The Early Church and the Imperial Cult — A Visual Exploration

Posted on February 21, 2026 | 2 comments

One Sunday this past fall, as our pastor was preaching through the book of Romans, he came to Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord …” He paused to consider what such a confession would have meant for Jewish believers in Rome and then drew attention to its broader implications in the Roman world itself—where it was commonly assumed that the reigning emperor was Lord.

That comment stayed with me.

When Jerusalem University College asked me to deliver an online lecture, I wanted to choose a topic that would both engage viewers and draw on what I’ve learned over the years while leading and teaching groups in the lands of the Bible. Many scholars have written about the Imperial Cult and its overtones in the New Testament. But as I reflected on the subject, it became clear that there was something I could contribute that is rarely done: to show it visually.

The Imperial Cult was not an abstraction. It was embedded in cities, temples, inscriptions, and public spaces—places most people never get to see. My aim in this lecture was to bring those locations together and let the stones speak.

Below is a link to the lecture. I’ve also included an index for those who may wish to view specific sections. You’ll encounter sites from Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Israel—yes, even in the days of Jesus, the Imperial Cult had reached there. It features archaeological sites, inscriptions, coins, and historical figures and presentation explores how loyalty to Christ collided with loyalty to Caesar.

The Early Church’s Encounter with the Imperial Cult — A Visual Exploration

Chapters / Index

0:00 Introduction by Dr. Hersey (President, Jerusalem University College)

3:06 Dr. Carl Rasmussen — Beginning

4:34 Introduction

8:35 Arch of Titus (Rome)

10:00 Herculaneum — Imperial cult worship room

14:00 Aphrodisias — near Laodicea, Colossae, and Hierapolis

19:00 Ancyra — a huge temple dedicated to Augustus

20:30 Pisidian Antioch — temple seen by Paul on his four visits to the city

22:30 Priene — a special room

24:00 Ephesus

28:00 Smyrna and Polycarp

30:40 Pliny the Younger — his early encounters with Christians in Bythinia

31:38 Pergamum — the first Imperial Cult Temple in Asia

32:35 Assos Inscription

33:30 Thessalonica — “… saying there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:7)

34:30 Herod the Great and his three imperial cult temples
34:40 Caesarea by the Sea — Imperial Cult Temple, Pilate Inscription, and Games

37:30 Sebasta/Samaria — Imperial Cult Temple

38:00 Caesarea Philippi (Panias/Banias) and Omrit

40:45 Who is Lord? Caesar or Jesus? Which kingdom? Which citizenship?

43:20 The End

Key Themes

  • Imperial Cult and emperor worship
  • Early Christianity and Roman power
  • Archaeology of the New Testament world
  • “Jesus is Lord” vs. “Caesar is Lord”
  • Gospel, kingdom, and allegiance

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Posted in Biblical Theology, New Testament, Places in Israel, Places in Italy, Places in Turkey, Uncategorized, Video

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Exploring Yesemek: The Ancient Stone Workshop of Türkiye

Posted on February 19, 2025 | Leave a comment

On a recent trip to Türkiye we visited the largest known stone masonry workshop in the ancient Near East.

The Hittite and Neo-Hittite Quarry and Sculpture Workshop at Yesemek covers an area of about 25 acres.  It is located about 70 miles west of Carchemish, Turkey and about 13 miles southeast of the Neo-Hittite site of Zincirli (ancient Samal).

Here the reddish/black basalt stone was quarried and then shaped into rough forms of lions, sphinxes, mountain gods, and other creatures.  These were then shipped to places where they would be used to adorn temples, palaces, and other public structures.  They were finished at the sites where they were on display.

The Entrance to the Archaeological Park of Yesemek.

Yesemek is the largest known stone masonry workshop in the ancient Near East.  Over 300 partially finished blocks are scattered over the site that is today an archaeological park.

A Basalt Lion from Zincirli that probably was crafted at nearby Yesemek.

