Karkamiš in the First Millennium Bc
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KARKAMIŠ IN THE FIRST MILLENNIUM B.C.: SCULPTURE AND PROPAGANDA A Master’s Thesis by KADRİYE GÜNAYDIN Department of Archaeology and History of Art Bilkent University Ankara May 2004 To my parents KARKAMIŠ IN THE FIRST MILLENNIUM B.C.: SCULPTURE AND PROPAGANDA The Institute of Economics and Social Sciences of Bilkent University by KADRİYE GÜNAYDIN In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART BILKENT UNIVERSITY ANKARA May 2004 I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate, in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Archaeology and History of Art. --------------------------------- Assoc. Prof. İlknur Özgen Supervisor I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate, in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Archaeology and History of Art. --------------------------------- Asst. Prof. Charles Gates Examining Committee Member I certify that I have read this thesis and have found that it is fully adequate, in scope and in quality, as a thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Archaeology and History of Art. --------------------------------- Assoc. Prof. Aslı Özyar Examining Committee Member Approval of the Institute of Economics and Social Sciences --------------------------------- Prof. Kürşat Aydoğan Director ABSTRACT KARKAMIŠ IN THE FIRST MILLENNIUM B.C.: Günaydın, Kadriye M.A., Department of Archaeology and History of Art Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. İlknur Özgen May 2004 This thesis examines how the monumental art of Karkamiš, which consists of architectural reliefs and free-standing colossal statues, was used by its rulers for their propaganda advantages. The basic geo-politic and ethnic factors related to Karkamiš and other “Syro-Hittite” city-states of the Iron Age are investigated in order to obtain insights about the meanings assigned to the monumental sculpture of Karkamiš. Architectural remains of the city and their sculptural decoration are studied and reviewed to provide a basis for subsequent discussions and statements. Monumental portal-lions, inscribed door-jambs and other reliefs placed on principal gate-ways, bearers of symbolic and functional meaning, demonstrate the essential role of these monumental gates for the city and its rulers to announce their ideologies. A close analysis of local monumental inscriptions provides us the link between the content of texts inscribed on large stone blocks and the themes represented on orthostat reliefs. Royal titles inscribed on monuments as well as a iii group of reliefs and statues associated with ancestral cult were used deliberately by the dynasties and rulers of the 1st millennium B.C. Karkamiš to show their own and their state’s connection to the past heritage, a key element in the search of identity. This case study on the Iron Age city of Karkamiš reveals the importance of socio-political factors in forming the basic characteristics of monumental art and in creating its special meanings and functions. Keywords: Karkamiš, Syro-Hittite, Neo-Hittite, city states, architecture, art, sculpture, orthostat reliefs, propaganda. iv ÖZET M.Ö. BİRİNCİ BİNYILDA KARKAMIŠ: HEYKELVE PROPAGANDA Günaydın, Kadriye Master, Arkeoloji ve Sanat Tarihi Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi: Doç. Dr. İlknur Özgen Mayıs 2004 Bu tez, Karkamiš’ın mimari taş kabartmacılığı ve anıtsal heykellerden oluşan sanatının şehrin yöneticileri tarafından propaganda amacıyla nasıl kullanıldığını irdelemektedir. Karkamiš ve diğer “Suriye-Hitit” şehir devletlerinin Demir Çağ’daki jeopolitik konumu ve etnik yapısı, Karkamiš’ın anıtsal sanatına yüklenen özel anlamı ortaya çıkartması açısından büyük önem taşır. Şehrin gerek mimari kalıntılarının, gerekse kabartma ve heykel dekorasyonuna ait buluntularının gözden geçirilmesi ve tanımı düşünce ve yorumlarımız için temel oluşturmaktadır. Özel sembolik ve fonksiyonel anlamlar taşıyan anıtsal kapı aslanları, yazıtla kaplı kapı pervazları ve kapı girişlerine yerleştirilen diğer taş kabartmalar bize bu anıtsal kapıların kentin kendisi ve ideolojilerini yansıtması açısından onun yöneticileri için önemini göstermektedir. Karkamiš’ın anıtsal yazıtlarının incelenmesi bize metinlerin içeriği ve büyük taş bloklar üzerindeki kabartmaların temaları arasındaki uyumu ve bağlantıyı göstermektedir. Anıtlar üzerine kaydedilen kraliyet ünvanları ve atalara tapma v töreniyle ilişkilendirilen bir grup rölyef ve heykel, bir kimlik arayışı içinde olan devletlerini ve kendilerini tarihi bir miras ile ilişkilendirmek isteyen hanedan ve krallarca kullanmıştır. Demir Çağ’daki Karkamiš şehri üzerine olan bu çalışmamız bize sosyo- politik faktörlerin anıtsal sanatın temel karakterlerini nasıl oluşturduğunu ve ona nasıl özel bir anlam ve işlev yüklediğini göstermektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Kargamış, Suriye Hitit, Geç Hitit, şehir devletleri, mimari, sanat, heykel, taş rölyef , kabartma, propaganda. