Hittite Luwian–Phoenician (Adana plain)
- Builders
- King Azatiwatas (vassal of Awariku of Adana) — Phoenician-Luwian bilingual programme
- Purpose
- Northern Cilician gateway fortress with longest Phoenician and Luwian hieroglyphic bilingual
- Abandoned
- c.650 BCE Assyrian-Persian transition abandonment, never resettled
- Rediscovered
- Discovered 1946 Bossert, excavated 1947–present Bossert, Alkım, Çambel (Istanbul)
- Excavation
- Excavated
1946
Bossert discovers Karatepe orthostat fort, bilingual found
1947
Çambel begins 20-year uncovering of double gates and reliefs
1992
UNESCO Open-Air Museum roofing and bilingual corpus published
On the ground
Structures & features
37.2956° N · 36.2536° E · 195 m · 3 mapped features
North Gate Phoenician–Luwian Bilingual Orthostats
gateNorth gate with 30 m bilingual inscription slabs
37.2957° N · 36.2538° ESouth Gate Storm-God Orthostat Relief
fortificationSouth gate orthostats with storm-god and sphinx
37.2953° N · 36.2534° EPalace Terrace and Double Wall Circuit
palaceCitadel palace terrace within double casemate wall
37.2956° N · 36.2537° E