A huge lion statue that guarded the entrance of an eighth century palace at Zincirl (Palace III).  It is made out of basalt. This lion may have been carved at the Sculptures’ Workshop at Yesemk—13 miles southeast of Zincirli. It is on display at the Museum of the Ancient Orient in Istanbul.

An Unfinished Lion in Basalt

Such finished statues guarded the entrances to palaces and temples. For a completed lion statue found in an eighth-century palace at Zincirli see Here.  Or from Hazor in Israel Here

A Crouching Lion

A badly damaged unfinished Lion in basalt. Such finished statues guarded the entrances to palaces and temples.

An Unfinished Human in Basalt

This looks to this observer like an unfinished relief of a human—in basalt. Notice the legs, the feet, and the knee-length garment. I am not able to discern what the upper portion of the piece is.

An Unfinished Piece

I am not certain what this basalt piece was intended to be. The “snout” suggests an animal, but the large head covering suggests a human or a god.

For additional images and commentary on Yesemek, See Here.

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Turkey and Greece Bible Tour: Explore New Testament Sites with Expert Guides

Posted on January 21, 2025 | 1 comment

Mary and I invite you to join our 18-day “study tour” to Turkey and Greece: following in the Footsteps of the Apostles: Türkiye and Greece from April 28 to May 15, 2025.  We have handcrafted our itinerary and will have excellent guides.

After visiting the world class Archaeology Museum in Istanbul and the Hagia Sophia, we will fly to Antalya (Biblical Attalia) from where we will begin our tour of biblical sites.  Biblical sites in Türkiye include Attalia, Perga, Colossae, Hierapolis, Laodicea, Miletus, Ephesus, Smyrna (Izmir), Sardis, Philadelphia, Thyatira, Pergamum, and Assos.  In Türkiye we will also include visits to Didyma, Magnesia, and Troy.  We will transfer by bus into Greece and there we will visit biblical sites such as Neapolis, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens (Acropolis, Mars Hill, Market Place), Corinth, and Cenchrea—as well as Delphi, one of the hanging monasteries of Meteora and the golden tomb of Philip II (the father of Alexander the Great).


Exploring the Inner Harbor at Troas — Troas is mentioned in the New Testament five times. It was here, on Paul’s second missionary journey that he received a “call” to proceed to Europe — Acts 16:8–11

All totaled, we will visit places where 15 of the 27 New Testament books were written to and/or from including all of the seven Churches addressed in the Book of Revelation.

As we travel together, we will relate what we see to the New Testament and the Early Christian Church.  Thus, this is a hands-on experience as we study the New Testament and its Greco-Roman background!  Along the way, I will be giving mini-lectures, drawing from my studies and from the 35+ trips that we have led to Turkey and Greece. 

On the Roman Road that Paul traveled on from Alexandria Troas to Assos — Acts 20:13–14

You will be amazed at what you will be learning along the way and April and early May are perfect times to travel—not too hot, not too cool, and the wildflowers are still in bloom in some places!

We hope you will join us!  Contact us soon if you are interested (go2.CarlRasm@gmail.com).

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The Fascinating Bull-Men and Griffin Demons of Carchemish

Posted on January 7, 2025 | Leave a comment

In a previous post, I shared photos from the significant site of Carchemish. In a subsequent post, I included images illustrating daily life among the Neo-Hittites (circa 1000–717 B.C.). In this post, I’ve added pictures of orthostats (a large upright stone slab; see also the end), that are displayed in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations that depict their deities.

Compare Ancient Israel — Exodus 20:4 — “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”

Two “Bull Men”

This is a view of an orthostat from the Hearld’s Wall in the Lower Palace complex at Carchemish, dating to 900–700 B.C. The piece, made of basalt, stands approximately 4 feet tall.

