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Pessinous: Sacred City of the Anatolian Mother Goddess |
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reviewed by Dilek Aydemir |
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Author: Inge Clearhout & John Devreker |
ISBN:
978-9944-483-20-9 |
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Publisher:
Homer Kitabevi |
Page:
192 |
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Type:
Paperback |
Price:
$ 18 |
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Review: |
"The image of Mother in Pessinous was said to be so ancient that it was not made by human hands, but had fallen from the sky. This later gave rise to a suggested etymology for the site that the name Pessinous derived from the circumstance of the image's falling ('pesein' meaning 'to fall')".
The volume, titled "Pessinous: The Sacred City of Anatolian Mother Goddess Kybele," is the seventh of the Homer Archeological Guides and presents the story of the excavations which revealed the ancient city of Pessinous in Turkey. The volume does not only establish a lively picture of Inge Clearhout and John Devreker's journey in bringing the city to light, but it also provides a detailed guide for future archeologists or those curious about this sacred city of Anatolian Mother Goddess Kybele. The book is the collaborate work of Clearhout and Devreker, two highly regarded archeologists in their field.
The book is basically composed of seven parts, which include information on the landscape and situation of the city, historical background of the area, and four decades of excavations which aimed to find the sacred city. Moreover, these parts also include an in-depth exploration of the site, prospection, and the myth of Kybele and Attis, as well as a brief display of the places to see in the vicinity of the excavation site. As it can be easily realized, the book presents a comprehensive exploration of the site, differing from the traditional guidebooks which only focus on findings or historical aspects of the sites, undervaluing the diverse dimensions of the excavations.
The volume is supported by two extensive along with numerous little maps and first describes the exact place of the city of Pessinious in Turkey. As it is presented by the authors, Pessinious, the sacred city of Anatolian Mother Goddess Kybele, is positioned on the Anatolian upland, 150 km southwest of the capital city of Ankara. Most parts of the city are basically located in the village of Ballihisar which is in the province of Eskisehir, in the district of Sivrihisar. The establishment of the site in this area is traced back in history and estimated to be 800-700 BC. According to tradition, the site dates back to the Phrygian era, in which the city of Pessinous was established as a cult site and settlement. It is also assumed in legends that King Midas founded the city of Pessinous and erected the first statue of Kybele in the city in the 8th century BC (Claerhout & Devreker, 2008). Pessinous, which was sought by numerous archeologists as a result of its prominence in the history, was found as a result of the excavations pursued by the Belgian Archeological teams of Ghent University. According to Ghent University archeologists, the excavations were specifically on evolution of the cult of the Anatolian Mother Goddess Kybele, who has long been a prominent figure in the history of a number of empires(Pessinous Excavations Project Website, 2009). Moreover, the Hellenic, Roman, and Byzantine times of Anatolia are also of importance for the archeologists who worked on the Pessinous excavations.
According to the book, the history of the site dates back to the Phrygian era 'as a cult site and settlement (Claerhout & Devreker, 2008). Since a religious role was assigned to the site in its history it remained independent for most of its history. The myth of Kybele was transferred to the Roman Empire in one of the Roman Empire's battles against Hannibal, the most powerful commander of the age, in search of victory. As a result of the spread of the cult of Kybele in the Roman Empire, Pessinous appeared in Roman history as a significant and famous site. Until the rise of Christianity in the Empire at the end of 4th century, the Kybele kept its prominence for Romans as well.
Beyond what has been mentioned, the book also covers the exploration of the site which focuses on the structural design of the city of Pessinous in detail. Considering this exploration, the city consists of a unique canalization system, a temple area-including several temples-theatres, ancient burial sites and a Byzantine Fortress. As is seen, the authors convey their in-depth analysis of Pessinous which they developed during their inquiries on the site.
The authors, who carried their years-long experiences into the excavations at Pessinous, also give their analyses on the comparisons of the site with the other archeological sites in terms of their historical relevance to each other, resemblance of the architecture, and the unique characteristics of the edifices in these sites. Thus, the reader not only receives an in-depth presentation of the site, but also finds a chance to make comparisons between the diverse archeological sites which are prominent in Anatolian history.
With the above mentioned characteristics, the volume is a comprehensive and lively source for archeologists who wonder about the significant aspects of the sacred city of Anatolian Mother Kybele as well as excavations in the Pessinous. Moreover, the historical and present day information given in the book also creates a precious guide for the visitors who would like to know more beyond the surface aspects of the ancient cities. Since the different parts of the book include lively pictures of the city and of the statues, which are still present in the site, the reader will hopefully get the feeling of visiting the city more than passively reading an archeological guide.
References:
Clearhout I. & Devreker J. (2008) Pessinous, Sacred City of the Anatolian Mother Goddess. Istanbul:Homer Kitabevi.
Pessinous Excavations Project Website, retrieved on April 15, 2009, from;
http://www.archaeology.ugent.be/pessinus/
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about book: |
These archeological guides are written by well known archeologists with the thought that they might evoke the spirit of these places for those who are interested in remains of Anatolian civilizations. Illustrated with beautiful photographs, equipped with helpful plans and drawings, they are essential to travelers to Turkey.
Pessinous, the sacred city of Anatolian Mother Goddess Kybele, is situated centrally on the Anatolian plateau, about 150 km southwest of the capital Ankara. A major part of the ancient city is situated under the modern village of Ballihisar. According to tradition, the site dates back to the Phrygian era as a cult site and settlement. The famous King Midas himself is supposed to have founded Pessinous and erected the first sanctuary of Kybele in the 8th century BC. The cult of the Mother Goddess spread first across the Greek world and then from Pessinous throughout the Roman Empire, and conquered the classical world.
The excavations that have been carried out at the site since 1967 by the Belgian Archaeological teams of Ghent University have unearthed the heart of ancient Pessinous.
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