Deities in procession, Yazılıkaya

This image illustrates the gods of the Hittite pantheon in Yazılıkaya. Yazılıkaya was a sanctuary of Hattusa, the capital city of the Hittite Empire, today in the Çorum Province, Turkey. This was a holy site for the Hittites, located within walking distance of the gates of the city of Hattusa. There is one relief showing him in the embrace of the god Sharruma, and a sword sticking out of the rock before him. There was also his statue in the central position, while all the gods in relief on the walls were oriented toward this statue. The deities' names are often inscribed over their heads. At first the alcoves were enclosed with a simple wall. During a later building phase, a small temple building was added, in front of the alcoves, and a large gateway was also added. A gateway was also added in front of the smaller alcove. During an even later phase, a larger building was added, and the gateways were rearranged to accommodate entrance to the smaller alcove. The temple buildings were rooms arranged around a courtyard. The religious ceremonies took place outside, with the rock relief figures in attendance. Apparently each alcove was used in a slightly different ceremonies, which is now lost to us. In the larger alcove, one wall has mostly gods, while the other has mostly goddesses. At the meeting point of the two walls are found the chief divinities. The smaller alcove seems to have been devoted to one of the past kings, either Tudhaliya II or III. The alcove seems to have be use exclusively for King Tudhaliya IV during his lifetime.135 film (36×24 mm