At the center of the orthostat are two bull-men (Kusarikku), depicted with the lower body of a bull and the upper body and head of a man. They face the viewer while carrying spears. Flanking them on both sides are two lion-headed men (Ugallu), shown with the body of a man and the head of a lion, each holding a mace. These figures probably symbolized protection for the palace and its inhabitants.

Winged Giffin Demons

View of an orthostat from the Hearld’s Wall in the Lower Palace complex at Carchemish.  It is of basalt and dates to 900–700 B.C.

Two “Winged Griffin Demons” facing each other.  The human bodies have wings, raised arms, and bird heads. 

The orthostat is about 4 feet tall and made of basalt.  In the Hearld’s Wall there was a mixture of basalt and limestone orthostats.

Chimera Monster

A basalt orthostat from Carchemish that depicts a three-headed monster—a “Chimera.” The figure has the body and head of a lion. It also has wings and on its tail the head of a bird of prey. On top of its lion head is a human head crowned with a conical cap with two horns. A double braided lock falls down to the shoulders. The orthostat is about 3.5 feet high and dates to the Neo-Hittite Period (ca. 900-717 BC).

A Pair of Bull-Men

A basalt orthostat from Carchemish depicting a pair of bull-men.  The upper torsos and faces are depicted in frontal view.  Both have bull’s ears and horns, and conical caps, and one of their arms holds a stylized palm tree.  The lower portions of the bodies face towards the center.  They stand on two legs that have hoofs.  A tail is visible on the figure on the left.

These figures seem to be the opposite of the Minotaur of the Palace of Knossos on Crete which had the body of a man and the head (and tail) of a bull! The orthostat is about 3.5 feet high and dates to the Neo-Hittite Period (ca. 900-717 BC).

An orthostat is a large, upright stone slab that was commonly used in ancient architecture as part of walls or structures, especially in palaces, temples, or fortifications. They were often placed at the base of a wall, serving both a functional and decorative purpose.

Orthostats were frequently carved with reliefs depicting scenes of mythology, religion, daily life, or military victories, making them important sources of historical and cultural information.

Examples of orthostats are found in various ancient civilizations, such as the Hittites, Assyrians, and Mesopotamians. They played a dual role: protecting mudbrick or weaker construction materials from erosion at the base of walls and serving as artistic expressions or symbolic decorations. [Thanks to ChatGPT]

Bryant Wood has two helpful and accessible articles about the Biblical Hittites.

Wood, Bryant. “The Biblical Hittites: Abundant and Increasing Evidence.” November 8, 2024.

Wood, Bryant. “Hittites and Hethites: A Proposed Solution to an Etymological Conundrum.” November 8, 2011.

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Life among the Neo-Hittites: Exploring Carchemish and Its Artifacts

Posted on January 3, 2025 | Leave a comment

In an earlier post, I shared some photos that I took at the very important site of Carchemish. Today, it is located partially in Turkey and partially in Syria. A few days before our visit to the site we visited the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. That museum has a whole section devoted to artifacts found at Carchemish. It focuses particularly on the inscribed orthostats. These are upright slabs set in the ground that form part of a structure, found there. The memory of the scenes on the orthostats not only brought the site of Carchemish “to life,” but they also enhanced my vision of the people of the Neo-Hittite Period (ca c. 1000-717 B.C.). Here are a few selected images that were excavated in some of the “elite structures.”

A limestone orthostat from Carchemish depicting a Banquet Scene.

A bearded figure sits to the left of the cross-legged table in the center of the image. He sits on a cross-legged chair with a back. He holds a goblet in his right hand, which is extended upward. A servant with a fan stands behind him. On the right side of the table is a servant with a cup in his hand. On the far right is a musician playing an instrument with a fringe on its handle. The orthostat is about 3.5 feet high and dates to the Neo-Hittite Period (ca. 900-717 BC).

A basalt orthostat depicting a human figure—probably King Katuwas, the first great builder at Carchemish in the Neo-Hittite Period.

