29 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Exciting Discovery “Kybele Cave” in Anatolian Archeology

A cave determined to be from the Roman period was found in Kocaeli’s Kandıra district. It turned out that this cave was dedicated to the Mother Goddess Kybele, who had a special place in Anatolian culture.

It was announced that the altar in the cave, which is very important for Anatolian and world archeology, was stolen by illegal excavators and this unique altar was seized by the police forces.

The cave, which was discovered in Yağbolu locality of Hacılar village of Kandıra district, was found as a result of scientific studies conducted by Kocaeli Museum Directorate under the name of “Kandıra Kybelesi”.

It was revealed that a cave dedicated to the Mother Goddess Kybele (Goddess Kybele), which is classified among the most important goddesses of Anatolian culture, was discovered for the first time in the region.

According to the news in the İhlas News Agency, it was stated that with the discovery of the cave, a very important development was experienced for Anatolian and world archeology. It is noteworthy that the cave is covered with trees in the forest and located in an area near the water source, the water source, and pine trees around the cave, which are indispensable for “Kybele” cult ceremonies.

kandıra kybelesi
Kandira Kybele captured by Kocaeli Provincial Gendarmerie Command.

On the other hand, it was learned that an altar, which was determined to be kidnapped by the treasure hunters, was seized by the security teams. Scientific studies on the captured altar revealed that the altar was a unique work.

Kocaeli Provincial Gendarmerie Command teams reached the knowledge of people trying to sell the Kybele statue they found in the cave. As a result of the follow-up, the teams, which determined the identity of the historical artifact smuggler, carried out an operation to the specified address. The suspect named was taken into custody with the Roman period sculpture he was trying to sell. It was determined that the captured statue was the Kybele altar.

While the statue was handed over to the officials of the museum, the gendarmerie teams launched an investigation into the incident.

It is thought that the Kandira Kybelesi is a unique work from the Roman Period and it may have been produced by a local master.

Related Articles

A rare 3,300-year-old bronze helmet reaching the present from the Hittite Empire era

17 July 2022

17 July 2022

The 3,300-year-old bronze helmet, which was unearthed during the 2002 excavations in Şapinuva, one of the important cult centers of...

Trian Fountain to Be Revived After 1900 Years

17 April 2021

17 April 2021

The Trian fountain in the ancient city of Laodikeia in Denizli will be revived after 1900 years. CHP’s Merkezefendi Municipality...

Zeugma of the Black Sea to be will Restore

8 February 2021

8 February 2021

Hadrianaupolis Antique City is located 3 km west of Eskiyapar district of Karabük. This ancient city has been known as...

New Discoveries Made in World’s Oldest Ancient Shipyard

11 June 2024

11 June 2024

Associate Professor Hakan Öniz, who discovered the world’s largest and oldest shipyard dating back to the Bronze Age in 2015...

In the excavations at Tepecik Mound in Aydın, Türkiye, a palace-like structure dating back to the 13th century BCE was discovered

13 August 2023

13 August 2023

Excavations at Tepecik Mound in the Çine district of Aydın province, located in the western part of Turkey, revealed a...

The tomb of the “Bird Oracle Markos” was found in the ancient city of Pergamon

31 August 2022

31 August 2022

During the excavations carried out in the Ancient City of Bergama, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the...

Türkiye’s Neolithic Settlement Çayönü Hill Discovered New Tombs from Early Bronze Age

4 September 2023

4 September 2023

Archaeologists have unearthed 5 more tombs dating to the Early Bronze Age during the recent excavations on Çayönü Hill in...

A 12.000 -year-old temple was found during excavations in Boncuklu Tarla in southeastern Turkey

21 October 2021

21 October 2021

A temple thought to be 12 thousand years old was unearthed in Boncuklu Tarla in the Ilısu Neighborhood of Dargeçit...

In Bergama, the City of Greek Gods, the People Kept the Cult of Cybele Alive

25 August 2021

25 August 2021

The figurines of Cybele, the goddess of the fertility of Anatolia, and the presence of sanctuaries unearthed in the Ancient...

An olive workshop dating back to the 6th century was found in the ancient city of Dara

16 February 2022

16 February 2022

An olive workshop dating back to the 6th century was unearthed in the ancient city of Dara, one of the...

The colored skeletons of Çatalhöyük provide insight into the burial rituals of a fascinating society that lived 9000 years ago

18 March 2022

18 March 2022

New research provides new insights into how the inhabitants of the “oldest city in the world” in Çatalhöyük (Turkey) buried...

The latest excavations in the ancient city of Dülük will shed light on the history of different religions

11 October 2021

11 October 2021

It is thought that the ancient city of Dülük, one of the 25 oldest settlements in the world, will shed...

Pandemics Determined the Fate of Wars in Ancient Times

7 April 2021

7 April 2021

Epidemics have been one of the factors affecting the fate of wars throughout history. Epidemics have sometimes turned the fate...

A rare bronze talismanic healing bowl was discovered in Hasankeyf excavations

3 December 2023

3 December 2023

During the ongoing excavations in the Hasankeyf mound in Batman, one of the oldest settlements in the world, an 800-year-old...

The three-headed statue of Goddess Hecate discovered in Turkey’s Mersin

18 August 2023

18 August 2023

In the ancient city of Kelenderis in Mersin, located in the south of Turkey, the statue of the 3-headed goddess...