Sphinx Gate

A view looking north at the exterior of the Sphinx Gate that is located at the top of the Rampart of Yerkapi.  The Sphinx Gate is located in the middle of the southern city wall that runs along the top of the Yerkapi artificial bank.  The gate led through a tower.

Each of the four door jambs had sphinxes, but only this one is (partially) preserved.  The sphinxes were almost three dimensional, with the front of the bodies looking outward.  On their sides, they had high wings and long upright tails.  They were badly damaged by fire in ancient times and were dismantled for restoration in 1907 and are now kept in the Museums of Istanbul and Berlin.

The gate was constructed during the period of the Hittite Empire (1360–1180 B.C.).