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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Aslankaya Aniti |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Sanctuary |
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Altitude:
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m |
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Region:
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Aegean |
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Province:
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Afyonkarahisar |
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District:
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Ihsaniye |
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Village:
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Döger |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Period:
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Early Phrygian Middle Phrygian Late Phrygian |
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| Location: It is a monumental Phrygian rock façade lying on one of the rock masses to the immediate west of the Döger-Uclerkayasi road, 4 km southeast of the Döger Subdistrict in the Ihsaniye District of Afyonkarahisar. |
| Geography and Environment: |
| History: |
| Research and Excavation: It was found and surveyed in detail in 1884 by W.M. Ramsay. Later on, it was investigated during a survey conducted by T. Tüfekçi-Sivas in 1997. The name was given after its local name known as Aslan Kaya (the Lion Rock) because of the big lion reliefs it has. |
| Stratigraphy: |
| Small Finds: Statue/Relief: It faces southeast with a height of 7.15 m and width of 6.6 m, and it is 2.75 m high above ground level. It is a rock façade form with acroterion and triangular pediment. The rock mass on which the monument was carved measures around 15x6.6x4.2 m in dimensions. The façade gives an impression of both a three dimensional structure such as the Bahsayis Monument and a longer and thinner structure than actually it is when looked from opposite and lateral sides. This effect, also, was further strenghtened by engraving animal reliefs on the surfaces. The central pillar on the pediment under the apex acroterion is flanked by two antithetic sphinx reliefs - in walking position. A single line of Paleo-Phrygian inscription was carved onto the principal beam. The façade wall measures 4.3x6.6 m in dimensions. The surface of the wall is decorated with geometric patterns in rapport technique. This decoration was enclosed by a thin frame adorned with a single row of lozenge pattern series in relief on both sides. The rectangular niche in the middle of the façade wall comprises focal point of the monument. It was enclosed by two frames. The niche which enlarges toward the back wall behind the frames measures 2.4x1.8/2.2x1.4 m in dimensions. With a wide open double winged gate, the interior of the sacred room (cella) housing a statue of the mother goddess can be entirely seen. Imitated exactly from their wooden originals, each element of this gate construction was enriched in high relief. The ceiling and side walls of the niche, which characterizes the sacred room have an elaborate masonry. The bottom was eroded and took the shape of a cove. A relief of the mother goddess stand between the two antithetic lions on the back wall at the level of the gate. Enriched as a high relief, the goddess was depicted from the front. She wears polos, a high cylindrical headdress, which reaches up to the ceiling. Only the outer contours of the long dress are evident. A long veil drapes down her shoulders. Her elbows are bended adjacent to the body on both sides. The lions were engraved in lower relief compared to the goddess. They are tended to the goddess raising on their back feet - antithetically -, touching the head of the goddess with their front paws. Each stands on a low pedestal. Faces of both lions have been damaged. However, their shoulder joints, lower limbs and back muscles can be seen in detail. Lateral faces of the monument were also decorated. On the right lateral side is a huge lion relief raising on its back feet tended to the façade. On the left lateral side is a griffon relief. This monument is special with its unique construction of gate and rich reliefs among all Phyrgian façades, which contributed to our understanding of the rock façades to a little extent. Unfortunately, as no protective measures are taken, everyday they loose their characteristics a little more due to natural conditions. However, recently the main threat comes from the illicit diggers. On the pediment and wall, there are plenty of large and small holes opened to put explosives. As a matter of fact, the frame of the niche and right side of the façade wall were exploded using this method in 1993, resulting in a large cavity of 1 m in diameter and 0.7 m in depth. Lastly, in 2004 the relief of the mother goddess inside the niche was broke down using a pickax by treasure hunters. |
| Remains: |
| Interpretation and Dating: |
