IS THE SMALL GOD FIGURE IN THE SEAL IMPRESSION OF TUDKHALIYA IV, RS 17.159, MURSHILI II?

Authors : Hkübra ENSERT

Pages : 93-109

Doi:10.1501/andl_0000000331

View : 11 | Download : 18

Publication Date : 2006-05-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The small god figure, embraced in the embracement scene of the Ugarit seal impression is neither Khattushili III nor a local ruler nor Tudkhaliya IV himself, the owner of the seal, but it should be his grandfather Murshili II deified after death. D U NIR.GAL is the protective god of Murshili II, Arnuwanda II and Shuppiluliuma I who are the ancestors of Tudkhaliya IV. Murshili II is mentioned in the cuneiform writing that borders the subject seal impression. Therefore the small god figure should be representing Murshili II.The written documents tell that also ancestral gods protect the kings. This explains the reason why the dead kings appear in god iconography on the seals. This small god figure and the like prove the existence of a certain Hittite king iconography of kings deified after death in the Hittite art. 
Keywords : Hitit, Kral, Kült