Sculpture and Propaganda

After modern Turkish-Syrian border passed through the ancient Neo-Hittite site of Karkamiš in late 1920''s and was heavily mined between 1930 and 1960, this military border area has become untouchable for archaeological surveys and excavations. However, recently the Turkish government has decided to clean the mines in the ancient site to allow archaeological investigations. All these recent developments made the content of this book (it is fully based on the original MA thesis published in 2004) important for future archaeological studies. The book argues that the monumental art of Karkamiš, which consists of architectural reliefs and free-standing statues, was used by its rulers for their propaganda advantages. The basic geo-politic and ethic factors related to Karkamiš and other "Syro-Hittite" city-states of the Iron Age are investigated in order to obtain insight about the meanings assigned to the monumental sculpture of Karkamiš. Portal-lions, inscribed door-jambs and other reliefs placed on principal gate-ways bear symbolic and functional meaning and demonstrate the essential role of these monumental gates and walls for the city and its rulers to announce their ideologies.