in Luwian hieroglyphs which accompany them (though in many
cases the names are too worn to read). The deities have Hurrian
names. Thus the two parades offigures are led by the Hittites’chief
deities, the Storm/Weather God and the Sun Goddess of Arinna–
but are here given their Hurrian names, Teshub and Hepat.
Behind Chamber A, a narrow passageflanked by a pair of winged,
lion-headed demons, leads to the smaller, narrower‘Chamber B’.On
the right of the chamber is a frieze of 12 male gods armed with sickle-
shaped swords. Their legs astride, they appear to be running, walking
briskly, or marching, towards something to their right. A similar
group of gods also appears at the tail end of the male gods in Chamber
A, though in this case they are unarmed. What do these gods signify?
Before answering this question, let’s say something about theother
main reliefs at Yazılıkaya. Tudhaliya’s close association with the
sanctuary is illustrated by two of its most striking reliefs. Thefirst
appears on the wall of Chamber A opposite the parade of deities (see
Figure 11.3). It depicts the king in priestly garb bearing a long staff
ending in a circle. We have suggested that it is a stylised crook,
symbolising the king’sroleas‘shepherd’or protector of his people.
Figure 24.1 Teshub and Hepat lead the parade of deities, Yazılıkaya.
HATTI’S DIVINE OVERLORDS 243