The right hand of King Katuwas rests on a staff. He seems to hold a bird in his raised left hand. He has a beard. He is dressed in a long garment with fringe and a broad belt. He carries a sword in a sheath.

On the left, behind him is a Luwian (the language of the Neo-Hittites) hieroglyphic Inscription:  “I, Katuwas, Lord of Kargamis … Tarunza [the storm god] of Kargamis under ATANAWA … will give him one-ninth or will build the orthostats of Katuwas … He will give one ninth to Karhuzas and Kubaba [two deities] and will have it constructed.  But he … his … annual income to the gods and to Tarhunza ….” (from a sign in the Museum) The orthostat is about 3.5 feet high and dates to the Neo-Hittite Period (ca. 900-717 BC).

A basalt orthostat from the “Hearld’s Wall” at Carchemish.

Depicted on the right is a bearded human figure wearing a short skirt.  He has a dagger in his right hand and he is stabbing the lion in the rear end.  On the left, a bearded god figure appears. He has a horned headdress. He grasps the lion’s hind leg and holds an ax over his head with his right hand.  (from a sign in the Museum). I am not certain if the lion is already dead, or if it is alive.  If it is dead, they are in the process of removing the skin. The orthostat is about 3.5 feet high and dates to the Neo-Hittite Period (ca. 900-717 BC).

A basalt orthostat depicting some of the royal family of King Araras.

View of the final two orthostats in a series of four orthostats from Carchemish.  The interpretations of the reliefs and the short inscription are from a sign in the museum.

The basalt orthostat on the left has eight figures—children of the king. In the upper register, three figures carry knuckle bones (like dice) in their hands. A naked, small figure walks behind them. The figure uses the support of a stick, and a bird is on the top of the stick. In the lower register, two seated figures on the left are playing a game of knucklebones on the stool between them. Two standing figures on the right play with tops. They hold pieces of wood with strings attached to spin the tops. The inscriptions above the heads of the figures are the names of the children of the king.

The basalt orthostat on the right portrays the queen carrying her youngest son in one arm. She holds the rope of an animal that follows behind her.  The muscles of the colt are displayed in a schematic manner.

The Luwian inscription reads:  and this (is) Tuwarsais, the desired(?) (one) of the ruler. the prince proclaimed for preeminence.” The orthostats date to the Neo-Hittite Period (ca. 900-717 BC).

A portion of the Carchemish section of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.

For additional images of orthostats See Here.

The above “Hittite” finds from Carchemish are from the time of the Neo-Hittites! These are to be distinguished from those Hittites associated with the Hittite Empire (1360-1180 B.C.) which had its capital at Hattusha and Yazilikaya

Bryant Wood has two helpful and accessible articles on this topic.

Wood, Bryant. “The Biblical Hittites: Abundant and Increasing Evidence.” November 8, 2024.

Wood, Bryant. “Hittites and Hethites: A Proposed Solution to an Etymological Conundrum.” November 8, 2011.

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A “New/Ancient” Thermal Spa in Turkey

Posted on December 13, 2024 | 4 comments

On a recent trip to Turkey, we had a chance to visit an “out of the way” Roman Thermal Spa that I had not seen before. For several years, I had hoped that I would be able to get there, and since it was on the way as we traveled from Hattusha (Hittite Capital) to Cappadocia we included it in our “Tutku Tour to Eastern Anatolia.” We were not disappointed.

The Roman Spa is located in the small Turkish city of Sarıkaya (population 19,000), that is known for its hot springs and associated bathhouses. 

In the city is a large Roman Thermal Bath (Sarıkaya Roma Hamamı) that may be the ancient Aquae Saravenae).  The bath was built in the second century AD and was used in the Byzantine, Selcuk, and Ottoman periods.  The excavation of the site began in 2010 and continues to this day  The water that the pool uses springs from the ground at 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

View looking north at the excavated area of the Roman Thermal Spa at Sarıkaya.

