Nestled in the northern reaches of Syria, Carchemish stands as a historical citadel that has played a pivotal role in the annals of human civilization. Throughout its existence, this city has oscillated between periods of independence and subjugation under the dominion of empires like Mitanni, Hittite, and Neo-Assyrian. Today, it straddles the modern border separating Turkey and Syria.
A Historic Battleground: The Battle of 605 BC
Carchemish bears witness to a defining moment in history, the Battle of 605 BC, a colossal clash between the Babylonians and Egyptians. This epic encounter is etched into the biblical verses of Jeremiah 46:2.
This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:
In the contemporary landscape, it shares proximity with urban centers like Karkamış in Turkey and Jarabulus in Syria.
A Tapestry of Ruins: Carchemish’s Extensive Archaeological Site
Presently, Carchemish is a sprawling expanse of ruins spanning 90 hectares, divided into 55 hectares within Turkey and 35 hectares within Syria. These ruins are situated along the western bank of the Euphrates River, approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Gaziantep, Turkey, and 100 kilometers northeast of Aleppo, Syria. The Baghdad Railway traverses the site, forming the present-day Turco-Syrian border. Within its bounds, Carchemish includes an acropolis along the river, an Inner Town encircled by earthen ramparts, and an Outer Town, the majority of which lies within Syrian territory. A Turkish military base restricts access, allowing entry only to the acropolis.
Carchemish’s Scholarly Allure and Historical Significance
Carchemish has captivated scholars for generations, its name resonating in the Bible (Jeremiah 46:2, 2 Chronicles 35:20, Isaiah 10:9) and reverberating through Egyptian and Assyrian texts. The city’s identification was initially proposed by James H. Skene, the British Consul in Aleppo, in 1874 and subsequently confirmed by George Smith in 1876. However, Carchemish was initially mistaken for the Classical city of Circesium, located at the confluence of the Khabur River and the Euphrates.
After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21 But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.” Chronicles 35:20
‘Has not Kalno fared like Carchemish?
Is not Hamath like Arpad,
and Samaria like Damascus? Isiah 10:9
Unearthing History: Early Archaeological Endeavors
The archaeological journey of Carchemish commenced with soundings conducted by Consul Patrick Henderson on behalf of the British Museum between 1878 and 1881. In the early 20th century, comprehensive excavations took place under the guidance of D. G. Hogarth, featuring notable participants like T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and C. L. Woolley. These excavations uncovered substantial remnants from the Assyrian and Neo-Hittite eras, including defensive structures, temples, palaces, and a multitude of basalt statues adorned with Luwian hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Challenges and Resilience: Carchemish Through Turbulent Times
Between 1956 and 1998, the entire site endured the impact of mining operations by the Turkish Land Forces. After mine clearance on the Turkish portion in 2011, archaeological work resumed. Subsequent seasons yielded remarkable findings, including Katuwa’s Palace, cuneiform tablets, fragments of sculptures, and hieroglyphic inscriptions.
Deities of Carchemish: A Tapestry of Ancient Beliefs
In the annals of antiquity, Carchemish emerges as a nexus of divine reverence, where gods and goddesses found their earthly abode. Among these celestial inhabitants, Kubaba, a deity of enigmatic Hurrian lineage, stands as the patron goddess. She graced the minds of devotees as a dignified figure, robed in the splendor of antiquity, often found in the timeless act of contemplation, be it standing or seated, clutching a sacred mirror.
Not to be overshadowed, the town’s spiritual tapestry unveiled another enigmatic presence, Karhuha, an embodiment akin to the revered Hittite stag-god Kurunta. In the shadow of this divine stag, the people of Carchemish sought solace and protection.
The divine aura of Kubaba extended beyond Carchemish, embracing Alalakh nestled within the coastal embrace of the Amik Valley. But it was in Carchemish that her essence found its most profound expression, in a resplendent basalt stele, crafted by the skilled hands of King Kamani around 790 BC. In 2015, the scattered fragments of this relic were meticulously reassembled, unveiling a Luwian hieroglyphic inscription that now whispers the secrets of Karkemish’s history to those who seek its wisdom.
Delving deeper into Carchemish’s spiritual mosaic, we uncover a trinity of devotion during the Middle Bronze Age. Kubaba, the luminous goddess, shared her celestial dominion with Nergal and Nubandag. Among these divine companions, Nergal reigned supreme, bearing the imprint of Mesopotamian influence. He was none other than the city-god of Carchemish, known as Il-Karkamis, as attested by an Old Babylonian hematite cylinder seal resting in the British Museum’s hallowed halls.
Nubandag, a warrior god with Hurrian roots, lent his presence to the religious tableau of Carchemish. The Mari texts whisper his name, attesting to his veneration during the Old Babylonian epoch, standing shoulder to shoulder with Nergal.
The city’s spiritual evolution traversed centuries, and in the mid-14th century BC, it witnessed a transformation as the mantle of city-god passed to Karhuha, the warrior god who embodied the spirit of the stag, reminiscent of Kurunta. This transition likely occurred under the watchful gaze of Mitannian influence, infusing a new vigor into Carchemish’s spiritual narrative.
In the mosaic of Carchemish’s deities, we discern echoes of its geographical significance as a crossroads of flourishing trade routes. Here, amidst bustling commerce, beliefs converged and mingled, birthing a vibrant, multifaceted religious tapestry that bore the indelible mark of antiquity.
Preservation and Contemporary Significance
Carchemish’s historical and contemporary significance extends to its status as an archaeological park, opened in 2019 with support from Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Gaziantep Province, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sanko Holding, Şahinbey Municipality, and Inta A.Ş. The Outer Town area in Syria, even before the Syrian Civil War, was recognized as an endangered cultural heritage site.
Carchemish, with its indelible mark on history, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of civilizations long past, where the echoes of ancient relics and modern preservation efforts harmonize to tell an ever-fascinating tale.