Hittitology

Hittitology. Hittitology is the academic discipline dedicated to the study of the Hittites, an Ancient Near Eastern people who established a powerful empire in Anatolia during the Bronze Age. The field encompasses the investigation of their history, cuneiform writings, archaeology, religion, and society, primarily through the decipherment of texts in the Hittite language and related Anatolian languages. It is an interdisciplinary branch of Ancient Near Eastern studies and Assyriology, with significant contributions from archaeology, philology, and historical linguistics.

History of Hittitology

The field originated in the early 20th century following the excavations at Hattusa by Hugo Winckler and Theodor Makridi Bey, which yielded thousands of clay tablets. The pivotal breakthrough was the decipherment of the Hittite language, achieved in 1915 by Bedřich Hrozný, who demonstrated its Indo-European character. Pioneering scholars like Johannes Friedrich, Albrecht Götze, and Hans Gustav Güterbock established the foundations of grammar and lexicography. Later, the work of Heinrich Otten, Emmanuel Laroche, and Sedat Alp in Turkey greatly expanded understanding of Hittite history and culture.

Sources and Languages

The primary sources are cuneiform tablets excavated at sites like Hattusa, Sapinuwa, and Kültepe. These texts are written primarily in the Hittite language, but also in other Anatolian languages such as Luwian, Palaic, and Hattic. The corpus includes treaties like the Treaty of Kadesh with Egypt, law codes, mythological narratives such as the Kumarbi cycle, ritual instructions, and administrative records. Important supplementary evidence comes from hieroglyphic Luwian inscriptions found at sites like Karakuyu and Aleppo, and from correspondence with contemporary powers like Mitanni and the Assyrian empire.

Major Discoveries and Sites

The capital, Hattusa (modern Boğazkale), excavated by the German Archaeological Institute, remains the most prolific source of texts and monumental architecture, including the Lion Gate and the Yazılıkaya sanctuary. Other key sites include Kültepe (ancient Kanesh), the source of the Old Assyrian trade archives; Sapinuwa (modern Ortaköy); and Alaca Höyük. Significant artifact discoveries include the İnandıktepe vase, the Eskiyapar treasure, and the royal seals from Maşat Höyük. Excavations at Ugarit in Syria have also yielded important Hittite documents.

Key Research Areas and Methods

Research focuses on editing and translating cuneiform texts, a core philological task undertaken at centers like the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz. Historical studies analyze political history, international relations of the Late Bronze Age, and the empire's collapse during the Bronze Age collapse. Linguistic research examines the Anatolian languages within the Indo-European family. Other vital areas include the study of Hittite religion and mythology, Hittite law, socio-economic structures, and art and archaeology, utilizing methods from epigraphy, comparative mythology, and archaeometry.

Academic and Institutional Framework

Hittitology is taught within departments of Ancient Near Eastern studies, Assyriology, and archaeology at universities worldwide, including the University of Chicago, Freie Universität Berlin, and Ankara University. Major research institutions include the German Archaeological Institute, the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (formerly the Oriental Institute), and the Turkish Historical Society. Key publications are the journal Archiv für Orientforschung and the monograph series Studien zu den Boğazköy-Texten. International conferences, such as those organized by the International Association for Assyriology, regularly feature Hittitological research.

Category:Ancient Near East Category:Archaeological sub-disciplines Category:Indo-European studies