art 235
of a statue—even if, as here, it is dedicated to a god—must be explicitly
understood as an act in the here and now to ensure the commemoration
and continued existence of a ruler in the afterlife.
3.2.1 Statues
One of the most significant sculptural works from this group is the colos-
sal 2.50-meter statue of a ruler that was found at the southeast wall of
building J at the citadel in Zincirli (pl. Xv).137 the figure has crown-shaped
hair and wears a long robe girded at the waist by a wide, tasseled belt.138
a sword is stuck in his belt and it is evident that he once held a long
staff in his (now broken off ) right hand. this ruler was probably an early
representative of the aramaean dynasty in samʾal, but it is impossible
to identify him historically since the sculptural work has no inscription. to
judge by its stylistic elements, it was probably erected in the late 10th or
early 9th century B.c.139 It is unclear whether the statue depicts a living
or a deceased ruler, but there is much to support the view that it was
intentionally erected to honor a royal ancestor.
the column-like design of the statue, whose central vertical axis is
stressed by the belt tassel, strengthens the work’s colossal impression. a
75-centimeter base with lions on both sides and a male figure in front
“elevates” the monument in both a physical and symbolic sense. there
are clear parallels to the colossal statues of gods that are mounted on dou-
ble-bull bases (see 3.1, above), and they point to the supernatural, time-
less, and even divine character of this royal statue from samʾal.140 Due to
these parallels, it seems even more likely that the statue was deliberately
designed as the effigy of an ancestor. Like the storm-god, this ancestor was
accorded a place in the dynastic cult.141 the cup marks that were carved
into the lions’ and male figure’s heads to receive offerings suggest that
ritual acts were performed in the statue’s presence.
137 Bonatz 2000a: a 6; concerning the context of the find, see von Luschan 1911: 289
pls. 49–50.
138 the long belt tassel is found in the representation of a ruler on an orthostat at the
outer citadel gate (Orthmann 1971: Zincirli B/5), but this does not make it an exclusive fea-
ture of aramaean rulers in samʾal. the statue of the Luwian ruler halparuntiyas of Gurgum
from Maraş (Maraş 4) has the same type of tassel (Bonatz 2000a: a2).
139 In terms of style, Orthmann groups the statue with the artworks in stylistic group
“Zincirli II,” which date to the second half of the 10th century B.c. (Orthmann 1971: 69).
140 Bonatz 2000a: 25f.
141 niehr 1994b: 67 and id. 2004b: 313.