In addition to some of the highlights of the modern city, we visited the Temple of Augustus and the priceless collection of Hittite artifacts in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. This museum is often referred to as the Hittite Museum. The Temple of Augustus, shown above, was built about 20 B.C. when Ankara was known as Ancyra and was in the province of Galatia. The deeds of Augustus are recorded on the outside wall in Greek, and on the inside wall in Latin. Augustus is referred to as DIVI in Latin and THEOS in Greek. Worship of the emperors was widespread in Asia Minor. This information helps us with our understanding of the setting of the book of Revelation.
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is a small, but very impressive museum. This is because of the great collection of Hittie artifacts. There is one large room devoted to Neo-Hittite reliefs from Carchemish on the Euphrates River. Carchemish was the site of the defeat of the Assyrian Empire in 605 B.C. The photo below shows a three-head sphinx. It is a winged lion with the head of a bird of prey on the tail. On top of the head is a human head wearing a conical hat. Composite images such as this were common during Old Testament times. An understanding of this helps us with our study of the apocalyptic books of the Bible, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation.
In the afternoon we headed south to the region of Cappadocia, or as they call it s here, Kappadokia. More tomorrow, hopefully.
Ferrell's Travel Blog 