The Hittite Sun Disc Monument ( tr, Hitit Güneş Kursu Anıtı) is a memorial dedicated to

Hittites The Hittites () were an Anatolian people who played an important role in establishing first a kingdom in Kussara (before 1750 BC), then the Kanesh or Nesha kingdom (c. 1750–1650 BC), and next an empire centered on Hattusa in north-centra ...

created by sculptor

Nusret Suman Mustafa Nusret Suman (21 March 1905, Veria – 15 August 1978, İzmit) was a Turkish sculptor and painter. He worked especially on portraits and monuments. His last work is the Hittite Sun Course Monument, which was the symbol of the city of Ank ...

, and placed in the

Sıhhiye Square Sıhhıye Square ( tr, Sıhhiye Meydanı) is a square in Ankara, Turkey. "''Sıhhiye''" is a Turkish word for "Health". Because the former main building of the Ministry of Health was facing Sıhhiye Square from the east. Formerly, it was also ca ...

in 1978.

History

It is a replica of a Hatti monument unearthed in excavations at Alacahöyük. In 1973, the symbol of the city was made by Mayor

Vedat Dalokay Vedat Dalokay (10 November 1927 – 21 March 1991) was a renowned Turkish architect and a former mayor of Ankara. Early life and education He was born in Elazığ in 1927 to İbrahim Bey from Pertek. He completed his elementary and seconda ...

. Examples of the ''Hittite Sun Disc'' from the tombs of the Hatti kings can be seen in the

Museum of Anatolian Civilizations The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations ( tr, Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi) is located on the south side of Ankara Castle in the Atpazarı area in Ankara, Turkey. It consists of the old Ottoman Mahmut Paşa bazaar storage building, and the Kurş ...

. The Hittite Sun Disc Monument was presented to the people of Ankara by the Anatolian Insurance Co. in 1977. The symbol of

Ankara University Ankara University ( tr, Ankara Üniversitesi) is a public university in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in Turkey after the formation of the republic in 1923. The university has 40 vocat ...

is the Sun Disc. This symbol is commonly regarded as belonging to the Hittite civilization and usually connotes Ankara and

Anatolia Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

. Hittite Sun Disc: Between 1977–1995, about 18 years is used as the symbol of Ankara Municipality. However, on June 29, 1995, this logo was amended as required by the decision of the Metropolitan Municipal Assembly of Ankara.

References

Monuments and memorials in Ankara Buildings and structures in Ankara Buildings and structures completed in 1978 1978 establishments in Turkey Colossal statues in Turkey Hittites Outdoor sculptures in Turkey {{Turkey-struct-stub