Kybele Monument The large 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 apear to depicts a seated figure, carved into a large niche. For a long time it was thought to be a seated goddess. However recent scholars reached a conclusion that the figure is a male, with a beard, possibly a mountain god representation. There are two inscriptions by the statue one to its right and one to the left. The one on the left which is a relief is read by Bossert as Ku(wa)lanamuwa or Ku(wa)lamuwa, a 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 a name Zuwalla. There is not a way to date the monument to a certain time but 14th or 13th cent BCE is generally accepted. Although originally a Hittite monument, it was also a popular attraction in 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. The monument is mentioned by old time historians like Pausanias. 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.