Saatchi Online

The African opal stone that I acquired from Zimbabwe brought my inspiration from lands far away.

It is probably because of my roots in Asia Minor that my thoughts drifted eastward to Hattusa.

The harmony of art, history and culture took the shape of a woman's portrait, Tawananna, a Hittite queen.



Tawananna is an expression of the divine mother-consort as embodied in the sky. The way her hair-band sits on her head symbolizes her political power.

Her confident smile reflects the admiration of her subjects. Or is it the light of the Hittite Sun that illuminates her cheek?

The most well-known Tawananna Pudu-Heba, wife of the ruler of Hattusha, left her indelible mark on the history by co-signing in 1258 BC the treaty of Kadesh with Egypt. The first written peace treaty in history has the signature of a woman.

An enlarged replica of the Kadesh Peace Treaty hangs on a wall at the headquarters of the United Nations.

Tawananna Pudu-Heba is undoubtedly telling us something...

African Opal Stone with Iroko Hardwood base