Hattians
Encyclopedia
The Hattians were an ancient people who inhabited the land of Hatti in present-day central part of Anatolia
, Turkey
, noted at least as early as the empire of Sargon of Akkad
(ca. 2300 BC), until they were gradually displaced and absorbed ca. 2000-1700 BC by Indo-European Hittites
, who adopted their name for the "land of Hatti".
As the Hattians did not have a written language (in other words, they were proto-historic), scholars rely on indirect sources or statements by other peoples. Hattian leaders probably used scribe
s writing in Assyria
n to conduct business with northern Mesopotamia. Scholars have long assumed that the predominant population of the region of Anatolia "in the third millennium [BC] was an indigenous pre-Indo-European group called the Hattians."
The oldest name for Anatolia, "Land of the Hatti" was found for the first time on Mesopotamian cuneiform
tablets from the period of Sargon the Great
of Akkad
ca. 2350-2150 BC: on those tablets Assyrian traders implored the help of the Akkadian king Sargon. This appellation continued to exist for about 1500 years until 630 BC, as stated in Assyrian chronicles. According to later Hittite documents, Sargon the Great had fought with the Hattite king Nurdaggal of Burushanda, while his successor Naram-Sin of Akkad had battled Pamba
, king of Hatti and 16 other confederates.
The Hattians spoke a non-Indo-European language of uncertain affiliation called Hattic
, now believed by some scholars to be related to the Northwest Caucasian
language group. Many Northwest Caucasian (Adygean
) family names have prefixes like "Hath" or "Hatti" and especially one of the most known Adygean tribes have the name "Hattico" (in the meaning of "HattiSon") . Trevor Bryce writes:
The use of the word "Proto-Hittite" instead of Hattians is inaccurate. This would imply that the Hittites
evolved from the Hattians, which is completely false. The Hittites were an Indo-European people
, ethnically and linguistically distinct from the Hattians. However, the term "Land of Hatti" was so ingrained that the Hittites continued to use it when referring to their own country. The Hattians eventually merged with, or were replaced by, the Hittites, who spoke the Indo-European Hittite language
.
The Hattians were organised in feudal city-states and small kingdoms or principalities. These cities were well organized and ruled as theocratic
principalities. Even as they were taken over one by one by the conquering Hittites after ca. 2200 BC, the Hattians probably continued to form the major portion of the population. They may have been the people "who built and inhabited the early Bronze Age kingdoms of central Anatolia."
The influence of their culture was such that the Hittites took over much of their religion and mythology. The principal deities of the Hittites were likely adopted from the Hattian religion, such as the Sun goddess, her husband the Storm god and their children Nerik and Zippalanda, their daughter Nezullaš and their grandchild Zentiš, and also Telipinu, his wife Hatepinuš, and the goddesses Zithariyaš, Karziš and Hapantalliyaš, and possibly Inaraš, although the last may have an Indo-European
origin if it reflects a derivation of the root *h2ner-/*aner-, "strong, virile"). The Hattian civilization may also have given rise to the Hittite legend of Teshub
and Illuyankas, although similar legends are found in many Indo-European cultures (Indra
and Vrtra, Zeus
and Typhon
, Thor
and Jörmungandr
, Sigurd
and Fafnir
, and even the medieval Saint George and the Dragon
).
reportedly show long-nosed Hattian soldiers, while their Hittite leaders looked different according to Turkish archaeologist Ekrem Akurgal
.
Akurgal claims that "The Hattians were still the great majority of the population in the Hittite period." If true, the Hittite Indo-Europeans constituted a ruling elite within the Hittite Empire whereas the assimiliated Hattians were lower ranking members of Hittite society. A gold and silver statuette of a long-nosed Hattian woman can be seen in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
in Ankara, Turkey. It was found in Hasanoğlan and dates from about 2000 BC. Akurgal writes concerning the statuette:
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, noted at least as early as the empire of Sargon of Akkad
Sargon of Akkad
Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great "the Great King" , was an Akkadian emperor famous for his conquest of the Sumerian city-states in the 23rd and 22nd centuries BC. The founder of the Dynasty of Akkad, Sargon reigned in the last quarter of the third millennium BC...
(ca. 2300 BC), until they were gradually displaced and absorbed ca. 2000-1700 BC by Indo-European Hittites
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
, who adopted their name for the "land of Hatti".
