Old Hittite polychrome relief vases and the assertion of kingship in 16th century BCE Anatolia
Author(s)
Advisor
Gates, Marie-HenrietteDate
2015Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
The Old Hittite polychrome relief-decorated vases have attracted scholarly
interest since the first substantial fragment was discovered at Bitik in the 1940s.
Academics have concurred that the vases illustrate cult practice, but have differed
as to whether the figures portray the king or the gods, both, or neither. The
publishing in 2008 of a second nearly complete vase now permits a programmatic
comparison between it and the famous İnandıktepe vase (published 1988). This
thesis studies the vases’ decorative program and contends that the relief vases
represent centralized monumental art. In contrast with iconography of the
preceding and later periods, the vases portray gods without attributes. Similarly,
the vases’ reliefs depict an anonymous king who engages alongside others in cult
activities. Rank is de-emphasized. The focus on solidarity within the ruling
group recalls the major historical document of the period, the Edict of Telepinu.
Material evidence also links the vases to the network of royal storehouses, listed
in the second part of the Edict. This political requirement of solidarity evident in
the vases may have arisen from the exigencies of supporting chariotry, a new
form of warfare.
Keywords
Old HittiteRelief Ceramic
Central Anatolia
Storm God
Cult Practice
King
İnandıktepe
Hüseyindede
Boğazköy
Bitik
Eskiyapar
Alacahöyük
Telepinu
Reliefkeramik
Trichterrandtopf
Vexiervase