THE CHILD DESCRIPTION IN THE GOLDEN PENDANT OF NORBERT SCHIMMEL COLLECTION CAN BE GODDESS ZINTUHI

Abstract

This article titled ?The child description in the Golden Pendant Of Norbert Schimmel Collection can be goddess Zintuhi? deals with the golden pendant now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The aim of this article is to try to reconsider the identification of the nude child on the lap of the goddess under the light of the Hittite written documents once again. The pendant dates to Hittite Empire Period. It is 4. 3 cm tall and weights 23.2 gr. The goddess with discus headdress sits in a chair with lion claws armrests and legs, and the child which is 1.5 cm tall sits on the goddess? lap. The goddess is identified as Sun Goddess of Arinna because of the headdress. However the headdress is not enough to identify the name of the goddess by itself. The presence of the lion claws of the chair is the significant factor indicating that the figure is Sun Goddess of Arinna. Hepat, the chief goddess of Hittite?s stands on a female lion in Yaz?l?kaya. At time of Hattu?ili III Goddess Hepat and Sun Goddess of Arinna was regarded to be the same. The nude child should be a girl because of the pubic triangle and the granddaughter of Sun Goddess of Arinna. Queen Puduhepa states in one of her prayer that Zintuhi is a breast ornemant for her grandmother and grandfather. Ahmet Ünal states that her grandmother and grandfather was carrying Zintuhi on their breast or lap. If Zintuhi does what the queen desires her to do, Puduhepa promises her that she will have a big ornament made for her.