society, institutions, law, and economy 59
of having run at the wheel of his master tiglath-pileser iii as his father
panamuwa ii had done before him (Kai 215: 12–13; 216: 8–9).
2.7.1 Military Equipment
Bows and slings were some of the oldest weapons used by the semi-
nomadic aramaeans.150 they were used for war151 as well as for hunting.152
the bow, in particular, was regarded as a status symbol of the king.153
the different functions are depicted on several orthostats from tell
halaf and from Samʾal. w. orthmann notes, “die Lanzenträger, die Stein-
schleuderer und die männer mit Krummholz können den Jägern oder
den Kriegern zugerechnet werden; wo die Lanzenträger mit helm, Schild
oder panzerhemd dargestellt sind, handelt es sich sicherlich um Krieger.”154
depicted on the orthostats from tell halaf 155 are chariots as well as
battles fought on foot.156 the excavations in Samʾal revealed arrowheads
and other pieces of military equipment.157 tiglath-pileser iii mentions
archers among the soldiers of the last king of damascus.158 the use of
slings is attested on the orthostats in tell halaf 159 and by archaeological
finds in Samʾal, next to the remains of lances, helmets, pieces of armor,
and harnesses of chariots.160 the sword is found primarily in iconogra-
phy, especially in images of kings or gods, as it was their status symbol
150 these are the typical weapons of nomads and are also well-known among the arabs.
even in roman times the skilfulness of the oriental archers was highly esteemed; they
established an élite troop in the roman army. For the development of the bow, see collon
2008, with many pictures.
151 the bow is mentioned in Kai 214: 26, 32 as a weapon or instrument of power.
152 hunting scenes with archers are depicted on several orthostats from tell halaf, see,
e.g., orthmann 2002: 82 fig. 63 or von oppenheim 1950: pl. 10: archer with deer. “die
Bogenschützen sind... am ehesten als Jäger zu deuten; auf der jeweils anschließenden
platte könnte das vor ihnen aufgerichtete Jagdtier dargestellt gewesen sein; einer der ‘klei-
nen orthostaten’ zeigt Jäger und Löwen zusammen [sc. von oppenheim 1955: pl. 38, stone
no. 35].,” orthmann 2002: 82. For other archers see von oppenheim 1950: pls. 18, 20 and
the arrangement of the orthostats with depictions of archers from tell halaf in cholidis –
martin 2010 (eds.): 165.
153 See collon 2008 for the development of the bow in mesopotamia.
154 orthmann 2002: 83.
155 Von oppenheim 1955: pl. 35.
156 orthmann 2002: 83 fig. 65.
157 Furthermore, several orthostats from Samʾal depict archers with small bows and
arrowheads; see collon 2008: 110 fig. 10B and cholidis – martin (eds.) 2010: 165.
158 dion 1997: 305 n. 23, line 6. he also hints at the archer in 1 Kgs 22: 34, who shot the
deadly arrow at the King of israel.
159 Stone no. 41, cf. orthmann 2002: 76 fig. 51 and several orthostats in cholidis – martin
(eds.) 2010: 166.
160 See the arrangement of the military finds in Samʾal in Lehmann 1994: 120.