New Hittite Hieroglyphic Seals from the Plain of Antioch in the Hatay Museum
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ANATOLICA XXXVIII, 2012 NEW HITTITE HIEROGLYPHIC SEALS FROM THE PLAIN OF ANTIOCH IN THE HATAY MUSEUM Ali Dinçol*, Belkıs Dinçol and Hasan Peker (Istanbul University) Introduction During the preparations of the publication of the stelae of Arsuz (Iskenderun), which had been transferred from their original find spot in the grounds of the Naval Base to the garden of the Archaeological Museum of Hatay, we determined that some new hieroglyphic Hittite seals1 had been acquired by the museum since our last publication of the collections stored in the same museum in the year 1983 (Dinçol 1983). The following study, which is complementary to the above-mentioned article, is dedicated to our dear colleague and friend Professor Aslıhan Yener at the Koç University. 1. INVENTORY NUMBER 4811 Photo 1a, 1b; Fig. 1a, 1b. Diameter: 1.95 cm. Thickness: 0.9 cm. Description: Biconvex button seal of buff colored stone, rim without grooves, perforated through the axis. One side inscribed with hieroglyphs, the other bears ornaments or symbols. Side A: The hieroglyphic signs representing the name of the seal owner are placed on the perpendicular axis of the seal as follows: L.447-L.439-L.80. On the vocalization of the first sign there is a discussion in the recent studies (Dinçol-Dinçol 2008: No. 249, 250, 251; Hawkins 2000: 33, 104) whether it should be a or i. Thus, the name can be read as na5/nix-wa/i-SARMA (Na/i-wa/i-Šarruma). On the right side there are the signs L.370 (BONUS2) over L.386 (VIR2), on the left the sign for SCRIBA (L.326) is also placed under L.370 (BONUS2). Side B: This side bears unidentifiable remains of symbols or ornaments. The seal dates to the 13th century BC. * During the editing of this volume the sad news reached us that Professor Ali Dinçol had passed away. Anatolica will remember him as an esteemed author and colleague. 1 We are very thankful for the collaboration of the former Director of the Museum Faruk Kılınç, and the museum assistants Demet Kara and Ömer Çelik. 192 ALI DINÇOL,BELKIS DINÇOL AND HASAN PEKER 2. INVENTORY NUMBER 4994 Photo 2a, 2b; Fig. 2a, 2b. Find Spot: Surface find from Tell Judaidah. Diameter: 2.15 cm. Thickness: 1.05 cm. Description: Biconvex button seal of black-gray colored stone, perforated through the axis. Both sides inscribed. Side A: The hieroglyphs of the name are placed on the perpendicular axis of the seal as follows: L.376+L.383-L.176-L.35 which can be read as za/i+ra/i-la-na. This name is hitherto not attested. On both sides of the name there are probably badly drawn and partly damaged figures of pithoi, which reflect the title of the seal owner (PITHOS). This title is frequently encountered in Hittite glyptics (Hawkins apud Herbordt 2005: 305ff.; Dinçol-Dinçol 2008: 70f.). Side B: The hieroglyphs of the name consist of L.334-L.14-L.35, which can be read as pa-para/i-na. Although the name is not attested as yet, a similar name Papparzina exists (NH 934). On the left side of the name there are unidentifiable traces which could be interpreted as L.376, in which case the name could also be read as Papparzina. The seal dates to the end of the 13th century BC. 3. INVENTORY NUMBER 7976 Photo 3; Fig. 3. Height: 2.1 cm. Diameter of the Bulla: 1.9 cm. Diameter of the Impression: 1.6 cm. Diameter of the Central Field: 0.7 cm. Description: Conical clay bulla, perforated point broken off, impression flat. The flat clay impression, most probably originating from a metallic tripod or a flat sided stone disc, displays a rim decorated by a chain of alternating triangles and floral motives with three leaves around the rather small central area with hieroglyphic signs. The name of the seal owner is reflected by the signs L.19-L.110-L.215-L.461/462. These signs give the name a-ma-ha-pá?. The value of the last sign is discussed by several authors and is not yet certain (Dinçol-Dinçol 2008: 24; Hawkins 2000: 36-37). It is also possible that this sign could be interpreted as a title. This seal can be dated to the 13th century BC. ANATOLICA XXXVIII, 2012 193 4. INVENTORY NUMBER 8438 Photo 4. Find Spot: Surface find from Tell Atchana. Height: 2.5 cm. Diameter of the Bulla: max. 3 cm. Diameter of the Impression: 2.4 cm. Diameter of the Central Field: 0.7 cm. Width of the Inner Frame: 0.3 cm. Width of the Outer Frame: 0.4 cm. Description: Conical clay bulla, perforated point broken off, impression flat. The central field, which bears hieroglyphs of the seal owner’s name, is rather small and is encircled with two frames. The inner frame is decorated with a spiral band and the outer one shows an elaborately made zigzag band. Unfortunately there are only illegible remains of signs. It can be dated to the last quarter of the 16th century. 