On the left (west) side of the picture, the main thermal pool of the Roman Hot Bath in the Turkish city of Sarıkaya is visible. In the center of the image is the two-story display wall of the pool. On the right (east) side of the image is the major area of excavation.  There, water bubbles out of the ground into two collecting pools at a temperature of 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

View looking east at the main pool of the Roman Hot Bath in the Turkish city of Sarıkaya.

The pool measures 76 x 42 feet and is 4.5 feet deep.  Note the two-story display wall on the far (east) side of the pool.  Probably statues (of Emperors, City Elite, and/or Deities?) were placed in them.  The pool was built in the second century AD.

View looking south at the main thermal pool of the Roman Hot Bath in the Turkish city of Sarıkaya

Note all of the modern buildings that surround the excavation area!

View looking south at the eastern portion of the large thermal pool that lies to the east of the central display wall of the Roman Thermal Spa at Sarıkaya.

View looking south at the large Elliptical Pool at the Roman Thermal Spa at Sarıkaya.

There is hot water in the bottom of the pool! Note the apses at each end of the pool, the stairs on the left (east) that lead down into the pool, and the places to sit along the edges of the pool. Some of the original paving stones of the floor are visible. This pool is very near where the hot water (115 degrees Fahrenheit) bubbles out of the ground. According to ChatGPT the sign on the right says “Going into the pool is forbidden.”

For additional images and commentary see Here.

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A Visit to Carchemish on the Euphrates

Posted on December 2, 2024 | 3 comments

On a recent trip to Türkiye our group had a chance to visit a site that I had always wanted to visit.

Carchemish is a large antiquity site on the west bank of the Euphrates River, about 60 miles northeast of Aleppo. It is situated at an important crossing point, and trade routes from the east (Assyria and Babylonia) passed through it on their way to the Levant and/or Turkey (Hittite country).

A view looking looking southeast from Carchemish at the Euphrates River.  It flows from left to the center of the image and continues its course through Syria and Iraq to the Persian Gulf.

At this point, there is a natural ford for crossing the river.  Today, the blue water is the western-most of two branches of the river.  The other is on the far (east) side of the marshy “island” but is not visible.

The railroad bridge that crosses the river was built by the Germans and Turks for the Berlin to Baghdad Railroad around the time of WWI.  The bridge itself is in Turkey.  The hills beyond the bridge are in Syria.

The huge mound of Carchemish (220 acres) lies on the Turkish/Syrian border with 135 acres in Turkey and 85 acres in Syria (Jerablus).  It consists of an Outer Town, an Inner Town, and a Citadel.  To this casual observer, it reminds me of Hazor in Israel, which is also about 200 acres in size, with a citadel and a large lower town.

View to Carchemish from the north, looking south. To the right of center (west), the citadel, with a Turkish Jandarma post, is visible. The lower town (not visible) is to the right of that.

Carchemish is mentioned numerous times in ancient Hittite, Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, etc. texts as well as in the Bible (Isaiah 10:9; Jeremiah 46:2-3; 2 Chronicles 35:20).  It was the scene of the famous battle between the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco II who was defeated by the Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II in 605 BC—see Jeremiah 46 and the Babylonian Chronicle.

It was inhabited from the third millennium BC to the 10th century AD. Many have excavated there since the late nineteenth century. It is famous for the many reliefs, inscriptions, tablets, and small finds discovered there.

View to Carchemish from the northwest.

On the left side of the image, the citadel, with a Turkish Jandarma post, is visible. Spread across the center horizontal plane of the picture is part of the large rampart that encircles the “Inner Town.” The Citadel and the Inner Town were the “heart” of ancient Carchemish.

A view looking west from inside the mound of Carchemish towards the Western Rampart and the West Gate. The picture was taken from inside the “Inner Town” near the “Lower Palace.” The Middle Bronze Age ramparts enclose an area of at least 86 acres.

