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Corum-Hattusas
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All the major early-Hittite sites lie in the province of
Corum in Bogazkale National Park, between Yozgat and the city
of Corum. Impressive double walls, which are situated by the
Royal Gate,the Lion Gate and the Yer Kapi (an underground
tunnel), ring the Hittite city of Hattusas, known today as
Bogazkale. This city, the Hittite religious center was known
as the City of Temples because over 70 temples stood there.
The largest ruins are those of the great temple of the storm
god Tesup. The Acropolis contained government buildings the
Imperial Palace and the archives of the Hittite Empire. In
1180 B.C the Phrygians devastated the city. After thorough
excavations at the site, the city walls are now being
extensively restored. |

Sphinx gate, Alacahoyuk |

Hatti idols, Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
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Yazilikaya, an open-air rock pantheon dating from the 13th
century B.C. contains fine reliefs of all the Hittite gods and
goddesses. Alacahoyuk, north of Bogazkale on the road to
Corum, was the center of the flourishing Hattian culture
during the Bronze Age. The magnificent Hattian gold and bronze
objects in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara
were found in the Royal Tombs of this period. All the
remaining ruins at Alacahoyuk,however, such as the Sphinx
Gate,date from the Hittite period.
Corum, an important city on the road from central Anatolia
to the Black Sea, produces the finest chickpeas in
Turkey.Significant historical buildings include the 13th
century Ulu Mosque and the 19th century clock tower.
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