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Assoc. Prof. İlknur Özgen, my advisor, for enabling me to choose this topic and for her advice, insight, encouragement and guidance all through the thesis. As a mentor she has also provided me with sincere inspiration and gracious compassion. I am also grateful to the members of my jury, Asst. Prof. Charles Gates and Assoc. Prof. Aslı Özyar, for their valuable comments. I am deeply indebted to late Norbert Karg for his unforgettable, valuable work with me, who first introduced and made me keen on Near Eastern and Anatolian art and archaeology. Thanks are also due to all my teachers in the department, Assoc. Prof. Marie- Henriette Gates, Asst. Prof. Julian Bennett, Asst. Prof. Yaşar Ersoy, Dr. Jacques Morin, and Benni Claasz Coockson. I also would like to thank Dr. Thomas Zimmermann, who kindly helped me in translating some German texts. I am deeply grateful to my mother, father and brother, who let me be free in what I wanted to study, and intimately supported me in all of my choices. I owe a lot to their support, love, trust and patience. Finally my friends, to whom I owe much: Nehriban, Gülsüm, Hakkı, and Nurşen who were my morale boosters. I also would like to thank to my roommate Nur, for her help and support whenever needed. Thanks are also due to Sengör, Barla and Engin for their technical support. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... iii ÖZET .................................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................... viii LIST OF TABLES................................................................................................. x LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................. xi CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................ 1 CHAPTER II: HISTORY OF SCHOLARSHIP .................................................... 9 CHAPTER III: HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF THE AREA ....................... 16 3.1 Syro-Hittite States .................................................................................. 16 3.1.1 Karkamiš........................................................................................ 26 CHAPTER IV: THE TOWN OF KARKAMIŠ AND ITS REMAINS ….……... 32 4.1 Plan ...................................................................................................... 33 4.2 Principal Buildings ................................................................................. 34 4.3 Principal Architectural Units and Their Sculptural Programs ................ 37 4.3.1 The Water Gate ............................................................................... 39 4.3.2 The Hilani ...................................................................................... 42 4.3.3 The Long Wall of Sculpture .......................................................... 43 4.3.4 The Great Staircase ........................................................................ 45 4.3.5 The Herald’s Wall .......................................................................... 50 4.3.6 The King’sGate .............................................................................. 54 CHAPTER V: THEMES IN THE LIGHT OF INSCRIPTIONAL AND SCULPTURAL EVIDENCE ....................................................................... 63 5.1 Royal Images ......................................................................................... 63 5.2 Military Representations ....................................................................... 72 5.2.1. Epigraphic Evidence ...................................................................... 75 5.2.2 Sculptural Evidence ....................................................................... 75 5.3 Religious Representations ....................................................................... 83 5.3.1 Epigraphic Evidence ....................................................................... 83 5.3.2 Religious Scenes and Divine Representation on Orthostats ........... 89 viii 5.3.3 Statues and Stelae ........................................................................ 93 5.4 Hunting Scenes