Ferhatlı Uzunoglantepe Relief

The relief is in a niche 137 x 60 cm., 4 cm. deep, and is situated on the western face of the granite out crop which forms the summit of the hill. The figure although very eroded is recognizable as that of an Assyrian king, showing the usual beard and hairstyle. He faces to the right and raises, as is usual, the right hand in a gesture of reverence to a group of divine symbols, only traces of which are visible. The figure is split in two by a fissure in the rock, which has destroyed the middle part of the torso and the left hand. Remains of the sceptre held in this hand are however still visible. The king wears the usual pointed fez and long, fringed robe. It is interesting that the top of Uzunoglantepe was later crowned with aprecinct of the Roman period. Remains of the massive temenos walls built oflarge granite blocks still survive, and on the south side a four-columned portico looks out over the plain below. The columns, each still standing to a height of several drums, are visible from below for a considerable distance. The skirts of thehill show signs of having been used as a necropolis in the classical period. It wouldseem that the Roman precinct might owe its existence to some sanctity attachedto the Assyrian figure which, when its origins were forgotten, may have been taken the image of a god.