The mixed creatures of the bull-human and lion-human and their depictions, from the beginning to the middle of the first millennium B.C. in old anatolian art

Human-animal hybrid beings are known since Upper Paleolithic Era. It is seen intensely in Mesapotamian, Elamite, North Syrian and Egyptian art since the third millenium BCE. In the beginnng of the second millenium, trading, social and cultural relations have increased between Anadolu with Mesopotamia and North Syria. As result of these relations, Syrian, Egyptian and Mesopotamian art and style features had an impact on Anatolian art. Bull-man and lion-man hybrid creatures have begun to show up in depicted artworks. These are seen in Assyrian Trading Colinies Age's whole cylinder seal styles and stamp seal impressions specially. Human and bull heads depicted vessel which unearthed from Çatalhöyük, actually points much more earlier existance of bull-man hybrid creature in Anatolia. In spite of being the only example, it can be said that bull-man fact crossed the regions in point. Piece was made from mammoth tooth dating back to 30-40.000 before present day and obtained from Hohlenstein-Stadel Cave in Germany is the earliest bull-man hybrid creature depiction. Both hybrid creature types have been seen in depicted artworks obtained from Kültepe, Alişar, Acenhöyük and Konya Karahöyük in Assyrian Trading Colonies Age; from Boğazköy, Esiyapar and Elbistan Karahöyük in Old Hittite art; from Boğazköy, Alacahöyük, İmamkulu and Eflatunpınar in Hittite Imperial era; and from Karkamış, Zincirli, Karatepe and Malatya Arslantepe. In this work, bull-man and lion-man hybrid creature depictions are discussed typologically in a detailed way and came under review. In this work, it have been seen that hybrid creatures in point have many different types and functions. Bull-man hybrid creatures are seen in four main types as bull-man/demon, human headed bull, human head with bull horns and ears and bull with human arms and back with cone. These types are separated into subgroups. Lion-man hybrid creatures are in four main types as lion-man, lion-man with wings, man with a human head and a lion head and double lion headed man. In depicted artworks both mythologic hybrid creatures show up as deification, warrior, guard (watchman), worshipper or divine figures. Key Words: Anatolia, hybrid creatures, lion-man/demon, bull-man.