Tyana-origin artifacts in the Niğde Museum

The ancient city of Tyana has been one of the important cities of the Cappadocia region throughout history. Opening to Central Anatolia from the Cilician Gates, Tyana served as the capital of the region during the Late Hittite and Roman periods. According to written sources, the existence of the ancient city of Tyana, known before the Hittite Kingdom, has been proven through excavation studies that it was inhabited during the Early Bronze Age. The most significant group of findings obtained from the excavations belongs to the Roman and Byzantine periods. Many of the artifacts obtained from the conducted excavations have been transferred to museums. A study has been conducted to analyze the diversity of artifacts from the ancient city of Tyana and their periodic distributions by examining the findings collected in museums. The study first addresses the history of the city and the excavations and research conducted there, explaining the city's position throughout historical processes. In the second section, the artifacts in the museums are described, similar examples are researched, and historical suggestions are made. While making the descriptions, the artifacts have been grouped. Initially, the findings were grouped according to their raw materials, and then they were subdivided based on their types and areas of use. A general catalog study containing the artifacts in the museums has been conducted. Finally, a general evaluation was made to complete the study. When considering the findings as a whole, it has been definitively established that the ancient city of Tyana was a significant center in terms of religion. Additionally, there is ample evidence showing that due to its location, the city was situated on a dense trade network and was one of the important cities of the Cappadocia region from a geopolitical perspective.