Cultic Symbolism at the City Gates: Two Metal Foundation Pegs from Tell Atchana, Alalakh Turkey

Year 2016, Issue: 19, 27 - 50, 01.06.2016

Gonca Dardeniz

Abstract

Foundation pegs – also known as dedication nails, foundation nails or cones – were objects of sacred function pinned on the walls of religious or administrative buildings. These objects were also hidden through burial in the foundations of structures to mark them as divine properties of deities or of a deified king/ruler of the society

Şehir Kapılarında Kült Sembolizmi: Aççana Höyük, Alalah Kentinden İki Metal Yapı-Adak Çivisi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, C. L. Woolley tarafından Aççana Höyük, eski Alalah kentinde yapılan kazılarda bulunmuş iki adet metalden yapılma yapı-adak çivisini konu etmektedir. Orta Tunç Çağı’na tarihlenen Seviye VII ve Geç Tunç Çağı’na tarihlenen Seviye V’te ortaya çıkarılan şehir kapılarına yerleştirilmiş olan eserlerin buluntu yerleri, arkeolojik olarak genellikle mabet temellerinde bulunan benzerlerine nazaran farklıdır. Şehir kapıları ile bağlantılı bulunan eserlerin bu konumları, kült ve ritüel açısından da sembolik bir anlam taşımaktadır. Bu makalede, yapı-adak çivileri geleneğinin çıkışından başlayarak bu eserlerin nitelikleri incelenmiş, Alalah buluntuları ile malzeme ve ikonografi açısından benzerlik gösteren eserler tartışılmıştır. Yazılı kaynaklardan yola çıkarak, şehir kapılarının törensel ve dini önemleri özetlenmiş ve yerleşke özelinde yapı adak çivileri ve şehir kapıları arasındaki sembolik ilişkiye dair yeni bir olgu, öneri olarak sunulmuştur.

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