A joint international mission has unearthed a pristine 2,200-Year-Old temple dedicated to the Luwian-Hittite storm god Tarhunz in the highlands of Eastern Turkey. The sanctuary features a series of bas-relief friezes depicting the deity battling a giant serpent, accompanied by Luwian hieroglyphic inscriptions that provide a rare look into the linguistic survival of Hittite traditions into the Hellenistic era.
The site’s high altitude helped preserve the stone carvings from significant erosion. Archaeologists have also found a cache of bronze votive lightning bolts, which were likely offered by local farmers seeking rain and protection from storms. This discovery highlights the persistence of ancient Anatolian religious identities even after the region came under Greco-Roman influence.