THE RELIGIOUS VALUE OF THE DICLE TUNNEL-BIRKLEYN CAVES ON THE ROUTE OF THE ASSYRIAN EXPEDITION

Abdulsabur Şığva

Article Details

THE RELIGIOUS VALUE OF THE DICLE TUNNEL-BIRKLEYN CAVES ON THE ROUTE OF THE ASSYRIAN EXPEDITION

Authors:

Abdulsabur Şığva

Publisher:

Bingol University

Main Topics:

Yerleşim Arkeolojisi

Journal:

Bingöl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi Issue 27, pp.345-355

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001316502

pISSN:

1309-6672

Keywords:

Abstract:

 During the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods; the Assyrian Kingdom organised military expeditions for commercialeconomic purposes to distant regions by using different routes in Asia Minor. These military expeditions contributed to the consolidation of the military and political power of the Assyrian State and created new opportunities for future expeditions. Although the factors determining the selection of Assyrian military expedition routes varied, factors such as the sovereignty areas of the powers that threatened the kingdom, the passes with favourable geographical conditions, and the presence of suitable environments to meet the shelter and nutrition needs of the army were influential in determining the routes. One of the most important passes that brought the Assyrian Kingdom to Eastern Anatolia through the Taurus Mountains passes through the region where the Tigris Tunnel-Birkleyn Caves are located. This study aims to examine the Tigris Tunnel-Birkleyn Caves, located on the present-day BingölGenç-Diyarbakır highway, in terms of the Assyrian belief system. Taking the Assyrian chronicles as the main reference, this study investigates the religious foundations of the reliefs and inscriptions carved on the stone walls around the Dibni StreamBırkleyn Cave which is one of the sources of the Tigris River. Additionally, by analysing the reliefs and inscriptions, the belief system of the Assyrian kings regarding the sanctity of water was examined. It is concluded from the field research and textual analyses that the Assyrian kings considered visiting the source of the Tigris River, which had a vital importance for them, as a religious ritual.

 During the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods; the Assyrian Kingdom organised military expeditions for commercialeconomic purposes to distant regions by using different routes in Asia Minor. These military expeditions contributed to the consolidation of the military and political power of the Assyrian State and created new opportunities for future expeditions. Although the factors determining the selection of Assyrian military expedition routes varied, factors such as the sovereignty areas of the powers that threatened the kingdom, the passes with favourable geographical conditions, and the presence of suitable environments to meet the shelter and nutrition needs of the army were influential in determining the routes. One of the most important passes that brought the Assyrian Kingdom to Eastern Anatolia through the Taurus Mountains passes through the region where the Tigris Tunnel-Birkleyn Caves are located. This study aims to examine the Tigris Tunnel-Birkleyn Caves, located on the present-day BingölGenç-Diyarbakır highway, in terms of the Assyrian belief system. Taking the Assyrian chronicles as the main reference, this study investigates the religious foundations of the reliefs and inscriptions carved on the stone walls around the Dibni StreamBırkleyn Cave which is one of the sources of the Tigris River. Additionally, by analysing the reliefs and inscriptions, the belief system of the Assyrian kings regarding the sanctity of water was examined. It is concluded from the field research and textual analyses that the Assyrian kings considered visiting the source of the Tigris River, which had a vital importance for them, as a religious ritual.

