November 23, 2024 The sun rises from Anatolia

The first written evidence of the soul leaving the body in Anatolia: Kuttamuwa Stele

In the 8th century BC, a rich and powerful man named Kuttamuwa lived in the Gaziantep region of modern-day Turkey. Kuttamuwa served as a royal official.

The basalt Kuttamuwa Stele, which Kuttamuwa inscribed while he was alive, gives us information about the belief system of the time.

The inscription is written in Aramaic and Sam’al dialect and contains instructions for mourners after Kuttamuwa’s death.

Kuttamuwa Stele

The Kuttamuwa stele is an important work because it is the first written evidence that the people of the region believed that the soul and body were separate entities and that the soul migrated to another world.

It is also one of the oldest records of its kind in the world.

The inscription is one of the longest texts of the Sam’al dialect and has made significant contributions to the understanding of this dialect.

Photo: The site of Zincirli, ancient Sam’al, near the Amanus Mountains (view to the northwest)

The 800-pound basalt stele, three feet high and two feet wide, was found by the Oriental Institute’s Neubauer Expedition during the third season of excavations at Zincirli.

Zincirli is located near the town of Islahiye in Gaziantep province. The area was once controlled by the Hittite Empire, later becoming the capital of a small independent kingdom.

The full text of the stele, which is one of the first references to the soul being a separate entity from the body in Near Eastern culture, is as follows:

“I am KTMW, servant of Panamuwa, who commissioned for myself (this) stele while still living. I placed it in my eternal chamber and established a feast (at) this chamber: a bull for Hadad Qarpatalli, a ram for NGD/R ṢWD/RN, a ram for Šamš, a ram for Hadad of the Vineyards, a ram for Kubaba, and a ram for my “soul” (NBŠ) that (will be) in this stele. Henceforth, whoever of my sons or of the sons of anybody (else) should come into possession of this chamber, let him take from the best (produce) of this vineyard (as) a (presentation)-offering year by year. He is also to perform the slaughter (prescribed above) in (proximity to) my “soul” and is to apportion for me a leg-cut.”

Discovered in 2000, the Kuttamuwa stele is on display at the Gaziantep Archaeological Museum.

Banner
Related Articles

A theater mask made of 2000-year-old soil was found in Aizanoi, also known as ‘Second Ephesus’

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

In the Çavdarhisar district of Kütahya, in the ancient city of Aizanoi, also known as A theater mask made of...

The first company in Anatolia was founded 4000 years ago in Kültepe with 15 kilos of gold

May 26, 2024

May 26, 2024

A 4000-year-old tablet found in Kültepe, one of the most important karums of the Assyrian trade colonies, shows that the...

The only remaining structure of Herakleia, the Roman Bath, has begun excavation

November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024

Archaeological excavations have begun at the Roman Bath, the only remaining structure of the ancient city of Herakleia, named after...

Neolithic human skull found in a niche at Sefertepe provides new insights into burial customs

September 19, 2024

September 19, 2024

The Neolithic human skull discovered during the ongoing archaeological excavations at Sefertepe within the scope of the Stone Hills Project...

Forty-seven tombs dating back nearly a thousand years were found in the ancient city of Nysa

August 7, 2024

August 7, 2024

During excavations in the ancient city of Nysa, archaeologists uncovered 47 tombs dating back nearly 1000 years. The ancient city...

2700-year-old children’s cemetery discovered in Tenedos Ancient City

March 2, 2024

March 2, 2024

A 2700-year-old children’s cemetery was discovered during the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Tenedos under the direction of...

The story of the 1500-year-old baptismal bucket found by a villager named Temo in Zerzevan Castle

October 14, 2023

October 14, 2023

In Zerzevan Castle, the border garrison of the Roman Empire, a villager named Temo found an ancient baptismal bucket while...

One of the oldest water channels dating back to 8,200 years ago was discovered in Yeşilova Mound

August 27, 2023

August 27, 2023

Archaeologists have discovered one of the oldest water channels dating back to 8,200 years ago at Yeşilova Mound, located in...

The massive stadium of Sillyon Ancient City is being uncovered

April 26, 2024

April 26, 2024

The 10 thousand-seat stadium of the ancient city of Sillyon in Antalya’s Serik district is being uncovered. The excavation team...

A 2000-year-old Urartian object was unearthed in the excavations of Divriği castle, which started with the information in Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname

January 3, 2024

January 3, 2024

Excavations at Divriği Castle in the Divriği district of Sivas province, located in northeastern Turkey, unearthed many finds, especially a...

1400-year-old coins found in a piggy bank discovered during Hadrianopolis excavations

January 2, 2024

January 2, 2024

Ten 1400-year-old coins were found in a jug discovered during the ongoing excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis, also...

27 cuneiform tablets providing information about the sacred Hittite city of Nerik have been discovered at Oymaağaç Mound

October 23, 2024

October 23, 2024

27 cuneiform tablets providing information about Nerik, the sacred city dedicated to the Hittites’ chief god Tešup, have been discovered...

The monastery-like Alicin Geosite continues to remain a mystery

April 23, 2024

April 23, 2024

Alicin Geosite in Kızılcahamam district of Ankara, the capital of Turkey, continues to preserve its mystery. Alicin Geosite is a...

2,700-year-old pithoi belonging to the Urartians were found in Garibin Tepe, which was unearthed as a result of illegal excavations

September 2, 2023

September 2, 2023

Archaeologists unearthed well-preserved 2,700-year-old pithoi in an area known as ‘Garibin Tepe,’ which was discovered during illegal excavations in the...

The 3,000-year-old Lagina Hecate Temple in Lagina Hecate Sanctuary is being resurrected

September 11, 2024

September 11, 2024

The 3,000-year-old Lagina Hecate Temple in the ancient temple complex Lagina Hecate Sanctuary located in the Bodrum district of Türkiye’s...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *