About the Artuklu Arch

The Artuklu arch was a thrity-three foot wide arch built between 1206 and 1207 by the Artukid Mahmud according to an inscription (Kakdaş Ateş, 2018, p. 57).  It acted as the entrance to the inner İç Kale and was originally connected to the smaller Artukid walls of the İç Kale (Kakdaş Ateş, 2018, p. 72).  The arch never contained a gate, and thus served no defensive purpose (Sinclair, 1989, p. 190).  Rather, it may have been a symbol of power; limestone reliefs on both sides of the arch picture a victorious lion grabbing a defeated bull with his mouth below (Nupelda Temel, 2016).