Zincirli
Zincirli Höyük · Samʾal · Zinjirli
Iron Age (c.1000–676 BCE) plus Bronze substrate·Aramaean–Neo-Hittite Samʾal·🇹🇷 Gaziantep Province, Islahiye valley, Turkey
About
About Zincirli
Syro-Hittite–Aramaean city-state Samʾal, 40 ha triple-walled (Outer Wall 3 km, double Middle + acropolis) with 5 gates, Kuttamuwa Stele basalt funerary stele (800 BCE), Kilamuwa inscription, Neo-Hittite lion orthostats and 8th-c. palace (Hilani IV). Iron Age kingdom founded c.1000 BCE by Gabbar, destroyed 676 BCE Esarhaddon. Excavated 1888– von Luschan then Chicago/Oriental Institute 2006– shows Assyrian palace and citadel. Type-site for Samʾal dialect (Ye-der inscriptions).
Why it mattersType-site for Samʾal language, Kuttamuwa soul-cult stele and Neo-Hittite–Aramaean syncretism.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Samʾal dialect Aramaean vs Luwian?
Theories
- 01Caravan pass capital model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1000 BCE Iron Age refoundation
- Period
- Iron Age (c.1000–676 BCE) plus Bronze substrate
- Culture
- Aramaean–Neo-Hittite Samʾal
- Builders
- Gabbar dynasty (Hayyan, Kilamuwa)
- Purpose
- Anatolia–Syria caravan capital, Amanus pass control
- Abandoned
- 676 BCE Assyrian annexation
- Rediscovered
- 1888 von Luschan survey
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.1000 BCE
Gabbar founds Samʾal on BA tell
c.830 BCE
Kilamuwa inscription and walls
800 BCE
Kuttamuwa stele funerary cult
676 BCE
Esarhaddon destroys city
On the ground
Structures & features
37.1030° N · 36.6800° E · 540 m · 3 mapped features
Zincirli — Citadel Gate with orthostats
gateSouth citadel gate with lion orthostats and Kilamuwa text
37.1035° N · 36.6800° EZincirli — Palace Hilani IV
palaceBit-hilani timber-portico palace, acropolis west
37.1030° N · 36.6805° EZincirli — Lower Town Kuttamuwa shrine
shrineRoyal mortuary chapel with stele in situ, NE Lower Town
37.1025° N · 36.6795° E