The depictions of Gods and goddesses on cylinder seals and seal impressions in the Anatolian style uncovered at Kültepe

Anatolia, with its geopolitical position as well as its underground and surface riches, has been a significant geography since ancient times. The rulers of the Assyrian City-State, aware of Anatolia's strategic wealth, made trade agreements with the Anatolian kings at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. These agreements made Anatolia an attractive trade center and facilitated the transfer of Anatolia's riches to Assyria through trade. This period of international trade between Anatolia and Assyria is called the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period (1974-1719 BC), with Kültepe (Kaniş) near Kayseri being the unofficial capital of these activities in Anatolia. Excavations in Kültepe have brought to light thousands of archaeological artifacts. Among these unique artifacts, which provide information about the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period and the societies of Anatolia and Assyria, are cylinder seals and seal impressions belonging to the locals and Assyrian merchants. Research shows that the seals exhibit stylistic differences in many aspects and carry significant information about the cultures they belong to, particularly in religious and mythological scenes. The religious and mythological scenes depicted on the seals provide important insights into both the Anatolian and Mesopotamian pantheons. This study attempts to make some evaluations on the depictions of gods and goddesses seen on the cylinder seals and seal impressions unearthed in the ancient settlement of Kültepe in Anatolia.