Page 201 - The Art & Architecture of the Ancient Orient_Neat

PART TWO: THE
PERIPHERAL regions
The city of Guzana (Tell Halaf)
was not
•„ , ., _ . r0l"ld but rectangular in plan. The river
Khabur protected one
othcr *« b^e p JZSgTSr&ZZ t

; the Scor-
The Citadel stood on a hill beside the river. On entering one faced the back of a ercat
inlding strengthened with towers (Figure 84). This is the most impressive bit-hilani

o=r^gl=a \ \
s
PORECOURT
□
HHSB-X-h
!
?
\.y r::. . v
*
PALACE
■
T" • '
? ? . 1 I ;
* 4. o. ’ , re-. SCORPION’ N
live GATE m
o 5 10 30 METRES
O 20 40 60 100 FEET
4
Figure 84. The palace of Kaparu, Tell Halaf

so far discovered, but the details of its plan remain unknown because a large part has been
denuded to the level of the foundations. The outside of the terrace on which it stood was
decorated with sculptured orthostats of alternating basalt and reddish limestone,which
begin at the south-west and end against the Scorpion Gate (Figure 85). One passed
through this Gate climbing steadily, turned the north-east comer of the terrace in front
of the building, and then entered a low-level forecourt from wliich steps led up to the
terrace in front. The facade was elaborately decorated with sculpture. In addition to the
dado of orthostats and the guardian figures - here sphinxes - die three columns of the
portico consisted of figures nine feet high, standing on animals and supporting the archi­
trave by means of conical capitals. The total height of the architrave above die floor was
about twenty feet. The inner door from portico to main room was flanked by stone
rifSns (Figure 86).
g
172