Votive objects and their storage areas in Urartian fortresses
Articles > Review ยท 2015
Authors: Atilla BATMAZ
Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Journal Indexed in SCI Expanded, International, 2015, vol 52, pp 127-205
DOI: 10.2143/anes.52.0.3082868
Summary
The Urartian Kingdom is renowned for its exceptional mastery in metal production amongst Near Eastern cultures during the first millennium BC. The production of metal artefacts played such a pivotal and leading role that the Urartians became a strong rival of the Assyrian empire in both warfare and artwork. As a state tradition, a considerable quantity of metal artefacts was dedicated to the gods by the kings. These artefacts were kept in various Urartian fortresses. Little information is available, however, regarding where and in what manner they were kept within these fortresses. This paper aims to decipher the designated areas for the votive objects regarding their location, architecture and archaeological find contexts.