After pick up at Hotel in Ankara or Cappadocia drive to Çorum.
Visit:
Bogazkoy - Hattusas located inside the borders of Bogazkale region, Hattusas, the capital city of Hittite civilization the first to build an organized State in Anatolia, has an important place in Anatolian archeology too.
Today Bogazkoy is registered as Historical National Park, and the main places to be seen are remains from the late period of Great Hittite Empire. Following the route of the park you will see; Big temple at Asagi Sevir (temple numbered 1), city ramparts and monumental gates on it Arslanli Gate (Lions Gate), Poterni and Yer Gates, Kral Gate (king gate). Temples which numbers reach to 31 at Yukari Sevir are composed of Nisan (April) Hill, Kingdom Palace, other buildings and Great Castle. Most important buildings of Frig Period are Bastionu and Guney (South) Castles.
Yazilikaya Inscribed Rock: The official temple and sanctuary of the Hittite Empire is now called Yazilikaya. A shrine carved into a natural alcove of rocks lies about a mile and a half northeast of Hattusha. Because it is open to the sky and nature; it’s thought that the inscriptions were nature oriented.
There were two alcoves, one larger than the other, both somewhat separated form each other. Yazilikaya comprises two chambers or alcoves and a roofless sanctuary containing relief’s of gods and goddesses on parade. Goddesses appear in profile, wearing long robes; gods, most wearing kilts, face forward.
Alacahöyük : Alacahöyük, one of the oldest sites of residence in Anatolia, is 28 kilometres (18 miles) from Boğazköy. During the great Hittite Empire times (1600-1200 B.C.) Alacahöyük no doubt remained under the influence of this kingdom. After the decline of the Hittite Empire which was caused by the North and Sea People, Alacahöyük also lost its significance.
The Phrygians are supposed to have lived in this city in the 9th century B.C. The most important finds of Alacahöyük are the princes'' graves with their possessions (4th century B.C.) : golden and silver containers, weapons, gold and silver jewellery, and animal sculptures made of bronze and clay. Most of these may now be seen in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. Alacahöyük used to have at least two gates :
The Western Gate, of which only the main walls were found, had mainy similarities with the Yerkapi of Hatusa. The Sphinx Gate at the south was the main gate of the city. This gate is flanked by two well-worn sphinxes facing outward. On the jamb there is a relief (plaster cast) of a double-eagle holding a rabbit in ots claws. There are two more reliefs (again plaster cast) on the wall on both sides of the gate of: an enthroned goddess, a procession including the weather god with the king, the queen and priest, and sacrificial beasts following them. Many of the finds of Alacahöyük can be seen in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara and Bogazkale. |
