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Kahramanmaraş

The modern city of Kahramanmaraş (previously Maraş) is situated at about the same location as the Late Hittite city state Gurgum. There has not been a systematic excavation but several Hittete monuments have been recovered.


Click on pictures for a larger image.

Lion of Maraş, end of 9th cent BCE
Commemorative inscription of Halparunda III
The Lion of Maraş, Istanbul - B.Bilgin The Lion of Maraş, Istanbul - B.Bilgin The Lion of Maraş, Istanbul - B.Bilgin Inscription of the Lion of Maraş - MVAG
Stele of Laramas I, 10th cent BCE
Stele of Laramas I, New York - T.Bilgin Stele of Laramas I, New York - T.Bilgin Stele of Laramas I, New York - T.Bilgin
Statue of Halparunda II, late 9th cent BCE
Statue of Halparunda II, 9th cent BCE, basalt, Istanbul - B.Bilgin Statue of Halparunda II - B.Bilgin Statue of Halparunda II - B.Bilgin Statue of Halparunda II - B.Bilgin Statue of Halparunda II - B.Bilgin Statue of Halparunda II - B.Bilgin Inscriptions on the statue - MVAG
Funerary Steles
Funerary stele of a couple, Adana Museum - E.Akurgal Funerary stele of scribe Tarhunpijas (shown as a child standing on his mother's lap) - Louvre Maraş Stele Stele with a dining scene, Istanbul Funerary stele, Istanbul - B.Bilgin Funerary stele, Louvre - E.Akurgal Funerary stele 10th cent BCE, Istanbul Funerary stele 8th cent BCE, Adana - K.Bittel
Early 1st mill BCE, New York - T.Bilgin photo J.D.Hawkins photo J.D.Hawkins Funerary stele 8th cent BCE Funerary stele 8th cent BCE, Antakya Museum - B.Bilgin Basalt stele 8th cent BCE - Pergamon Museum, Berlin - T.Bilgin
Gate Lion
Gate Lion found in Elbistan currently in K.Maraş Museum - photo B. Bilgin 2011 Gate Lion found in Elbistan currently in K.Maraş Museum - photo B. Bilgin 2011
Statue Head
Statue Head 9th cent BCE, Istanbul Statue Head 9th cent BCE, Istanbul
Grinding Stone
Bottom part of grinding stone, Istanbul



Image sources:
Bora Bilgin, 2003, 2006
Tayfun Bilgin, 2010
Bora Bilgin, Ertuğrul Anıl, 2011
Ekrem Akurgal, The Hattian and Hittite Civilizations, KTB, Ankara, 2001.
Mitteilungen der Vorderasiatischen Gesellschaft, 1900.
Kurt Bittel, Die Hethiter, Beck, München 1976, ISBN 3406030246.