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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Galleries >> Alacahöyük > Alacahoyuk sphinxes gate
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21-SEP-2004

Alacahoyuk sphinxes gate

Turkey, Alacahöyük view map

The Sphinxes Gate shows two sphinxes with obvious Egyptian influence. They wear wigs with hair reaching to their shoulders.

A study in the mid 1990s, supervised by Dr. Hatçe Baltacıoğlu of the Ankara Archaeological Museum, employing stratigraphic data as well as style critique, dates the Sphynxes Gate and the sculptures around it to the reign of Muwatalli (1306-1282 BC).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: Website of ‘anadolumedeniyetlerimuzesi.gov.tr’ – Annual report 1996.

The city had another gate, of which only the foundations have been found.

Here you see details of the frontal relief's. What this scene represents is unclear, maybe performers who are part of the procession to the statue of the weather-god on previous pictures.

They are replica's, the originals are at the Ankara museum (see http://www.pbase.com/image/36542116 ).

Nikon D70
1/800s f/8.0 at 20.0mm full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Guest 21-Oct-2005 16:02
The figure on the left is a sword swallower, and the others are acrobats (according to Ekrem Akurgal in his book).