backdrop to ceremonial performances, the Lion Gate, which was
the main public entrance into the city, and directly opposite in the
eastern part of the wall the Warrior-God’s Gate (sometimes
referred to, inappropriately, as the King’s Gate). As we’ve noted in
Chapter 18, the last of these features a sculpture, 2.25 m high, on
the inside of the gate depicting a warrior wearing a tasselled helmet
and a short kilt; he’s armed with a short sword and battle-axe (see
Figure 18.2).
Thisfigure completely mystified Charles Texier when he came
upon it in 1834. And a number of explanations of it were offered in
the years that followed. Its beardless cheeks, enlarged nipples and
soft round chest contours suggested to some that it was a female
warrior. If so, perhaps this strange place was the city of the
Amazons! That theory used to pop up quite regularly once upon a
time, but has long been discredited (in case you’re thinking of
reviving it). Most likely thefigure represents the god Sharrumma,
the patron deity of Hatti’s third-last king Tudhaliya IV, and was
sculptured during his reign. His divinity is indicated by his horned
helmet.
Note that the god appears on theinsideof the gate, and has his
left arm held upwards with hisfist clenched. I suggest that this was
the gate through which Hittite armies marched as they set out on
their campaigns. The clenched fist makes me think of sports
contestants today who clench theirfists as a sign of victory, or of
confidence in a victory still to be achieved. I believe that the god is
signalling a farewell to departing troops, with an assurance that
victory will be theirs. Of course, the gate may also have been used
for other purposes, such as the exit point of diplomatic missions or
of a king setting out on a religious pilgrimage to the holy places of
his land, or for cultic processions.
Close by lie the remains of Temple 5. It is one of the largest of
Hattusa’s temples, not much smaller than the Great Temple, and
like it contains two inner shrines, indicating that it was dedicated to
two deities. I suggest that this too is a temple of both the Storm God
and the Sun Goddess of Arinna, and is indirectly linked with the
Warrior-God’s Gate. Perhaps here in the temple’s innermost
sanctuary a departing king paid his respects to these deities as he
CITY OF TEMPLES AND BUREAUCRATS:THE ROYAL CAPITAL 219