Hercules-Nergal at Hatra
1971; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 33; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/4199919
ISSN2053-4744
Autores Tópico(s)Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies
ResumoA fragment of a sculptured miniature column was found in Shrine 10 situated to the west of the Great Temple at Hatra. This shrine has been assigned to Nergal on epigraphical and iconographical grounds. The fragment comprises the upper part of the column with a rectangular capital (measuring 8.7 × 7.7 cm.) surmounted by a hollow incense receptacle (diameter 6 cm., height 3 cm.). The fragment is carved with low reliefs on four sides. On one side is a relief of a male figure (Plate XXXIII a), the legs of which, below the knees, are missing. He stands to the front with the head slightly turned to the left. His head is dominated by a mass of hair drawn to the back as indicated by very shallow incisions (Plate XXXIII b). An eagle with completely spread wings stands over the head. The figure wears an oval-shaped beard, the end of which is broken off. The features of the face are summarily and crudely indicated. Over his shoulders, he wears a chlamys fastened on the right shoulder with a brooch. The folds of his garment are visible on the shoulders and on the upper right arm. The rest of the body is left uncovered. A small rectangular object protrudes from his chest, but its purpose is not known to me. The right arm is raised to shoulder level, and with his hand he grasps a double axe, its upper end chipped off. He wears a plain bracelet on his right wrist. His left arm bends at the elbow and he holds in his hand a thick rope or a leash connected to an animal, of which the top part of the head is missing. The animal, carved frontally, could very well be a dog. The carving of the body of the figure is successful, for it shows some understanding of modelling, even though the figure is rather small to show further details. The muscles of the abdomen slightly bulge, indicating the movement of the right arm.
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