Kybele Monument The large, almost statue like, relief is about 8 meters in height and 4.5 meters in width and located in Sipylus Mountain (Spilos, Sipil) near Manisa in the locality of Akpınar. The largely worn out relief apears to be seated figure, carved into a large niche. For a long time it was thought to be a seated goddess. However the recent consensus among several scholars is that the figure is a male with a beard, possibly a mountain god representation. There are two inscriptions by the relief/statue, one to its right and one to the left. The one on the left, which is a relief-type inscription, is read by Bossert as Ku(wa)lanamuwa or Ku(wa)lamuwa. This name also appears in Gezbeli and İmamkulu monuments, although may not necessarily be the same person. About 3 meters to the right of the head is a second inscription carved into the rock. On this Güterbock gives a possible partial reading as Zuwalla. There is not a way to date the monument to a certain time but 14th or 13th c. BCE is generally accepted. Although originally a Hittite monument, it was also a popular attraction in the later ages and referred as Goddess Kybele, a name stuck with it to this date. It is known that in Lydian times religious ceremonies were conducted by the monument. 38°36' N - 27°29' E Google Earth location (approximate) Click on pictures for a larger image.

Image sources:
Kurt Bittel, Die Hethiter, Beck, München 1976, ISBN 3406030246.
Illustrated London News, 1880.
Horst Ehringhaus. Götter, Herrscher, Inschriften. 2005, Zabern. ISBN 3805334699.
H.G.Güterbock,"The Second Inscription on Mount Sipylus", Anatolian Studies, 1983.