Yerkapi Rampart Staircase

This is a view looking up the eastern staircase, that leads up to the top of the Rampart of Yerkapi. There is a similar staircase on the western side.

The massive Rampart of Yerkapi ("gate in the earth"), was built at the south end of Hattusha.  It is about 115 feet high and 820 feet wide.  It is constructed of packed dirt that was covered with stones.  On the west and east sides are stairways that lead up to the Sphinx Gate

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Since this is the only place at Hattusha that has such a Rampart, its function was probably not defensive.  It may have been built for ceremonial purposes and/or to impress people approaching Hattusha from the south.

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