5. INVENTORY NUMBER 9495 Photo 5a, 5b; Fig. 5a, 5b. Diameter: 1.9 cm. Thickness: 1.2 cm. Description: Biconvex button seal of black stone, rim profiled with two grooves, perforated through the axis. Both sides inscribed. Side A: On the rather erased surface of this side the following signs of the name can be detected on the perpendicular axis. The first sign can possibly be interpreted as L.29 and the following one as L.439. Thus the name can be read as Tawa/i. On the left edge the signs BONUS2.VIR2 can be seen. Side B: This side contains most probably the same name and symbols, but they are more difficult to decipher than the former. The seal dates to the second half of the 13th century BC. 194 ALI DINÇOL,BELKIS DINÇOL AND HASAN PEKER 6. INVENTORY NUMBER 15763 Photo 6a, 6b; Fig. 6a, 6b. Diameter: 1.35 cm. Thickness: 1.1 cm. Description: Biconvex button seal of light colored limestone, rim profiled with two grooves, perforated through the axis. Both sides inscribed. The sealing surfaces have scale patterned frames. Side A: The uppermost sign must only be a symbol (a badly drawn VITA?). The hieroglyphs of the name are placed on the perpendicular axis in the following order: L.322/323-L.215-L.334 (PURUS-he-pa=Kummiya-Hepa). The initial sign PURUS is read šuppi- in Hittite and kumma-/kummi- in cuneiform Luwian (for the discussions see: Boehmer-Güterbock 1987: Nr. 215; Hawkins apud Herbordt 2005: 299, 435; Hawkins 2011: 101). Although this name has not been encountered hitherto, personal names like fKummiya, Kummiyaziti/Kummayaziti are documented both in cuneiform and hieroglyphic sources (NH 623, 621; Boehmer-Güterbock 1987: Nr. 215; Herbordt 2005: Nr. 174, 175; Dinçol-Dinçol 2008: Kat. 141, 271). The signs BONUS2.FEMINA are placed on both sides of the name. Side B: The composition of the hieroglyphs of this side is identical with the former, except the uppermost symbols. On both sides there is a small circle on the left of the hieroglyphs of the name. The seal dates to the 13th century BC. 7. INVENTORY NUMBER 15964 Photo 7a, 7b; Fig. 7a, 7b. Diameter: 2.15 cm. Thickness: 1.2 cm. Description: Biconvex button seal of black stone, partly damaged, rim profiled with two superficial grooves, perforated through the axis. Both sides inscribed. Side A: The hieroglyphic signs of the name of the seal owner are placed on the perpendicular axis in the following order: L.445-L.178-L41-L19 (la/i/u-la+ra+a-tà-á). This should be read because of the sign L.19 put at the end as Ala(/i/u)larata. The name is flanked on both sides with the sign L.289 (AURIGA). At the utmost right edge near the title there is also the sign L.386 (VIR2). Between the last sign and the title on the left edge a decorative element, possibly stylized vegetation, can be seen. Side B: On this side the hieroglyphs of the name are placed in the same order as on the former side. The sign VIR2 is put near the title on the left side. Here one can see the same floral symbol and another decorative element at the bottom. On the right side there is the sign L.370 (BONUS2), the title under it is broken off. We are not able to explain the existence of the three vertical strokes in the sign L.19. The seal can be dated to the second half of the 13th century BC. ANATOLICA XXXVIII, 2012 195 8. INVENTORY NUMBER 16762 Photo 8a, 8b; Fig. 8a, 8b. Diameter: 3.5 cm. Thickness: 1.7 cm. Description: Biconvex button seal of brilliant black stone, rim profiled with two grooves, perforated through the axis. Both sides inscribed. Side A: The sealing surface which bears the hieroglyphic signs is encircled by a simple line. The signs are placed from top to bottom on the perpendicular axis of which the third one represents the full body of a mule (L.100). To our knowledge this is the first representation of L.100 with its full body. Therefore it is plausible to transcribe this sign as ASINUS3.This figure which covers almost the half of the sealing surface is the first element of the personal name. Over the back of the animal’s figure and under its belly are placed the other signs in the following order: L.41-L175-L.450.