Emirgazi Castle: A Hittite Legacy in Konya

Arısama Castle, known as Emirgazi Castle, is located on the highest peak of the mountain and at a point where it dominates the whole area. 

Most of the castle walls have been destroyed, but the height of the surviving section reaches two meters in some places. Four of the altars have Luwian hieroglyphic inscriptions. In one of them, the name of Tuthalyav IV is mentioned. From this, we can assume that Emirgazi was within the borders of Tuthalya's dominion during the Hittite Period. Because one of the inscriptions contains the following information, which was dictated by Tuthalya: “I enthroned the holy mountain (and) I placed (these) monuments of victory, and I placed this altar for myself to the fore.” In the continuation of his inscription, the king gives instructions on sacrificial offerings and mentions divine punishments for their abandonment.

Another interesting piece of information here is the damnations and curses that are made in case these inscriptions are destroyed or demolished. Since damnation and cursing are seen especially in Assyrian inscriptions, it is very interesting that such sentences are also mentioned in Emirgazi inscriptions. The region was under the rule of the Tabal Kingdom in the Iron Age, and Cappadocia in the Antiquity. Emirgazi and its surroundings were defined as Adristama (Arısama) during the Byzantine Period.