Archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Attouda, located in the Denizli region of Türkiye, have uncovered a significant sanctuary dedicated to the Phrygian Mother Goddess Matar, also known as Kubela. This sacred site is estimated to be between 2,600 and 2,800 years old, dating back to the 8th to 6th centuries BCE. The discovery includes a monumental rock-cut structure, a sacred cave, and a unique twin stone idol, all central to the worship of this Anatolian goddess of fertility and abundance.
The findings at Attouda, situated on Asar Hill, the city's ancient acropolis, indicate a substantial religious complex where rituals honoring Matar were performed. This discovery is particularly noteworthy as stone idols dedicated to the Mother Goddess were previously found primarily in eastern Phrygia, in regions like Eskişehir, Afyonkarahisar, and Kütahya. The presence of such a sanctuary in Attouda, further west and closer to the Aegean Sea, significantly expands the known religious and cultural boundaries of the Phrygian civilization.
Associate Professor Bilge Yılmaz Kolancı from the Archaeology Department of Pamukkale University, who provided scientific guidance for the excavation, emphasized the importance of this find. She stated that the sanctuary and its artifacts serve as crucial primary sources, demonstrating that Phrygian spiritual beliefs extended much farther into western Anatolia than previously understood. The excavation was conducted under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism's "Heritage for the Future" program.
The sacred area also yielded numerous carved votive offerings, channels, and evidence of springs, suggesting ritualistic offerings of bread and water to symbolize fertility and abundance. Attouda itself has a rich history, serving as a strategic city between Caria and Phrygia and flourishing through the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The city even minted its own coins, indicating its economic and political importance.
The discovery of the Matar sanctuary adds a new dimension to Attouda's legacy, solidifying its role as a vital religious center. It offers deeper insights into the interactions between ancient civilizations, their deities, and their practices of honoring agricultural abundance and seeking divine favor. This unearthed sanctuary not only enriches our understanding of Phrygian spirituality but also highlights how ancient belief systems evolved and spread, connecting disparate regions through shared devotion to powerful maternal deities. The ongoing excavations at Attouda promise to unveil further layers of this ancient civilization's spiritual life and its broader impact on the Anatolian landscape.