Gulyás Katalin et al. (szerk.): Tisicum. A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok megyei Múzeumok évkönyve 27. (Szolnok, 2019)
A Közel-Kelet régészete - Ftaimi Tiffany: Tho unitod Storm God posturo on tho Noo Hitito artworks
FTAIMI TIFFANY: THE UNITED STORM GOD POSTURE ON THE NEO-HITTITE ARTWORKS recognizable on all sculptures from this period. This might be a result of a single manufactory and the transfer of craftsmen between these sites.21 The bull has been depicted with the god, while he is standing on it and it was present as a theriomorphic occurrence of the Storm God in south Anatolia. The Ahmar/Qubbah considered the earliest depiction of the smiting Storm God on a bull (fig.1), which dates back to the Iron Age around the late 10th-early 9th century.22 At the top of the stela is a winged disc which consists of a disc, crescent and wings. The deity is depicted facing toward the right side. He wears a short shirt, a short skirt and a belt on his waist. He wears a helmet with four horns, and along his back hangs a long pigtail with curled ends. Additionally, he wears upturned shoes, and has a long and curly beard, which is connected to his whiskers on the right side of his face. Fig. 1. The Ahmar/ Qubbah Stela during its reconstraction, in front of the stela is the archaeologist Rama Albadra (National Museum of Aleppo 2011). Photo: Rama Albadra. Fig. 2. Part of the inscription on the Ahmar/ Qubbah Stela. (National Museum of Aleppo 2011). Photo: Rama Albadra. The Storm God is armed with a sword that is situated on his belt, and an axe in his raised right hand, while he holds a triple lightning fork. The deity stands on the back of a bull, which is unrealistically stylized. The size of body and head compared with the proportions of the god are remarkable. The bull stands on the guilloche pattern, which consists of eight stretched triple Ss trapped with two lines.23 On the right, left and reverse sides of the stela is an eight-line inscription. It is written in hieroglyphic Luwian and mentions the name of Hamiyata, who was the king of Masuwari.24 Similar to the above-mentioned stela, another ‘smiting Storm God on bull’ was found in Tell Ahmar, which is known as Storm God Stela B, but it is later in date, based on the inscription.25 The deity is represented in the same way as on the Ahmar/Qubbah stela, he stands on the back of a bull holding a triple lightning fork and an axe in his hands. The winged disc and the guilloche pattern are present as well. Some scholars estimate that the stelae may have stood on streets26 near the city gates. On a third stela from Tell Ahmar, which is known as Storm God Stela A, the deity is found amongst similar patterns and objects. Because of the damaged lower part, it is difficult to determine if he stands on a bull and whether the guilloche pattern was depicted. 23 Ibid. 4. 24 BUNNENS, Guy 2006.13. 25 Ibid. 35. 26 Ibid., 6. 21 GENGE, Heinz 1979.56-57. 22 BUNNENS, Guy 2006. 53. 123
