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
It seems more likely, from the sculptures which follow, that he is
simply refreshing himself with wine. The series is continued, but not
upon the same face of the wall; for the stone upon which the priest-king
is carved proved to be the corner-stone, marking the return of the inner
wall of the wing-tower on that side. On this inner wall two further
sculptures are found on two separate slabs. With these the series comes
to an end, though it is not clear that the actual corner of the tower is
indicated by this discontinuity. Both figures are those of men: both are
carved with noticeable skill, and remarkably preserved. They seem to be
attendants in the palace or personal servants of the king, for they are
clad alike and carry in their hands objects for the king’s use. Their
dress is a long robe with a fringe-like band some little way above the
hem. Their feet are shod with sandals, the toes of which are slightly
upturned. They wear no ornaments, and round their heads there is only a
plain fillet ending in a fringed bow. Both stand facing to their right,
following their leader, with their right feet advanced, their right arms
extended, and the left arms held up by the side of the body. The leader
holds up in his right hand what seems to be a fly-whisk, while with
his left he holds a pendent object like a piece of leather or ribbon
ending in a fringe. This probably explains the representation on the
corresponding stone on the opposite side, and it is significant that it
seems to have no connection with the dagger, which is suspended from his
waist by an attachment passing over the right shoulder. It is interesting
to note also that this stone seems to have been carved _in situ_, for
part of the whisk is found upon the corner-stone which precedes it,
while the end of the dagger is found in like manner on the stone which
follows. The second figure holds aloft a bird carved like a vulture, but
from its size and the general nature of the subject it must be taken for
a falcon.[694] In his left hand the falconer holds the ‘lure,’ a sling,
to which there was generally attached a bell or similar object, to be
thrown after the bird to attract it to return. This person also carries a
dagger, suspended in like manner by an attachment which passes over the
right shoulder, and is connected with the sheath appropriately at two
points. The handle of this dagger is peculiar, suggesting a small notch
in the metal between the hilt and the blade.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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