Hatra, Shrine IX

Shrine IX, 2nd century
Shrine of šmš [Shamash] and Hercules/Nergal
located 200 m south of the temenos wall of the Great Temple

“Epigraphical evidence indicates that muqimšmš son of wrwd the rbytʾ (mayor) built this shrine (ʾzdʾ) (inscriptions H60, H61), probably dedicated to the worship of šmš. An inscribed slab was placed over the bench in the niche by ʿbdmlyk son of whwbʾ and his son ʿqbšmš, on the occasion of building an altar and a platform in the year 165 CE (476), for their lives and the lives of their sons (H62).
Moreover, 22 years later, in the year 498 (187) CE, the second son of whwbʾ, ʿbdsmyʾ, placed a relief inside the niche. The relief portrays an eagle with folded wings, carved in profile in high relief, with a torque and a necklace, facing two identical presentations of smyʾ”.
“It seems likely that the dedication of this shrine was initially to the worship of šmš, then changed to the worship of Hercules/Nergal, but for the Roman soldiers it was only for Hercules.”
Wathiq Al-Salihi, 2023, The Archaeology of Hatra, the Sacred City

“Another bas-relief from Temple IX shows two figures. On this partly preserved sculpture we can see a man (the head is missing) in typical richly embroidered Hatrene dress. The man is accompanied by a young woman. Inscription H63 from the relief informs us that the female figure represents a Hatrene lady, grwt wife of ‘bdmlk. The man on the relief is probably ‘bdmlk himself” [Krzysztof Jakubiak, A note on the inscriptions and architectural decorations from the small temples in Hatra https://www.academia.edu]

“Among the significant sculptures found in this shrine is a slab
of marble with a high relief of ʿbdmlk and his wife gd/rwt, who
stand frontally but with a slight turn toward each other.
The relief was found broken into a fragmentary state, but their
names were preserved. She wears the usual Hatrene costume of a long dress with long sleeves and a himation. Around her neck is a necklace, and her two braids of hair hang on her shoulders. As for ʿbdmalik’s attire, he wears a chiton and trousers and an overcoat with long sleeves. The decorations of his garment are the usual Hatrene ornamentations of the nobles and commanders. He grasps the hilt of his sword with his left hand while the right arm
touches the edge of the scabbard across his body, in a gesture not commonly attested.” [Wathiq Al-Salihi]