Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:50 AM Sayfa
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that this king paid taxes again to the Assyrians later on, suggests that he
must have been defeated in that expedition. Later on, when Malatya was
taken by the Assyrians, rather than appointing an Assyrian governor, the
place was given to the Kummuh’s King Mutallu. However, in 708 BC, using
treason of this king as an excuse, his land was turned into an Assyrian
province.
It is known that around this period, the Principality of Hattina existed
near Antakya, on the Amik Plane including the cities Tell-Aççana, Tel
Tainat, Tell-el-Cüdeyde. During the excavations in the tumuli in this
region, ancient cultures as well as the Late Hittite Period were
encountered and studies were carried out. Assyrian armies had to pay
tribute to the Hattina King Labarna in 876 BC during the period of
Asurnasirpal. Later in 858 BC, Salmanassar III took a portion of the
territories of Hattina. After that, we see the king of Hattina named
Qalparunda as paying taxes to the Assyrians. In the later stages, there
was turmoil in Hattina, Labarna II was dethroned and Sasi, who was
pro-Assyrian, was brought to power. After that the region came to be
influenced by the Aramis. However, later, the Assyrians ravaged the
region and attached it to their territories. A column pedestal with two
lions at the entry of a temple dating back to 7 th century BC, found in the
tumulus of Tell-Aççana, is important in that it reflects the characteristics
of this period. Lion column bases in the Assyrianized Hittite style found
near this, in Tell-Tainat, and dating back to the 8 th century BC are in
Antakya Museum.
Marafl, where the Kingdom of Gurgum was, poses importance in that it
provides rich sculpture products despite not having been excavated.
Orthmann has detected four groups of style in the embossments in
Marafl. These groups are mostly seen in the grave stele. The fact that
there are epitaphs in most of these has a separate importance. It is seen
that the epitaphic sculpture of Halparuntias II dating back to 850 BC
very much resembles Carchemish and Zincirli sculptures. From
the epitaph on the Marafl lion from the 8 th century BC which is of
Halparuntias III (whom we know to have been the king around 782 BC),
we can learn the names of the previous kings of Marafl. Also, from the
epitaphic sculpture of Panammu II dating back to 730 BC, we can draw
important insights into the sculpture of the period. Apart from these,
steles with scenes depicting meals for the dead are striking. It is not
possible to come across this elsewhere. The embossments of the grave