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This photograph is an example of the high relief carving that surrounds the temple's podium. On the left is an Egyptianising winged sphinx, while on the right is a lion, a very typical Hittite decorative device. Interestingly, scholars believe that it was the Hittites who introduced artistic elements such as the sphinx into Anatolia (Turkey). It was from here that the Ionian Greeks, who lived along the western seaboard of Turkey came into contact with these elements. Indeed, the curled hair of the sphinx is seen as the inspiration of the Ionic column capital which came to typify Classical Greek architecture.
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