Arslan Tash (Hadatu)
Arslan Taş · Arslan Tash · Hadatu · Hadātu
Iron Age Neo-Assyrian·Aramaean Hadatu → Assyrian province·🇸🇾 Aleppo Governorate, Northern Syria (Euphrates fringe), Syria
About
About Arslan Tash (Hadatu)
Hadatu: Assyrian provincial capital between Carchemish and Harran, ringed by a 2.5 km rect. wall with 11 gates, each guarded by basalt lion orthostats – the “Lion fortress” Arslan Tash. Thureau-Dangin cleared the North Palace with Neo-Assyrian reliefs and the Arslan Tash Ivories: 100 Phoenician-style ivories (BM/Louvre) with winged sphinxes, cows and occult demon plaques (Utukku). The South Palace holds the bilingual Assyrian-Aramaic Hadad inscription dedicating the city to Ishtar. Assyrian annexation 857 BCE; Sargon II rebuilt; abandoned after 612. One lion pair still in situ.
Why it mattersBest preserved Neo-Assyrian rectangular planned town with Phoenician ivory workshop evidence.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Workshop provenance — local or imported Tyrian ivory?
- 02Utukku demon plaques apotropaic or narrative?
Theories
- 01Harem furnishing atelier for Assyrian court from Phoenician craftsmen
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Neo-Hittite 1000 BCE; Assyrian Hadatu 857–612 BCE
- Period
- Iron Age Neo-Assyrian
- Culture
- Aramaean Hadatu → Assyrian province
- Builders
- Aramaean kings, Ashurnasirpal II, Tiglath-Pileser III
- Purpose
- Border town guarding Carchemish–Harran road and Euphrates ford
- Abandoned
- 612 BCE Median destruction
- Rediscovered
- 1928 Thureau-Dangin; 2008 Bologna re-survey
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
857 BCE
Ashurnasirpal II captures Hadatu
1928
Thureau-Dangin palace and ivories
1931
Bilingual Hadad inscription found
2008
Bologna geomag confirms 11 gates
On the ground
Structures & features
36.5833° N · 38.3500° E · 350 m · 2 mapped features
City Gates with Lion Orthostats
gateEleven gateways flanked by basalt lion statues
36.5835° N · 38.3505° EIvory Palace Hoard Room
palaceStoreroom where 100 ivories lay fallen
36.5830° N · 38.3495° E