Jun
16
2021

JSA paper on Cosmic Symbolism at Yazılıkaya

The Journal of Skyscape Archaeology (JSA) today published a major scientific article about cosmic symbolism at the Hittite rock sanctuary Yazılıkaya near Hattusa. Accordingly, the sanctuary in its entirety represents a symbolic image of the cosmos, including its static levels (earth, sky, underworld) and the cyclical processes of renewal and rebirth (day/night, lunar phases, summer/winter). Static levels and celestial cyclicities are emphasised throughout the sanctuary.…

Mar
01
2021

Proceedings of SEAC Conference in Graz 2018

The European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC) published the proceedings of the SEAC 2018 Conference in Graz under the title “Harmony and Symmetry. Celestial regularities shaping human culture”. The 440-page book is edited by Sonja Draxler, Max E. Lippitsch and Gudrun Wolfschmidt. It contains a contribution by Eberhard Zangger and Rita Gautschy entitled “The Hittite Rock Sanctuary of Yazılıkaya: A Time-Keeping Device from c.…

Feb
01
2021

Board Meeting of Luwian Studies – one year after

A year ago today, the last meeting of the board of Luwian Studies took place in Zurich in the form of a personal get-together. Scholars from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, the USA and even China came together in Zurich to hear Dr. Tijmen Pronk lecture about Indo-European and Anatolian languages, to have stimulating conversations and to enjoy an unforgettable dinner at the Hotel Savoy, which…

May
28
2020

Statement by the Foundation Board of Luwian Studies

It has come to the attention of the Luwian Studies foundation that some social media posts have expressed a belief that the Alevi religious community may be descendants of the ancient Luwians. Although we have great respect for the Alevis, it is not possible that they are related to Luwians. The term Luwian refers to the city states and petty kingdoms that existed during the…

Feb
26
2020

Lecture by Dr. Tijmen Pronk on Indo-European and Anatolian languages

Dr. Tijmen Pronk from the Institute for Comparative Indo-European Linguistics at the University of Leiden gave a highly exciting lecture on “Indo-European, Anatolian and the Secondary Products” at the invitation of the Luwian Studies Foundation and the Institute for Comparative Linguistics at the University of Zurich on January 31, 2020. The topic coincides perfectly with the foundation’s goal of researching the Middle and Late Bronze…

Feb
26
2020

Meeting with linguist and translator Izzet Erten

During Eberhard Zangger’s lecture tour inTurkey in November 2019, a fortuitous meeting with Izzet Erten, the Turkish translator of Zangger’s (and various co-authors’) scientific work of of the past years, came about. Izzet Gokhan Erten works most of the time as a project manager in Myanmar. Thanks to his background and career as a linguist, he has the competence to precisely translate complex scientific publications…