Sphinx Gate (Hattusa)
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Sphinx Gate (Hattusa) The Sphinx Gate in Hattusa (the capital of the Hittite Empire in the Late Bronze Age) was part of the city's fortifications. The Sphinx's Gate, is one of the three most notable gates of Hattusa's Upper City fortifications, other two being King's Gate, the Lions' Gate. Overview The inner doorway was adorned with sphinxes that were almost three dimensional, not only the front of their bodies looking towards the city but also with high wings on the sides and long upright tails. Only one original Sphinx is still in place while two others are kept in the local museum. All four door jambs of the gate bore representations of Sphinxes. Structural Details circa 1500 BCE One of the images most commonly associated with Hittites is the sphinx, combining a lion's body with an eagle's wings and a human head and chest. At Hattusa as at several other prominent Hittite Cities, they were placed on either side of the main entrance. circa 1...