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
Nos. xxviii.-xxix. There remain the sculptures which decorate the inner
frontage-wall of this doorway, that is, the first wall confronting
any one passing out from the citadel. On the right hand, the nearest
sculptures are a pair of deer drawn only in outline, one upon each of
two blocks of stone. The animals are turned towards one another, but the
nearer one is looking backwards, so that both their faces are looking
towards the entrance. On the opposite side, that is to the east, there
are three sculptures on separate blocks of stone.
No. xxx. Of these three the first,[673] which is carved on the same
block as the man with clubs (No. xxvii.) just described, is a complex
monstrous figure. The body is apparently that of a lion, with mouth
open and tail erect. A wing rises from behind the shoulder, and in the
drawing is continuous with the conventional outline of the shoulder
muscles. Upon the neck there rises the head of a human-being wearing
the close skull-cap, the front brim of which upturns. The features are
those familiar in the preceding sculptures, and the Hittite curl behind
the neck is not omitted. A broad band, decorated in three rows, is
shown around the neck. It is unfortunate that the stone shows signs of
weathering, and little detail can be made out, for the representation is
unique; and though the drawing is crude, it is not altogether inelegant.
No. xxxi. The next stone is not decorated, but upon the second from the
corner is the picture of a warrior, with shield and spear similar to
those two previously described (Nos. iii. and xvii.). The only detail
which may be added is the appearance of a tassel hanging from the peak
of his conical hat.
No. xxxii. After a similar interval there appears the last sculpture of
this wall, in which, though much weathered and hardly traceable, we seem
to see the picture of a hunter holding up a rabbit with his left hand and
brandishing a long spear in his right. He seems to wear a tall helmet,
but other details are obscure.
Having now completed a survey of the sculptures decorating the inner
walls of this entrance on either side of the doorway, we pass outside,
where there were found several interesting carvings which seem to
have decorated the outer flanking walls, and were seen therefore in
approaching the entrance to the citadel from the south. On the right hand
side, that closest the corner was decorated with an animal figure now
no longer visible, while on a small stone (No. xxxiii.) placed above it
there seems to be the picture of a dog, which is equally destroyed. The
next four, however, are more plain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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