Rock Reliefs of Zeus and his Thunderbolt in the High Plateau Settlements of Kabalis / Kabalia

Feyzullah Eray Dökü; Şenkal Kileci

Article Details

Rock Reliefs of Zeus and his Thunderbolt in the High Plateau Settlements of Kabalis / Kabalia

Authors:

Feyzullah Eray Dökü | Şenkal Kileci

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Dijital Arkeoloji | Yunan ve Roma Dönemi Arkeolojisi | Arkeoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Anadolu Issue 49, pp.73-96

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001281770

pISSN:

0570-0116

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The worship of Zeus, the head of the gods of Olympus, is more widespread in rural areas than in urban centers in the Kabalis  Kabalia region. Zeus, who is generally seen in cities for the prosperity and well-being of the city or for amity in treaties, has a different presence in rural areas than the established cult in the cities. Zeus, who is mostly associated with the sky and celestial phenomena, also manifests himself in rural life in agriculture and animal husbandry. In this context, the bust of Zeus and the reliefs, altars and architectural blocks bearing winged or wingless thunderbolt, the attribute of Zeus and recorded in ancient literature, were analyzed on the basis of rural life and especially seasonal migration. In addition to these finds, two altars, one with an inscription, registered in the inventory of the Burdur Archaeological Museum, were also included in the research, and, in relation to rural life and transhumance activities the characteristics related to this deity were investigated. This depiction, which is sometimes seen as a winged thunderbolt and sometimes as a thunderbolt carried by an eagle on the coins of the cities of the Kabalis  Kabalia Region during the Hellenistic Period, appears on rock reliefs, architectural blocks, and altars in the high plateaus, permanent or periodic rural settlements during the Roman Imperial Period. Through the identification of the finds in the region, including those with similar reliefs, a preliminary impression of the epithets with which this deity may have been worshipped has been attempted.

 The worship of Zeus, the head of the gods of Olympus, is more widespread in rural areas than in urban centers in the Kabalis  Kabalia region. Zeus, who is generally seen in cities for the prosperity and well-being of the city or for amity in treaties, has a different presence in rural areas than the established cult in the cities. Zeus, who is mostly associated with the sky and celestial phenomena, also manifests himself in rural life in agriculture and animal husbandry. In this context, the bust of Zeus and the reliefs, altars and architectural blocks bearing winged or wingless thunderbolt, the attribute of Zeus and recorded in ancient literature, were analyzed on the basis of rural life and especially seasonal migration. In addition to these finds, two altars, one with an inscription, registered in the inventory of the Burdur Archaeological Museum, were also included in the research, and, in relation to rural life and transhumance activities the characteristics related to this deity were investigated. This depiction, which is sometimes seen as a winged thunderbolt and sometimes as a thunderbolt carried by an eagle on the coins of the cities of the Kabalis  Kabalia Region during the Hellenistic Period, appears on rock reliefs, architectural blocks, and altars in the high plateaus, permanent or periodic rural settlements during the Roman Imperial Period. Through the identification of the finds in the region, including those with similar reliefs, a preliminary impression of the epithets with which this deity may have been worshipped has been attempted.

 The worship of Zeus, the head of the gods of Olympus, is more widespread in rural areas than in urban centers in the Kabalis  Kabalia region. Zeus, who is generally seen in cities for the prosperity and well-being of the city or for amity in treaties, has a different presence in rural areas than the established cult in the cities. Zeus, who is mostly associated with the sky and celestial phenomena, also manifests himself in rural life in agriculture and animal husbandry. In this context, the bust of Zeus and the reliefs, altars and architectural blocks bearing winged or wingless thunderbolt, the attribute of Zeus and recorded in ancient literature, were analyzed on the basis of rural life and especially seasonal migration. In addition to these finds, two altars, one with an inscription, registered in the inventory of the Burdur Archaeological Museum, were also included in the research, and, in relation to rural life and transhumance activities the characteristics related to this deity were investigated. This depiction, which is sometimes seen as a winged thunderbolt and sometimes as a thunderbolt carried by an eagle on the coins of the cities of the Kabalis  Kabalia Region during the Hellenistic Period, appears on rock reliefs, architectural blocks, and altars in the high plateaus, permanent or periodic rural settlements during the Roman Imperial Period. Through the identification of the finds in the region, including those with similar reliefs, a preliminary impression of the epithets with which this deity may have been worshipped has been attempted.

