Hieroglyphic inscriptions from Boğazköy

The Hieroglyphic inscriptions from Boğazköy come from the ancient Hittite capital city of Ḫattuša, which is today called Boğazkale, in Turkey. These inscriptions are written in Luwian hieroglyphs, a writing system used in the Late Bronze Age. They were made between the 14th and early 12th century BC. The texts were written on many different surfaces like stone monuments, walls, rock faces, and even as graffiti inside tunnels.

 Discovery and research 
Archaeologists began finding inscriptions in Boğazköy in the early 1900s. In 1906, Hugo Winckler and Theodore Makridi found many clay tablets with cuneiform writing. At the time, the hieroglyphic inscriptions were not studied much. But in the 1970s, researchers started to pay more attention to them. In 2022, archaeologists working in a dark tunnel called Yerkapı discovered painted hieroglyphs on the stone walls. They found at least 249 signs, which were possibly names or short messages made like graffiti.

 Places where the writing was found 
The hieroglyphs are found in many parts of the ancient city. Some of the largest and most important inscriptions are the ones called the Nişantaş and the South Fortress inscriptions, which likely contain royal messages. At the Lion Gate, there are short ritual texts. In other places, like temples or the Upper City, researchers found blocks with short carved signs that look like graffiti. These writings show that the Luwian script was used both for important state messages and everyday markings.

 What the inscriptions say 
The inscriptions include different kinds of messages. Some show the names of gods or people. Others talk about military victories or offerings to gods. The ones in the Yerkapı tunnel do not form long texts. They are more like notes or names written on the walls. They may have been made by workers, visitors, or worshippers.

 Importance and meaning 
These inscriptions help us learn more about the people and culture of the Hittite Empire. They show that writing was not only used by kings or priests but also by ordinary people. Graffiti-style writing shows that people liked to leave their mark or share something personal. Because there are so many signs in Boğazköy, it is a very important place for studying Luwian hieroglyphs.

 Modern research 
Today, experts from the German Archaeological Institute, the University of Naples (Federico II), and the University of Istanbul are studying these writings using modern tools. They scan the stones in 3D and study the signs closely. Language experts look for patterns in the symbols. For example, they found one group of signs repeated 38 times, which may show a name or special word. This helps researchers understand what the signs mean.

Category:Luwian inscriptions