Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2111-01-06
Title Ancient and New Interpretations of Anatolian Rock-cut “Thrones”
Author email kisbalim@gmail.com
About author Kisbali, Tamás Péter — Ph. D., associate professor. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation. ORCID: 0000-0002-6871-2616
In the section Art of the Ancient World DOI10.18688/aa2111-01-06
Year 2021 Volume 11 Pages 6675
Type of article RAR Index UDK 7.032(39) Index BBK 63.3(0)3; 85.113(3)
Abstract

The article focuses on three rock-cut “thrones” in Anatolia: a stepped altar in “Midas City” (Phrygia), the monument of Hartapu on Kızıldağ, and the so-called “Throne of Pelops” on Mount Sipylos (Lydia). These monuments are united by similarities in their structure and location in special even “spectacular” environments. Their context in the landscape is analyzed, mainly through the visual senses: what could be observed from the monuments’ vantage point, or, on the other hand, while directing one’s gaze at the monument. Such analysis (if taking into account the discrepancies between ancient and modern landscapes, and ancient and modern experience of the observer) allows us to highlight the main accents towards which these “thrones” were oriented. In a situation where we lack other sources, these observations can enrich our understanding of the original idea of these rock-cut monuments.

Keywords
Reference Kisbali, Tamás Péter. Ancient and New Interpretations of Anatolian Rock-cut “Thrones”. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art: Collection of articles. Vol. 11. Eds A. V. Zakharova, S. V. Maltseva, E. Iu. Staniukovich-Denisova. — St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Univ. Press, 2021, pp. 66–75. ISSN 2312-2129. http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2111-01-06
Publication Article language english
Bibliography
  • 1. Aro S. Art and Architecture. Melchert H. C. (ed.). The Luwians. Leiden; Boston, Brill Publ., 2003, pp. 281–337.
  • 2. Bean G. E. Aegean Turkey. London; New York, Ernest Benn; W. W. Norton Publ., 1979. 250 p.
  • 3. Berndt D. Midasstadt in Phrygien. Eine sagenumwobene Stätte im anatolischen Hochland. Mainz am Rhein, Verlag Philipp von Zabern Publ., 2002. 80 p. (in German).
  • 4. Berndt-Ersöz S. Phrygian Rock-Cut Shrines. Structure, Function, and Cult Practice. Leiden; Boston, Brill Publ., 2006. 412 p.
  • 5. Cook A. B. Zeus. A Study in Ancient Religion, vol. 1. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Publ., 1914. 885 p.
  • 6. Danthine H. L’imagerie des trônes vides et des trônes porteurs de symboles dans le Proche-Orient ancien. Mélanges syriens offerts à monsieur René Dussaud, vol. 2. Paris, P. Geuthner Publ., 1939, pp. 857–866 (in French).
  • 7. Doak B. R. Phoenician Aniconism in Its Mediterranean and Ancient Near Eastern Contexts. Atlanta, SBL Press Publ., 2015. 182 p.
  • 8. Dyke R. M. van. Phenomenology in Archaeology. Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. New York, Springer Publ., 2014, pp. 5909–5917.
  • 9. Ehringhaus H. Das Ende, das ein Anfang war. Felsreliefs und Felsinschriften der luwischen Staaten Kleinasiens vom 12. bis 8./7. Jahrhundert v. Chr. Mainz am Rhein, Nünnerich-Asmus Verlag Publ., 2014. 112 p. (in German).
  • 10. Gaifman M. Aniconism in Greek Antiquity. Oxford, Oxford University Press Publ., 2012. 357 p.
  • 11. Habicht Ch. Pausanias und seine „Beschreibung Griechenlands“. München, Verlag C. H. Beck Publ., 1985. 208 p. (in German).
  • 12. Hawkins J. D. Corpus of Hieroglyphic Luwian Inscriptions, vol. 1: Inscriptions of the Iron Age. Berlin; New York, Walter de Gruyter Publ., 2000. 639 p.
  • 13. Humann C. Die Tantalosburg im Sipylos. Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Athenische Abteilung, 1888, vol. 13, pp. 22–41 (in German).
  • 14. Jones C. P. A Geographical Setting for the Baucis and Philemon Legend (Ovid Metamorphoses 8.611-724). Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, 1994, vol. 96, pp. 203–223.
  • 15. Kisbali T. P. “Orientalizing” Art in Anatolia (8th–6th Centuries B.C.). Zakharova A.; Maltseva S.; Stanyukovich-Denisova E. (eds.). Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art: Collection of Articles, vol. 9. St. Petersburg, NP-Print Publ., 2019, pp. 22–29. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa199-1-2 (accessed 27 January 2021).
  • 16. Kisbali T. P. Phrygian Rock-cut Facades. Istoricheskie issledovaniia. Zhurnal istoricheskogo fakul'teta MGU imeni M. V. Lomonosova (History Studies. Journal of the History Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University), 2015, no. 2, pp. 284–292. Available at: http://www.historystudies.msu.ru/ojs2/index.php/ISIS/article/view/33 (accessed 27 January 2021) (in Russian).
  • 17. Oreshko R. Hartapu and the Land of Maša. A New Look at the Kizildağ-Karadağ Group. Altorientalische Forschungen, 2017, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 47–67.
  • 18. Osborne J. F.; Massa M.; Şahin F.; Erpehlivan H.; Bachhuber Ch. The City of Hartapu: Results of the Türkmen-Karahöyük Intensive Survey Project. Anatolian Studies, 2020, vol. 70, pp. 1–27.
  • 19. Osborne J. F. The Syro-Anatolian City States. An Iron Age Culture. Oxford, Oxford University Press Publ., 2021. 275 p.
  • 20. Ramsay W. M. Studies in Asia Minor. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 1882, vol. 3, pp. 1–68.
  • 21. Reichel W. Über vorhellenische Götterculte. Wien, Alfred Hölder Publ., 1897. 98 p. (in German).
  • 22. Rojas F. The Pasts of Roman Anatolia. Interpreters, Traces, Horizons. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Publ., 2019. 252 p.
  • 23. Roller L. E. In Search of God the Mother. The Cult of Anatolian Cybele. Berkeley; Los Angeles; London, University of California Press Publ., 1999. 380 p.
  • 24. Roosevelt Ch. H. The Archaeology of Lydia, from Gyges to Alexander. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Publ., 2009. 314 p.
  • 25. Tamsü Polat R. Yeni Buluntular Işığında Phryg Kaya Altarları ve Bir Tipoloji Önerisi. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 2010, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 203–222 (in Turkish).
  • 26. Vassileva M. Phrygian Rock-Cut Thrones, ‘Idols’ and Phrygian Royal Symbolism. Thracia, 2009, vol. 18, pp. 111–124.
  • 27. Vassileva M. The Rock-cut Monuments of Phrygia, Paphlagonia and Thrace: A Comparative Overview. Tsetskhladze G. R. (ed.). The Black Sea, Paphlagonia, Pontus and Phrygia in Antiquity: Aspects of Archaeology and Ancient History. Oxford, Archaeopress Publ., 2012, pp. 243–252.