The Lower Palace/Temple Area

This area has been and continues to be an area of intense excavation and restoration. Two temples and a palatial compound were found in the area. This urban scheme was first established around 1330 BC and lasted until the end of the Neo-Hittite Period in 717 BC. At that time, the Assyrians suppressed temple usage, but the palace remained in use.

Beginning in the tenth century the Neo Hittite rulers of Carchemish embellished the temples, public spaces, and the palace with all kinds of sculpted materials.  The public nature of the area continued into the Roman Period.

View looking south at the Temple of the Storm God (Tarhunna/Tarhunza)

It appears that the main entrance of the temple was from the south, with an additional doorway on the right (northwest) side of the temple.  On the north, there appears to be a large rectangular platform.  In the background is the covering of the ongoing excavations of the palace complex.

Although the temple was originally built during the Hittite Empire Period (1360–1180 B.C.), it was reconstructed in the tenth century by Katuwa, the king of Carchemish.  That temple continued in use until the Assyrian Conquest in 717 B.C.This area has been and continues to be, an area of intense excavation and restoration.

A view of the Visitors Center at Carchemish. Because this area is a military zone, the only way to tour Carchemish is with a group guided by one of the guards from here. There are many helpful explanatory signs on the site. Because the citadel is a Jamdarma Post, it was not possible to visit it and photographs of it were prohibited. The roads into Carchemish are not very well marked. Portions of them are under construction and are being upgraded. It seems to me, that the Turks are hopeful that many more tourists will come and visit Carchemish.

Many of the finds from the excavations at Carchemish are displayed in the Central Room of the Museum of Anatolian Civilization in Ankara. The museum was the first stop on our tour, and by seeing the artifacts first, the importance of the site was enhanced in the minds of our travelers.

For additional photos of Carchemish, see HERE.

In the next blog post, I will share some of the artifacts from Carchemish.

To-date, most of the “Hittite” finds from Carchemish are from the time of the Neo-Hittites! These are to be distinguished from those Hittites associated with the Hittite Empire which had its capital at Hattusha and Yazilikaya

Bryant Wood has two helpful and accessible articles on this topic.

Wood, Bryant. “The Biblical Hittites: Abundant and Increasing Evidence.” November 8, 2024.

Wood, Bryant. “Hittites and Hethites: A Proposed Solution to an Etymological Conundrum.” November 8, 2011.

Sorry, but I could not resist. Carl and Mary with the Middle Bronze Rampart in the background.

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Posted in Archaeology, Hittites, Places in Turkey

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Antiquities and Luxury in a Hotel!

Posted on November 6, 2024 | 1 comment

Last week I shared some images of the devastation of the 2023 earthquake in Antakya/Hatay Turkey (biblical Antioch on the Orontes). In April 2024 our group stayed in the Waxwing Hotel—the only functioning hotel at that time. In October 2024 we stayed at The Museum Hotel that had just reopened. It is so unique that I thought I would share some pictures of the hotel and associated antiquities.

The Museum Hotel is located in Antakya (Hatay) Turkey just below and west of Saint Peter’s Church.  Before construction, the area was excavated to examine the archaeological remains on the site. Extensive, beautiful mosaics from the Hellenistic, Late Roman, and Byzantine Periods were discovered along with streets, plazas, a Roman bath, and a villa.  To preserve these remains, the hotel was built around and above the various ancient structures.  It is a marvel of modern architecture and ingenuity.

It opened in early 2020 but closed for repairs after the devastating earthquake of 5 February 2023.  It reopened on October 1, 2024.

View of the interior of The Museum Hotel in Antakya.

From bottom to top: at the lowest level are the extensive mosaics that the hotel is built over.  The lower walkway is part of the Mosaic Museum that the hotel is built over. The walkway at the mid-point of the image leads to rooms and the dining room.  In the upper left of the image, some of the “container-like” rooms that “hang in the air” above the mosaics are visible. Notice also, all of the columns that support the hotel as well as all of the exposed steel beams.

