Publication: Yeni Assur başkentlerinde tapınak inşa politikası
Abstract
Mezopotamya’nın önemli bütün kentlerinde görülen tapınak inşası, inanç sisteminin bir parçasıdır. Yaklaşık 1400 yıl hüküm sürmüş Kuzey Mezopotamya devletlerinden olan Assur’da da tapınak inşa geleneği devam ettirilmiştir. Assur Devleti’ne başkentlik yapmış kentlerde tapınakların yerini ve hangi tanrılar adına inşa edildiğini incelediğimiz çalışmamızda tapınakların saray yapıları arasında gölgede kaldığı görülmektedir. Tanrıların buyruğu ile krallar tarafından inşa edildiğine inanılan tapınakların mimari özelliklerinde değişlikler yapıldığı, kent içindeki konumlarında Orta ve Yeni Assur dönemlerinde farklılıklar olduğu görülmektedir. Halkın girişine izin verilmeyen tapınaklarda, Yeni Assur Dönemi’nde Assur’a özgü olarak tapınakların cellalarına yapılan küçük odacıklar tapınakların gizliliğini arttırmaktadır. Yine bu döneminde tapınaklar, yaşanan tapınak hırsızlığı ve isyan girişimleri sebebiyle denetimi sağlayabilmek için saraylara yakın inşa edilmektedir. Eyaletlerden ve vassallardan gelen adak ve sunuların Assur Tapınağı’nda toplanması, vassalların bağlılıklarının Şamaş’a edilen yeminle sağlanması ve kralların düşman ülkenin kralını küçük düşürmek için o ülkenin tapınağını yağmalaması, kralların kabartmalardaki tasvirleri tapınak inşa faaliyetlerinin amacının belirlemektedir. Günümüzde Assur başkentlerinin bulunduğu bölgelerde siyasi karışıklıkların devam ediyor olması uzun yıllar kazı çalışmalarının yapılmasını engellemiştir. Assur kraliyet yazıtlarındaki inşa faaliyetleri, Assur devlet arşivleri ve kazı raporlarıyla birlikte ele aldığımız “Yeni Assur Başkentlerinde Tapınak İnşa Politikası” isimli çalışmamız bu olumsuzluğa rağmen yaptığımız değerlendirmelerle kralların tapınakları hangi amaç doğrultusunda inşa ettikleri hakkında fikir vermektedir.
The construction of temples in all important cities of Mesopotamia is a part of the belief system. Assyria, one of the Northern Mesopotamian states that ruled for about 1400 years, also continued the tradition of temple construction. In our study, in which we examined the location of the temples in the cities that served as the capital of the Assyrian State and in the name of which gods they were built, it is seen that the temples were overshadowed among the palace structures. It is seen that the architectural features of the temples, which were believed to have been built by the kings with the command of the gods, were changed and there were differences in their locations within the city during the Middle and Neo Assyrian periods. In the Neo-Assyrian Period, small chambers built in the cloisters of the temples, which are unique to Assyria, increase the secrecy of the temples. Again in this period, temples were built close to palaces in order to ensure control due to temple theft and rebellion attempts. The collection of offerings and sacrifices from provinces and vassals in the Assyrian temple, ensuring the loyalty of vassals with the oath sworn to Shamash, kings looting the temple of the enemy country to humiliate the king of that country, and the depictions of kings in reliefs determine the purpose of temple building activities. The ongoing political turmoil in the regions where Assyrian capitals are located today has prevented excavations for many years. The construction activities in Assyrian royal inscriptions, Assyrian state archives and excavation reports together with “Our study titled Temple Building Policy in Neo-Assyrian Capitals” gives an idea about the purpose for which the kings built the temples with the evaluations we made despite this negativity
The construction of temples in all important cities of Mesopotamia is a part of the belief system. Assyria, one of the Northern Mesopotamian states that ruled for about 1400 years, also continued the tradition of temple construction. In our study, in which we examined the location of the temples in the cities that served as the capital of the Assyrian State and in the name of which gods they were built, it is seen that the temples were overshadowed among the palace structures. It is seen that the architectural features of the temples, which were believed to have been built by the kings with the command of the gods, were changed and there were differences in their locations within the city during the Middle and Neo Assyrian periods. In the Neo-Assyrian Period, small chambers built in the cloisters of the temples, which are unique to Assyria, increase the secrecy of the temples. Again in this period, temples were built close to palaces in order to ensure control due to temple theft and rebellion attempts. The collection of offerings and sacrifices from provinces and vassals in the Assyrian temple, ensuring the loyalty of vassals with the oath sworn to Shamash, kings looting the temple of the enemy country to humiliate the king of that country, and the depictions of kings in reliefs determine the purpose of temple building activities. The ongoing political turmoil in the regions where Assyrian capitals are located today has prevented excavations for many years. The construction activities in Assyrian royal inscriptions, Assyrian state archives and excavation reports together with “Our study titled Temple Building Policy in Neo-Assyrian Capitals” gives an idea about the purpose for which the kings built the temples with the evaluations we made despite this negativity