Discovered 3000-year-old stone lion in Turkey

The leading archaeologists working at the University of Toronto, Canada, discovered a complex city gate (in southeastern Turkey, in the Tayinat archaeological project), decorated with artworks. Stone sculptures, including a beautifully carved stone lion. This complex city gate is the path leading into the capital city of Kunulua, of the Hittite, of the Patina Kingdom, (ca. 950-725 BC), this discovery is reminiscent of the city gate event (leading to the royal city). Carchemish, of the Hittite.) was unearthed by British archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley in 1911.

The beautiful stone sculpture lion, was discovered at the excavation site in southeastern Turkey by archaeologists at the University of Toronto, Canada. Photo: Jennifer Jackson

Tayinat archaeological project provides a new, insightful look at the value of character creation and the sophistication of ironwork-era handicrafts, which thrive in the Eastern and Central regions. Hai, after the fall of the bronze civilized powers at the end of the second millennium BC.

" The stone lion is still intact, about 1.3 meters tall and 1.6 meters long, ready in a sitting position, with his ears pricked behind, stroking wide and roaring, " according to Timothy Harrison, an archeology professor at the Central China Institute of Civil Studies, director of the Tayina Archaeological Project of the University of Toronto, Canada.

" A second piece found nearby depicts a human character, flanked by Lion, which is a close symbol of Eastern culture called the owner and the pet. It symbolizes the imposition of pressure. put civilized order in the chaotic forces of the natural world . "

" The presence of Lions, or Sphinxes, and giant statues bearing the shape of humans and animals at the gates of the Hittites. At the same time emphasize the symbolic role of the Hittites in the region the boundary, and the king's role is paramount, guardian, for the whole community, "said Harrison. Ornate complex gates, to show off the prestige of the dynasty, legitimize the power of the ruling class.

The complex city gate was destroyed after the conquest of the Assyrians (738 BC), after which the area was expanded and converted into a sacred place of worship of the Assyrians.

The lion's features are similar to the lions found in the 1930s at the entrance to one of the temples, which is the Assyrian sacred worship area, Harrison said. " Whether re-used or carved in the Assyrian occupation, archaeological evidence shows that this Lion was crafted by the Hittite's local sculpting tradition, existed before the export. present of the Assyrians, and this is not a product influenced by Assyrian culture as scholars have long assumed. "

TAP is an international project, with the participation of many scientists from more than 20 research institutes and universities of dozens of countries. The project has close coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Culture, and offers many research and training opportunities for both university students and scientists. The project is funded by the Canadian Humanities and Social Sciences Research Council and the Aegean History Institute (INSTAP), as well as support from the University of Toronto, Canada.