 During the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods; the Assyrian Kingdom organised military expeditions for commercialeconomic purposes to distant regions by using different routes in Asia Minor. These military expeditions contributed to the consolidation of the military and political power of the Assyrian State and created new opportunities for future expeditions. Although the factors determining the selection of Assyrian military expedition routes varied, factors such as the sovereignty areas of the powers that threatened the kingdom, the passes with favourable geographical conditions, and the presence of suitable environments to meet the shelter and nutrition needs of the army were influential in determining the routes. One of the most important passes that brought the Assyrian Kingdom to Eastern Anatolia through the Taurus Mountains passes through the region where the Tigris Tunnel-Birkleyn Caves are located. This study aims to examine the Tigris Tunnel-Birkleyn Caves, located on the present-day BingölGenç-Diyarbakır highway, in terms of the Assyrian belief system. Taking the Assyrian chronicles as the main reference, this study investigates the religious foundations of the reliefs and inscriptions carved on the stone walls around the Dibni StreamBırkleyn Cave which is one of the sources of the Tigris River. Additionally, by analysing the reliefs and inscriptions, the belief system of the Assyrian kings regarding the sanctity of water was examined. It is concluded from the field research and textual analyses that the Assyrian kings considered visiting the source of the Tigris River, which had a vital importance for them, as a religious ritual.

 Asur Krallığı; Orta ve Yeni Asur dönemlerinde, Ön Asyada farklı güzergâhlar kullanarak uzak bölgelere yönelik iktisadiekonomi amaçlı askeri seferler düzenlemiştir. Bu askeri seferler, Asur Devletinin askeri ve siyasi gücünün pekişmesine ve daha sonra yapılacak seferler için de yeni olanakların oluşmasına katkıda bulunmuştur. Asur askeri sefer güzergâhlarının seçiminde belirleyici olan faktörler çeşitlilik göstermekle birlikte; krallığı tehdit eden unsurların bulunduğu güçlerin egemenlik alanları, coğrafi koşulların uygun olduğu geçitler, ordunun barınma ve beslenme ihtiyaçlarını karşılayacak uygun ortamların varlığı gibi unsurlar rotaların belirlenmesinde etkili olmuştur. Asur Krallığını Doğu Anadoluya Toros Dağları üzerinden ulaştıran en önemli geçitlerden biri Dicle Tüneli-Bırkleyn Mağaralarının bulunduğu bölgeden geçmektedir. Bu çalışma, günümüz BingölGenç-Diyarbakır kara yolu üzerinde bulunan Dicle Tüneli-Bırkleyn Mağaralarının Asur inanç sistemi açısından incelenmesini amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmada, Asur kronikleri temel referans kabul edilerek Dicle Nehrinin kaynaklarından biri olan Dibni ÇayıBırkleyn Mağarası çevresindeki taş duvarlara işlenen kabartma ve metinlerin inançsal temelleri araştırılmıştır. Aynı zamanda kabartma ve yazıtlar incelenerek Asur krallarının suyun kutsallığına yönelik inanç yapısı irdelenmiştir. Saha araştırması ve metin analizlerinden anlaşıldığı kadarıyla Asur krallarının kendileri için hayati bir öneme sahip olan Dicle Nehri kaynağını ziyaret etmeyi dini bir ritüel olarak gördükleri anlaşılmaktadır.

Article Details

THE RELIGIOUS VALUE OF THE DICLE TUNNEL-BIRKLEYN CAVES ON THE ROUTE OF THE ASSYRIAN EXPEDITION

Authors:

Abdulsabur Şığva

Publisher:

Bingol University

Main Topics:

Yerleşim Arkeolojisi

Journal:

Bingöl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi Issue 27, pp.345-355

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001316502

pISSN:

1309-6672

Ancient History

Assyria

Road Routes

Reliefs and Inscriptions

Bırkleyn Caves

Religious RitualEski Çağ Tarihi

Asur

Yol Güzergahları

Kabartma ve Yazıtlar

Bırkleyn Mağaraları

Dini Ritüel

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Abdulsabur Şığva

Publisher: Bingol University

Main Topics: Yerleşim Arkeolojisi

Journal: Bingöl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi Issue 27, pp.345-355

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2024

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001316502

pISSN: 1309-6672

Issues

Authors:

Abdulsabur Şığva

Publisher:

Bingol University

Main Topics:

Yerleşim Arkeolojisi

Journal:

Bingöl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi Issue 27, pp.345-355

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001316502

pISSN:

1309-6672