and the Standard-Inscription . Additionally , lamassu statues 7 were placed on both sides of several doorways . For the sake of the length of this article the doorways and , therefore , the colossi will not be taken into account 8 .
Methodology The available dataset is based on the earlier mentioned reconstructions of the original location of the wall reliefs by Meuszynski ( 1981 ), and Paley and Sobolewki ( 1987 ; 1992 ). The rooms will be discussed using the designated names that were also used in these volumes . Each relief has been assigned to one of the seven earlier mentioned categories , based on the images depicted on the reliefs . Unfortunately , at several locations it cannot be determined which reliefs and how many were originally placed there , and therefore an estimation will be made of the number of these missing reliefs . This is especially the case in The Doublesided Reception Suite , since almost no reliefs have been found in situ . These reliefs have largely been removed by a later king , to adorn the Southwest Palace 9 . The Double-sided Reception Suite will , therefore , not be incorporated in this research ,
cannot be determined .
There are four types of reliefs present in the Northwest Palace : ( 1 ) reliefs on which the image is depicted on the entire plate , ( 2 ) reliefs which bear two images that are separated by the Standard- Inscription , ( 3 ) reliefs of which the image partly covers the plate , and ( 4 ) reliefs that bear three images , and do not bear the Standard-Inscription . Reliefs of the last type only bear religious scenes ( Schubert 2016 , 24 ). Reliefs of type two can contain images from different categories . Therefore , the reliefs will be assigned to both categories and receive a value of 0,5 , in order to make it possible to assign reliefs to two categories . In all the other cases , the reliefs will receive a value of 1,0 . These values will be used in order to generate several graphs . The number of depictions of the king will also be taken into account .
First , the reliefs will be analysed per suite ( thus , the Throneroom Suite , the Eastern Suite and the King ’ s Suite ). Since the Central Courtyard and several associated hallways are also decorated with wall reliefs , these will be assigned to the Central Courtyard and will also be taken account in this analysis . Second , the wall reliefs will be examined in connection to the rooms that had the same function .
Results Hunting scenes , tributary scenes and scenes of warfare were only located in the Throneroom Suite
Suite were only adorned with religious scenes and the Standard-Inscription . This is also the case for the Central Courtyard , with the exception of one undecorated plate . The king was most often depicted in the Eastern Suite ( n = 23 ), followed by the Throneroom Suite ( n = 22 ) and lastly the King ’ s suite , in which the king is only depicted once ( see table 1 ).
Remarkably , the storage rooms are all decorated in the same manner . The bathrooms , corridors , hallways and retiring rooms are all adorned with either the Standard-Inscription , religious scenes , or both . With exception of the throneroom , the reception rooms are also decorated in a similar
these were mainly placed in the reception rooms , the adjacent hallways ( rooms C and N ), and the retiring rooms . Also , two images of the king were placed in the Throneroom Courtyard .
Discussion There are several patterns observable in the location of the wall reliefs of the Northwest Palace , which are related to the suite and the type of room in which they were located . Reliefs depicting narrative scenes were only found in the Throneroom suite . The tributary scenes are mainly located on the façade of the throneroom ( D / ED / E ), and were placed there in order to direct the visitors to the west-entrance of the throneroom . Paley and Sobolewski ( 1997 , 334 ) therefore stated that tribute bearers were automatically informed about the royal protocol when appearing before the king . This is further emphasized by the two tributary reliefs that were positioned in the throneroom opposite of this entrance , which would make the route “ complete ”. Hence , the wall reliefs were used to inform and direct its tributary visitors . The throne itself was situated on the eastside of the room and the visitors were directed throughout its entire length , passing several scenes of warfare and hunting scenes . ( Kertai 2015 , 30 ). Thus , a second function of the reliefs was to impress its viewers , and to make certain that the king was present through these depictions , even if he himself was not physically present at the moment .
in the palace where rituals were performed by the king ( Russell 1998 , 671-674 ). Regarding the wall reliefs this seems very plausible , as the king is often depicted performing rituals , frequently assisted by
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