Some of the rooms in The Museum Hotel.

View of some of the self-contained rooms that “hang in the air” above the mosaics. In this image, three levels of rooms are visible. The wall of windows in each room looks down on the carpet of mosaics and remains below.

A nighttime view from the window of one of the rooms of The Museum Hotel.

Below the ancient mosaics are illuminated for full viewing.  Columns and girders support the rooms and catwalks. In the upper left of the image, three levels of rooms are visible.  Notice how the catwalks lead to the levels of these rooms.

Late Roman Villa.

The floor of this Villa is the lowest level reached in the archaeology excavations.  It is about 12 feet below most of the finds that are visible in the Museum.  It was used between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD.  The excavation was limited to the triclinium (banquet hall).  The central mosaic carries depictions of pagan myths. The Villa is known as “the G2 House,” and the central mosaic is called the “Pegasus Mosaic.”

View of the central, “Pegasus,” mosaic in the triclinium of a Villa.

This mosaic is known as “The Pegasus Mosaic” and features 162 color tones of natural stone.  It dates to the second century AD and “includes the first known depiction of Hesiod receiving his poetic inspiration from the Queen of Muses, Calliope.”

The floor of this Villa is the lowest level reached in the archaeology excavations.  It is about 12 feet below most of the finds that are visible in the Museum.  It was used between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD.  The excavation was limited to the triclinium (banquet hall).  The central mosaic carries depictions of pagan myths. The Villa is known as “the G2House,” and the central mosaic is called the “Pegasus Mosaic.”

View looking west and down from Saint Peter’s Church at The Museum Hotel—the large building just right of the center of the image.  The hotel is only 0.25 miles from the church—about a 10-minute walk. Although the hotel may look “unfinished,” this modern structure actually is!

A memorial to five of The Museum Hotel workers who perished in the earthquake of February 6, 2023.

The people and city of Antakya/Hatay still have a long difficult road to recovery, but The Museum Hotel is a symbol of recovery for the people and city.

Next week, I will return to commenting on various academic matters.

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Earthquake Ridden Antakya — Antioch on the Orontes

Posted on October 29, 2024 | 2 comments

This year, 2024, I had the chance to visit Antakya Turkey (NT Antioch on the Orontes) twice: once in April and again in October.

Downtown Antakya with the Orontes River—photo from one of our visits prior to 2023. Today, all of the structures on the left side of the image are rubble due to the February 6, 2023 earthquake.

On February 6, 2023, an earthquake had a devastating impact on Hatay (Antakya, Antioch), Turkey, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. With a magnitude of 7.8, the quake flattened thousands of buildings, including homes, schools, hospitals, and historical landmarks.

In April 2024 , we arrived in Antakya after dark. Because of the lack of streetlights, signs, and functioning GoogleMaps, the Waxwing Hotel sent out a man on a motor scooter to guide us to the hotel through rubble-lined streets.

The Waxwing Hotel — April 2024

The Waxwing Hotel was the only functioning hotel when we visited Antakya in April 2024 (in October was stayed in the newly opened “Museum Hotel”—more in a future post).  The reason the Waxwing survived is that it had been “retrofitted” about three months prior to the earthquake in February 2023 and thus was not reduced to rubble.  Notice that the buildings around it had collapsed and much of the debris had been trucked off.

The view from our room in the Waxwing Hotel in April 2024.

Unfortunately, the earthquake caused over 60,000 deaths and many injuries, with many more displaced from their homes.

A collection of buildings near our hotel were damaged/destroyed by the Earthquake that hit Hatay on 6 February 2023.
A view of a neighborhood near our hotel that was damaged/destroyed in the Earthquake that hit Hatay on 6 February 2023.

The empty lot in the foreground was previously filled with houses and businesses that were destroyed.  The rubble was trucked off and bulldozers created a level surface.

