The İmamkulu Hittite Relief

The İmamkulu Hittite Relief

Located near the town of İmamkulu in Tomarza district, Kayseri Province, Turkey, the İmamkulu Relief is one of the many rock reliefs created by the Hittites throughout their empire.

Measuring 3.25 by 2 meters, the relief was carved into the slightly convex and flat surface of a large boulder. It is divided into three sections: the leftmost features a human figure walking to the right, possibly the creator of the relief. He is depicted holding a spear in his left hand and what appears to be an arrow in his right. His belt is adorned with two round knobs, and there are traces of an unseen sword. The figure wears a capped headdress, with markings indicating pointed shoes.

The İmamkulu Hittite Relief

The middle section of the relief depicts the weather god in his chariot. He is easily distinguishable by his pointed hat with horns, which symbolizes his divinity. He carries a sword belt and mace, and can be seen driving bulls across the scene with one hand on the reins. Luwian hieroglyphs are used to engrave the face of the human figure on the left, identifying him as "Kuwalanamuwa", the son of a king.

The İmamkulu Relief, located in Tomarza district in Kayseri Province, Turkey, is a rock relief consisting of three sections. The middle portion of the relief depicts the weather god in his chariot, driving bulls while standing on the bent necks of three mountain gods. He wears a pointed hat with horns, symbolizing his divine status, and has one hand on the reins. Above his outstretched hand, there are three hieroglyphs identifying him as the weather god of heaven. The mountain gods wear long robes and peaked hats, and stand on top of chimaeric creatures with cat's heads and raised human arms.

On the top right of the relief, there is a facing goddess with raised arms, likely Sauska/Ishtar. Her head is in profile, looking left towards the approaching weather god. She holds her robe open with her arms, and there are four or five prongs of a crown or coiffure on her head. Wings rise up from her shoulders, and a six-pointed star is identified above her right hand. She stands on top of a stylized tree and is depicted without feet, similar to cult statues. Between the weather god and the goddess, there is a bird flying to the left. This motif of the weather god and undressing goddess with a bird between them can be traced back to early Bronze Age Syrian cylinder seals and other media.