The Temple of the Weather God of Aleppo

More information: http://rhema-verlag.de/books/ao_txt/kmw01.html

The Weather God of Aleppo played a supra-regional role in the ancient world which accounts for the enormous size of the temple and its brilliant relief decoration. The building, a so-called 'tower-temple', goes back to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. Under Hittite rule in the second half of the 2nd millennium, the temple was decorated with reliefs showing images of 'false windows', two bull-men, and the Weather God. The entrance was protected with the relief of a fish-genius, as well as sphinx and lion portal figures.

In the 11th century BCE, Taita, "King and Hero of the Land of Palistin", restored the temple. He inserted his figure directly facing the Weather God. A final redecoration took place in the later 10th century BCE. It shows the Weather God entering his chariot, surrounded by his entourage. But, before all work had been even completed, the building burned down and was abandoned.

"Qalat Halab - Occasional Papers 1" gives an account on the most important discoveries in the temple.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. History of research

2. Historical overview

3. Stratigraphy and building type
4. Early Bronze Age

Architecture
Cult inventory and small finds

5. Middle Bronze Age and Late Bronze Age I

Architecture
Architectural decoration
Cult inventory and small finds

6. Late Bronze Age II

Architecture
Architectural decoration
Cult inventory and small finds

7. Early Iron Age

Architecture
Architectural decoration
Cult inventory and small finds

8. Quarries and re-use of sculptures

9. Spatial references

10. 3D-documentation of architecture and architectural decorations (Arie Kai-Browne)

Bibliography