Master of Animals (Gilgamesh) grasps the hind leg of a lionin one hand, the horn of a bull in the other, and is accompanied by a deer and two other beasts.

Gilgamesh (Enc. Britt.): the best known of all ancient Mesopotamian heroes. Numerous tales in the Akkadian language have been told about Gilgamesh, and the whole collection has been described as an odyssey—the odyssey of a king who did not want to die.

Relief from the ‘Heralds Wall’ in Carchemish/Karkamış (on the Euphrates River and on the Turkish-Syrian border, c. 25 km south of Birecik). Neo-Hittite sculpture in mixed traditional/Aramean style, c. 9th century BC.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen
Sources: ‘Anadolu Uygarlıkları’ (Anatolian Civilisations) - Prof.Dr. Ekrem Akurgal
& Website of ‘hittitemonuments.com’ .