Close-up of the enthroned goddess Kubaba. She is holding a mirror in her right hand and pomegrenate (symbol of fertility) in her left. Neo-Hittite sculpture, 9th – 8th century BC.
The basalt relief was originally located on the left hand side of the entryway of the King’s Gate in Carchemish/Karkamış (on the Euphrates River and on the Turkish-Syrian border, c. 25 km south of Birecik).

Kubaba became the tutelary goddess protecting the city of Carchemish in the late Hurrian – Early Hittite period (17th century BC). Later, the goddess Hepat of the Hittite imperial times transformed into Kubaba in all Neo-Hittite kingdoms of the south eastern Anatolia (1150-700 BC).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen
Sources: Website of ‘hittitemonuments.com’ & Wikipedia .