 Olymposun başını çeken Zeusa ilişkin tapınımlar Kabalis  Kabalia bölgesindeki kent merkezlerine nazaran kırsal alanda daha yaygındır. Kentlerde genellikle kentin refahına, selametine ya da anlaşmalarda dostluk adına görülen Zeus kırsal alanda kentlerdeki kurumsallaşan kültten farklı bir yapıya sahiptir. Çoğunlukla gök ve gök olaylarıyla ilişkilendirilen Zeus, tarım ve hayvancılık ile de kırsal yaşamda kendini gösterir. Bu bağlamda Uylupınar Erken Kibyra Yüzey Araştırmaları kapsamında tespit edilen Zeus büstü ile Zeusun atribusu olan ve antik literatürde de yer edinen kanatlı ya da kanatsız şimşek demeti taşıyan kabartmalar, sunalar ve mimari bloklar kırsal yaşam ve özellikle mevsimlik göç bazında incelenmiştir. Söz konusu buluntuların yanı sıra Burdur Arkeoloji Müzesi envanterine kayıtlı biri yazıtlı öteki yazıtsız toplamda iki sunak da araştırmaya eklenerek bu tanrıya ilişkin özellikler kırsal yaşam ve yaylacılık faaliyetleri özelinde desteklenmeye çalışılmıştır. Hellenistik Dönemde Kabalis  Kabalia Bölge kentlerinin sikke darplarında kimi zaman sadece kanatlı şimşek demeti olarak kimi zamansa bir kartalın taşıdığı şimşek demeti olarak karşılaşılan bu motif Roma İmparatorluk Döneminde kaya kabartmaları, mimari bloklar ve sunaklar üzerinde yüksek yayla, kalıcı veya dönemsel kırsal yerleşimlerinde görülmeye başlandığı tespit edilmiştir. Benzer kabartmaları taşıyan buluntular da dahil olmak üzere bölgedeki buluntular da tespit edilerek bu tanrının hangi epithetlerle tapınım görmüş olabileceğine dair de bir ön izlenim oluşturulmaya çalışılmıştır.

Article Details

Rock Reliefs of Zeus and his Thunderbolt in the High Plateau Settlements of Kabalis / Kabalia

Authors:

Feyzullah Eray Dökü | Şenkal Kileci

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Dijital Arkeoloji | Yunan ve Roma Dönemi Arkeolojisi | Arkeoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Anadolu Issue 49, pp.73-96

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001281770

pISSN:

0570-0116

Zeus

Thunderbolt

Relief of Winged Thunderbolt

Kabalis / Kabalia

Rock-Cut Reliefs

Altars

Zeus

Şimşek

Kanatlı Şimşek Kabartması

Kabalis / Kabalia

Kaya Kabartmaları

Sunaklar

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Feyzullah Eray Dökü | Şenkal Kileci

Publisher: Ankara University

Main Topics: Dijital Arkeoloji | Yunan ve Roma Dönemi Arkeolojisi | Arkeoloji (Diğer)

Journal: Anadolu Issue 49, pp.73-96

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2023

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001281770

pISSN: 0570-0116

Issues

Authors:

Feyzullah Eray Dökü | Şenkal Kileci

Publisher:

Ankara University

Main Topics:

Dijital Arkeoloji | Yunan ve Roma Dönemi Arkeolojisi | Arkeoloji (Diğer)

Journal:

Anadolu Issue 49, pp.73-96

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2023

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001281770

pISSN:

0570-0116