Hattusa – Boğazkale, Çorum
Hattusa served as the capital of the Hittite Empire, Anatolia's first major empire, between the 17th and 13th centuries BC. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the city is known as the "City of a Thousand Gods" due to its sophistication in art, architecture, and diplomacy. Clay tablets of the Treaty of Kadesh, the first written peace treaty in history, were found here.
History Originally a Hattian settlement, it was declared the capital by the Hittite King Hattusili I. It was destroyed around 1200 BC due to the "Sea Peoples" migrations and internal turmoil. The city is divided into the Lower City (civil settlement and Great Temple) and the Upper City (sacred areas and walls).
Key Structures
- Lion Gate: Dating to the 14th century BC, this is the city's most famous entrance. The roaring lion statues on either side were made to protect the city from evil.
- Yerkapı and Sphinx Gate: At the southern end of the city lies an artificial earth rampart (pyramidal structure) built for defense. Beneath this rampart is a 71-meter-long tunnel (postern), and atop it stands a gate adorned with sphinxes.
- Great Temple (Temple No. 1): The city's largest religious complex, dedicated to the Storm God Teshub and the Sun Goddess Arinna. It contains storerooms where economic archives were kept.
- Yazılıkaya Open-Air Sanctuary: A sacred area hidden among natural rocks, 2 km from the city. Over 90 rock-cut reliefs of gods and goddesses depict the Hittite pantheon and New Year celebrations.
- King's Gate: A gate featuring a relief of a warrior god (the original is in the museum in Ankara).
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage List
- German Archaeological Institute
- Wikipedia – Hattusa