Culture and art / Museum
Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum
Kadirli, Osmaniye
One of the world's leading open-air museums, in the fortress of the Late Hittite king Azatiwada, with bilingual inscriptions and gate orthostats with reliefs.
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Its story
Karatepe is the fortress of Azatiwataya, founded in the 8th century BC by Azatiwada, a vassal of Awariku, lord of the Adana region. The bilingual inscriptions in Phoenician and Luwian hieroglyphs on the fortress gates played a key role in deciphering Hittite hieroglyphs. The orthostats with reliefs are preserved and displayed in situ, in the open air. Uncovered in 1946 through the excavations of Halet Çambel and Helmuth Bossert, the site is one of Türkiye's first open-air museums. In the earthquakes of 6 February 2023, some works in the display cases were broken; after repairs it reopened to visitors in June 2023.
Key facts
- Period
- Late Hittite, 8th century BC
- Status
- Post-earthquake repairs completed; open to visitors since June 2023.
- Location
- Within the Karatepe-Aslantaş National Park
- Admission
- Paid; Müzekart valid
Trip purpose
- Photography
- Traveling with kids
Location
37.30022, 36.25004
Where to eat nearby
No food & drink venues listed nearby.
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors; Overture Maps
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Source: Web derlemesi (doğrulanmalı): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karatepe-Aslantaş_Open-Air_Museum | https://www.istiklal.com.tr/foto-galeri/osmaniyede-restorasyonu-tamamlanan-muzeler-ziyarete-acildi-934266h