The land of the Hittites : $b An account of recent explorations and discoveries in Asia Minor, with descriptions of the Hittite monumentsGarstang, John
History
The land of the Hittites : $b An account of recent explorations and discoveries in Asia Minor, with descriptions of the Hittite monuments
Garstang, John
Hittites; Turkey -- Antiquities
The worshippers (_m_) are three in number, and seem to be all similar
to one another; unfortunately their faces are obliterated. They stand
with one foot forward, which is probably the right, as they are turned
to the left towards the goddess. They seem to be clad in the toga-like
garment, as worn by the priest and his attendants in the corresponding
scene on the opposite side. The front edge of this garment, however, is
bordered in some way and so prominently displayed that it has misled
many observers. The right arms of these figures are advanced with
hands uplifted.[618] The left elbow is by the side and bent, and the
hand, opposite the middle of the chest, clasps a straight staff about
its middle, with the upper end resting upon the shoulder in a natural
position. The top end does not curve (as suggested by M. Guillaume’s
drawing), and if there was any embellishment it was in the addition
near the middle of the crescental object seen better on a sculpture
(_a_²) in the left hand of the approach, which is described below. The
feature is not clear in this case, however. This block is followed by a
third (_n_) still _in situ_, on which there may be faintly made out the
representations of three other figures similar to those which precede.
The next block (_o_) is out of place, and somewhat lower than those of
this façade: none the less it is sufficiently near in position and in
size for it to be probable that it followed next in the series. Upon it
there is depicted with magnificent realism a bull,[619] with lowered
head, as in the act of charging or preparing to toss. Another stone
(_p_), though at hand, is separated from its neighbours, and standing now
on end, does duty as the jamb of a doorway into the public wash-house of
the village. This is carved with equally vigorous realism, the subject
being a lion holding down a ram with his forefeet; the hind legs, too,
are outstretched as though he had not recovered from his spring. The
tail is down and curls outwards. The lion faces left, and the ram is
transverse to the latter’s profile. This block must have served as
corner-stone, from the analogy of similar monuments at Sakje-Geuzi[620]
and elsewhere, in which the body of the lion is carved in relief, with
the head and forepart in the round. Upon his back there is to be seen
a squared surface for the reception of the upper corner-stone. In this
case the ram also is in high relief, with head in the round, as the
length of its body corresponds with the thickness of the stone.[621] The
treatment of detail on the flank and quarters of the ram obeys a definite
Hittite convention, which is further illustrated by the two loose stones
recently discovered. These were found[622] below and in front of the
lower frontage-wall on the left (_x_, _y_). Each is carved in an upper
and lower register. On the one, in the upper part, a man is represented
kneeling, taking aim with bow and arrow against a wild boar which is
charging him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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