Expert Deciphers Mysterious Ancient Inscription on 52 Feet Tall 'Lion Rock' Monument by Chance in Morning Light

An expert has finally deciphered parts of a mysterious inscription on a monument in Turkey. The monument that features the inscription is Arslan Kaya ("Lion Rock"), situated in the Phrygian Highlands between Seyit Gazi and Afyonkarahisar, Newsweek reported. The monument was uncovered in the 1880s and analyzed to bits but the writing above its doorway somehow evaded understanding. An archeologist recently visited the structure and managed to translate the elusive writing. 

Arslan Kaya is an ancient stone monument that was dated to be around 2,600 years old, Daily Mail reported. It was erected in the Phrygian Highlands along with eight other stone façades. The inscription in question had multiple words that were illegible.

Mark Munn, a professor of Ancient Greek History and Archaeology at Pennsylvania State University visited the structure in April and had a good look at the writing. He was not able to figure the words out at first glance but due to some 'fortuitous' timing was able to get the job done through his photographs.

The timing at which Munn captured the inscription with his camera, and the lighting was such that the writing was visible in the processed images. "If the light is not right, these traces cannot be distinguished from cracks in the rock," Munn explained. 

"With my photographs, and comparing them to the best photographs taken by earlier visitors from the 1890s and 1950s, I could confirm that the name of the Mother - 'Materan' - can definitely be read in the center of the inscription," he added.

Munn was able to read 'Materan' on the inscription but could not do so with the other words on the inscription. "A few other letters can be read, but not enough to make whole words," he said. The identification of 'Materan' enabled the professor to figure out the writing's grammatical structure. According to him, since 'Materan' is the accusative form of 'Mater,' it was likely used as the object in the sentence and followed up by a verb.

Comparing the finding with other well-preserved Phrygian inscriptions, Munn speculates that the writing gave away the name of the person who dedicated Arslan Kaya to the mother goddess. "The name of the Phrygian Mother can be read on at least two of the other great Phrygian facades, but Arslan Kaya is the only one where her name and her image were both carved," Munn added. 

Along with deciphering parts of the inscription Munn also managed to find a more accurate age of Arslan Kaya compared to previous estimations. As per his calculations, the stone-age structure was made during the early or middle 6th century BC.

The discovery came as a surprise for even Munn, who just visited the monument for inquisitive purposes. "I did not expect to discover anything new, only to see this monument, which is very worn and had been badly damaged by treasure seekers, before it was further damaged or destroyed," Munn said. "But I was luckily able to see certain details that had not been seen or accurately reported before," he added.