Scholarly debate
Dietrich suggests that the large bird holding a snake may give the composition a narrative character; the account presents this as a possibility, not an established reading.
OBJECT RECORD · ESTABLISHED · CHECKED 2026-10-23
Pillar 56
Göbekli Tepe · Enclosure H
Motifs in cited sourcesBirdSnakeLarge feline
Pillar 56
No object-specific openly licensed photograph found
Record
| Site | Göbekli Tepe |
|---|---|
| Enclosure | Enclosure H |
| Location now | In the eastern ring wall of Enclosure H at Göbekli Tepe |
| Dating | Enclosure H is assigned to the PPNA (10th millennium BC) in a DAI excavation newsletter. |
| Dimensions | Excavated height 2.15 m; shaft width 0.94 m; head measures 1.55 m. |
What is carved
The German Archaeological Institute describes the southwestern broad face as densely covered with 55 animals. It records ducks, snakes, cranes, likely felids, and a bird of prey holding a snake; the species of some silhouettes remain uncertain. A bucranium accompanied by two snakes appears on a narrow side.
Interpretations
Related pillars and finds
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