religion 173
and hunting scenes, mythical creatures, and two lion statues guarding
the gate.227 they present an image of the king as a victor, hunter, and
vanquisher of demons. the king portrays himself as the victor over the
natural and supernatural powers of chaos and thus as the guarantor of the
divine order. Forty orthostats (Zincirli 12–51) were placed to both sides of
the street leading to the outer citadel gate and several aniconic orthostats
without any decorations were placed inside the gate. their arrangement is
such that the eastern side depicts martial and hunting scenes and scenes
from the ancestor cult and the king, while the western side shows demons,
processions, divine beings, and musicians.228 Five orthostats depicting
courtiers (Zincirli 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)229 were found in the hilani iii build-
ing. at the entrance to the hilani iV building were orthostats showing King
Bar-rakkab (Zincirli 66), courtiers (Zincirli 68), a banquet scene with King
Bar-rakkab (Zincirli 69), several musicians (Zincirli 70–73)230 as well as
representations of King Bar-rakkab standing before divine symbols with-
out a libation vessel (Zincirli 74) and with a libation vessel in his hand
(Zincirli 75).231
With regard to the overall ensemble it is important to note that the
reliefs decorate not the inside of buildings but rather outdoor spaces
along gates, squares, and palaces. these outdoor spaces were therefore
likely intended for ceremonies.232
these insights are complemented by the results of excavations con-
ducted since 2006, which revealed the existence of a processional road
lined with orthostats leading from a temple outside the city gates to the
southern gate. one of these orthostats (1.25 m tall) depicts a tree of life
and a royal servant adjacent to it.233
the inscription on the stele of King Zakkur (Kai 202) found in hamath
points to the close relationship between the god Baʿalšamayin and the
king. Baʿalšamayin had rescued Zakkur (lines 2–3), stood by him (lines 3,
13–14), and made him king over hazrak (lines 3–4, 13). For his part Zakkur
227 cf. the overview in Koldewey 1898: 111–130; von luschan 1902: 201–236 and pls.
xxxiV–xlViii; id. 1911; 325–380; pucci 2008: 52–54; and gilibert 2011: 55–67.
228 cf. the overview in Koldewey 1898: 122–127; pucci 2008: 52–57; gilibert 2011:
61–68.
229 cf. the overview in Koldewey 1898: 151–154; pucci 2008: 71f; gilibert 2011: 88–90.
230 cf. the overview in gilibert 2011: 85–88.
231 cf. gilibert 2011: 87f, 215.
232 cf. pucci 2008: 52–80, 163–177 and gilibert 2011: 97–114.
233 cf. schloen – Fink 2009b: 215f and id. 2009c: 8, 11 fig. 29.