Main Page

Ýmamkulu Relief

Also know as Þimsekkaya (Ligthningrock), near the village of Ýmamkulu, by Develi town of Kayseri. The 3.6 by 2 meter relief is carved on the flattened surface of a large rock. It was first spotted in 1934 during a study trip of M. Kemaleddin Karamete. Highly weathered relief does not provide an easy interpretation. It possibly shows a prince or a local king on the left, holding a staff. There is not a clear agreement on the reading of hieroglyphs over his staff. Early scholars read it as Teshup, the birth-name of the King Muwatalli II. If so that would place the relief to the time of his father Murshili II (1339-1306 BC). Kohlmeyer reads is as Kuwalanamuwa, a name also appears in Gezbeli relief. In the middle of the figure is the Storm-God in his bull pulled chariot. Accross him is a goddess like figure above a stylistic double headed eagle. Similar to the Yazýlýkaya reliefs, Storm god and the chariot is shown above the bowing heads of three mountain gods. The mountain gods are also carried above the animal headed demons.


Click on pictures for a larger image.

T.Bilgin T.Bilgin T.Bilgin K.Bittel
drawing by E.Akurgal drawing by K.Kohlmeyer drawing by K.Kohlmeyer



Image sources:
Tayfun Bilgin, Bora Bilgin, Ertugrul Anil, 2009.
Kurt Bittel, Die Hethiter, Beck, München 1976, ISBN 3406030246.
Ekrem Akurgal, The Hattian and Hittite Civilizations, KTB, Ankara, 2001.
Kay Kohlmeyer, "Felsbilder der hethitischen Großreichszeit", Acta Praehistorica et Archaeologica 15, 1983. ISBN 3896467123