Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 2.djvu/275

 r General Characteristics of Hittite Civilization. 257 special characteristics of the national type ; whilst the greater pro- portion of the rock-carvings in Pteria and Eyuk, is found in such a deplorable state as to preclude features or profile being properly made out. If from these we pass to the Merash stelas (Figs. 280, 281), which are among the best preserved, we shall find in full common place conventionality and monotonous treatment, betray- ing inexperience and poverty of invention on the part of the artist, who created but one type of humanity, which he reproduced ad nauseam, without attempting to accentuate those lines which define and stamp an individual or a nation. In every instance where the contour of the face has been carefully outlined, the result has been an Assyrian — or, if preferred, Semitic type ; witness the hook- nosed figure in the Birejik stela (Fig. 278) and the bearded head at Ghiaour-Kalessi (Fig. 352). Nor is the problem which perplexes us more easily solved by calling to our aid Egyptian and Assyrian monuments, where Hittites are occasionally represented. As we have abundantly proved, the art of Chaldsea, except at rare intervals, never troubled itself with a faithful portraiture of ethnical types.^ Thus, on the gates of the temple at Balawat, the inhabitants of Carche- mish are seen, along with the various peoples subdued by Shal- maneser, bringing costly gifts in token of their obedience.^ But, save the low-pointed tiara, akin to the Hittite sign (Figs. 274, 353), there is nothing in their features or style of dress to denote their nationality. The more ambitious aims of the Egyptian artist, who took special pains to apportion to each race its peculiar physiog- nomy, have been adduced in proof that the Khiti were not Semites. In the painting at Medinet Abou, to record the victories of Ramses III., they are represented light in colour and slightly red, and as having straight noses, in marked contrast with the swarthy, beaked profile of the Amou, or Semites.^ We have not seen the originals ; but we must own that we have failed to detect any such difference in the best copies of these bas-reliefs. This may be due to the size of the figures, necessarily small in great battle-scenes, where homage scene under notice will be found on sheets Nos. 1—4, of Plate E. Fragments only of these bronze plates were recovered. A full account, with trans- literation of the text of the bronze edging, and illustration by M. Pinches, will be found in Soc. Bibl. Archce., 1878, pp. 83, 118.— Editor. " Lenormant, Les Inscriptions Hittiqucs^ pp. 404, 405. VOL. II. 8
 * Hist, of Art, torn. ii. pp. 351-354.
 * Upon the Balawat gates, see Hist, of Art, torn. ii. pp. 20a, 203, 253, 254. The