In the upper half of the image are structures that have not yet been demolished.  Left of the center of the image are some engineers from Japan who were visiting the city to gather information.

Christian property.

The sign above the iron gate, with crosses, indicates that this was/is Christian Property—and/or a Church. The dominant religious community in Antakya (Hatay) is Muslim, but other religious communities have thrived there as well—in peaceful coexistence!

After the earthquake, Hatay’s health services were overwhelmed, and the city faces a long and difficult recovery. The economic impact has been enormous, with the destruction of businesses and livelihoods adding to the challenges of rebuilding. Beyond the physical devastation, the psychological toll on survivors has been profound, as they cope with loss, trauma, and uncertainty about the future. The road to recovery will require significant resources, time, and support from both national and international communities.

The graffiti on the left(in red) image reads (in Turkish) “we are devastated/heartbroken, February 6 2023. The one on the right reads “Don’t Lose Hope, February 28.” Click on images to enlarge.

A “Container” Community/Neighborhood. Image courtesy of Brian Small.

One of the 10’s of “Container Communities” where survivors of the earthquake live with their families.  These structures are not exactly “shipping containers,” but are purpose-built to house the displaced people. The devastation in Hatay/Antakya is so extensive that it seems that many of these people will be living there for several years.

A “Tent/Yurt” neighborhood for earthquake survivors.

A community of displaced earthquake survivors who are living in “Yurts.”  A Yurt is a circular tent of felt or skins on a collapsible framework, used by nomads in Mongolia, Siberia, and Turkey. I am not certain of who donated these Yurts.

Additional images can be found Here.

A synopsis of the event can be found Here: 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes. (2024, October 20). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Turkey%E2%80%93Syria_earthquakes

Jason Borges has a short article reflecting on his visit to Antakya a few months after the earthquake, “The Future of Antakya?” And Mark Wilson has one Here in Christianity Today.

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Posted in Daily Life, Modern Middle East, Places in Turkey

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A 10,000 Year Old Stone Calendar?

Posted on August 8, 2024 | 4 comments

Göbekli Tepe (“Potbelly Hill”) is a Neolithic site located about 9 mi. [15 km.] north of Sanliurfa in south–central Turkey.  This 22-acre [9 ha.] site was functional from roughly 9,600 BC to 8,200 BC and is being excavated by Klaus Schmidt (now deceased) of the German Archaeological Institute and the Archaeological Museum of Sanliurfa.

It was a religious center constructed by and used by foragers (not farmers!).  The excavated portions consist mainly of rings of well-carved standing limestone pillars—the tallest 18 ft. [5.5 m.] high.  Images of gazelles, snakes, foxes, scorpions, and boars are carved on them in low bas-relief.

How these pillars were carved, transported, and erected—in 9,600 BC!—is very mysterious. Schmidt believes that it was a worship center for foragers, for he has not found any walls, houses, hearths, or signs of agriculture.

A recent popular article, “Carvings at Göbeklitepe could be World’s Oldest Calendar” in Arkeonews, suggests that the image at the beginning of this blog post was actually an ancient calendar.

Experts suggest that markings on a stone pillar at the 12,000-year-old Göbeklitepe archaeological site in Türkiye probably represent the oldest solar calendar in history, having been established as a memorial to a catastrophic comet strike.

According to a recent study from the University of Edinburgh, the markings at the location might be a record of an astronomical event that marked a significant turning point in human civilization.

Southeast Türkiye’s Göbeklitepe is well-known for its array of enormous, T-shaped stone pillars adorned with animal and abstract symbol carvings. According to recent analysis, some of these carvings might have functioned as a kind of calendar that tracked important celestial events and marked the positions of the sun, moon, and stars.

The detailed, on-line, technical article is “Representations of calendars and time at Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe support an astronomical interpretation of their symbolism.”

An overview of some of the excavations at Göbekli Tepe

Additional images of the site, with commentary, are available Here.

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Posted in Places in Turkey

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