How did Hittite art change in the Syro-Hittite city-states?

During the Syro-Hittite period (10th–8th centuries BCE), following the collapse of the Hittite Empire, the art and architecture of the remaining Hittite city-states underwent a significant transformation, becoming hybrid and increasingly influenced by external cultures.1

Key changes included:

• Stylistic Influences: The art shifted from the earlier Hittite style to a composite character, heavily influenced by Assyria, as well as Phoenician and Egyptian motifs.12
• Architectural Features: A defining characteristic of this period was the use of sculptured orthostats—stone slabs lining the bases of walls—which often featured an awkward alternation between coarse black basalt and white limestone.1
• Palace Design: Syrian-style palaces became common, incorporating one or more bit hilani units, which consisted of a columned portico, a long reception room, and various retiring rooms.1
• Sculpture: The period saw the frequent use of monolithic, larger-than-life statues.1

Overall, this era’s artistic output is often described as having a hybrid and inferior character compared to the imperial Hittite period, reflecting the shared political authority between the Hittites, indigenous Aramaeans, and other groups.1