Turkey > Huseyindede Old Hittite Residence

Huseyindede Old Hittite Residence

Vases with reliefs dating to 1650 BC and found in Yoriiklti town are exhibited at the Corum Museum. Friezes on both vases depict religious events, describing a worship ceremony accompanied by music and dance. It is understood from written documents that the music and dance performed at religious feasts held great importance in Hittite life. On the Hiiseyindede vases, there are descriptions of important elements taking place for worshipping the Tempest God in the style continuous with those of the Hatti traditions. On the smaller vase, the main theme on the frieze is jumping over the bull, something which is not seen in Hittite art, but is known in the Aegean region.

However, contrary to the Aegean example, this religious acrobatic dancing depiction ended with standing upside down on the bull. On the bigger vase there is an empty pipe surrounding the inner circumference and the bulls head is connected to the pipe and a rectangular tank. The fluid seen flowing from the bulls head pours into the vase.

On four friezes, the bulls of the Tempest God can be seen. Worshipping accompanied by dancing, sacrificing animals to gods, ceremonies around temples, monks, gifts being presented to people, dance and entertainment scenes are also depicted.