Arslan Kaya, the Lion Rock, is now believed to be dedicated to the Phrygian mother goddess Materan. Source: Ingeborg Simon / CC BY-SA 3.0.

Partial Decipherment of Arslan Kaya Monument Gives Its Goddess a Name

In the west of Turkey, in the highlands of ancient Phrygia stands a enigmatic tower of volcanic rock. Known as Arslan Kaya, it has intrigued scientists for generations. More than two and a half millennia old, the 15-meter-tall monument is nothing short of a work of art. Carved into the surface of “Lion Rock” as

The Statue of Liberty in 2000. Source: Jakub Hałun / CC BY 4.0.

The Statue of Liberty, and a Moment in History

There are few symbols of the US as well-known as the Statue of Liberty. The enormous neoclassical sculpture, 46 meters tall and clad in copper, may be the single most recognizable emblem of the United States worldwide. The statue itself is filled with meaningful touches. Her foot stands on a broken shackle, which remembers the