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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Ankara pictures >> Ankara Anatolian Civilizations Museum >> Orthostats hall > Relief with the children of King Araras
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23-SEP-2004

Relief with the children of King Araras

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This is a part of a larger relief, with the children of King Araras. From Carchemish, second half of the eight century BC.

The tall figure represents regent Yariri/Araras, leading the royal heir Prince Kamani.
The relief was located at the front face of the Royal Buttress, to the right of the so-called ‘Inscription of Yariri’. The inscription above the carved figures says: "This is Kamani and these are his young brothers. I took him by hand and I set him over the temple though he was a child.” (The young brothers mentioned are represented on the relief Block to the right of this one). Neo-Hittite, basalt, Assyrian style.

Yariri (Araras) was regent from c. 815- c. 790 BC; he probably was a eunuch, who took (good) care of the kingdom and of his master’s children, after the early death of king Astiruwa. A striking character, not only reliable and devoted, but also an able administrator and a gifted linguist and diplomat who spoke twelve (!) languages and wrote most of them. Under his regency Carchemish’s international profile appears to have risen significantly.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen
Sources: Website of ‘hittitemonuments.com’ & ‘The World of the Neo-Hittite Kingdoms’– Trevor Brice.

Nikon D70
1/15s f/5.6 at 27.0mm full exif

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