As the Hattians did not have a written language (in other words, they were proto-historic), scholars rely on indirect sources or statements by other peoples. Hattian leaders probably used scribe
Scribe
A scribe is a person who writes books or documents by hand as a profession and helps the city keep track of its records. The profession, previously found in all literate cultures in some form, lost most of its importance and status with the advent of printing...
s writing in Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
n to conduct business with northern Mesopotamia. Scholars have long assumed that the predominant population of the region of Anatolia "in the third millennium [BC] was an indigenous pre-Indo-European group called the Hattians."
The oldest name for Anatolia, "Land of the Hatti" was found for the first time on Mesopotamian cuneiform
Cuneiform
Cuneiform can refer to:*Cuneiform script, an ancient writing system originating in Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC*Cuneiform , three bones in the human foot*Cuneiform Records, a music record label...
tablets from the period of Sargon the Great
Sargon of Akkad
Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great "the Great King" , was an Akkadian emperor famous for his conquest of the Sumerian city-states in the 23rd and 22nd centuries BC. The founder of the Dynasty of Akkad, Sargon reigned in the last quarter of the third millennium BC...
of Akkad
Akkad
The Akkadian Empire was an empire centered in the city of Akkad and its surrounding region in Mesopotamia....
ca. 2350-2150 BC: on those tablets Assyrian traders implored the help of the Akkadian king Sargon. This appellation continued to exist for about 1500 years until 630 BC, as stated in Assyrian chronicles. According to later Hittite documents, Sargon the Great had fought with the Hattite king Nurdaggal of Burushanda, while his successor Naram-Sin of Akkad had battled Pamba
Pamba
Pamba may refer to:* Pamba * Pamba River* Pamba Auxiliary Vessel* Pamba , genus of grass skipper butterflies* Pamba, 4-aminomethylbenzoic acid , antifibrinolytic agent...
, king of Hatti and 16 other confederates.
The Hattians spoke a non-Indo-European language of uncertain affiliation called Hattic
Hattic language
Hattic was a language spoken by the Hattians in Asia Minor between the 3rd and the 2nd millennia BC. Scholars call this language 'Hattic' to distinguish it from the Hittite language--the Indo-European language of the Hittite Empire....
, now believed by some scholars to be related to the Northwest Caucasian
Northwest Caucasian languages
The Northwest Caucasian languages, also called Abkhazo-Adyghean, or sometimes Pontic as opposed to Caspian for the Northeast Caucasian languages, are a group of languages spoken in the Caucasus region, chiefly in Russia , the disputed territory of Abkhazia, and Turkey, with smaller communities...
language group. Many Northwest Caucasian (Adygean
Adyghe people
The Adyghe or Adygs , also often known as Circassians or Cherkess, are in origin a North Caucasian ethnic groupwho were displaced in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus in the 19th century, especially after the Russian–Circassian War of 1862.Adyghe people mostly speak Adyghe and most...
) family names have prefixes like "Hath" or "Hatti" and especially one of the most known Adygean tribes have the name "Hattico" (in the meaning of "HattiSon") . Trevor Bryce writes:
The use of the word "Proto-Hittite" instead of Hattians is inaccurate. This would imply that the Hittites
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
evolved from the Hattians, which is completely false. The Hittites were an Indo-European people
Proto-Indo-Europeans
The Proto-Indo-Europeans were the speakers of the Proto-Indo-European language , a reconstructed prehistoric language of Eurasia.Knowledge of them comes chiefly from the linguistic reconstruction, along with material evidence from archaeology and archaeogenetics...
, ethnically and linguistically distinct from the Hattians. However, the term "Land of Hatti" was so ingrained that the Hittites continued to use it when referring to their own country. The Hattians eventually merged with, or were replaced by, the Hittites, who spoke the Indo-European Hittite language
Hittite language
Hittite is the extinct language once spoken by the Hittites, a people who created an empire centred on Hattusa in north-central Anatolia...
.
The Hattians were organised in feudal city-states and small kingdoms or principalities. These cities were well organized and ruled as theocratic
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
principalities. Even as they were taken over one by one by the conquering Hittites after ca. 2200 BC, the Hattians probably continued to form the major portion of the population. They may have been the people "who built and inhabited the early Bronze Age kingdoms of central Anatolia."
The influence of their culture was such that the Hittites took over much of their religion and mythology. The principal deities of the Hittites were likely adopted from the Hattian religion, such as the Sun goddess, her husband the Storm god and their children Nerik and Zippalanda, their daughter Nezullaš and their grandchild Zentiš, and also Telipinu, his wife Hatepinuš, and the goddesses Zithariyaš, Karziš and Hapantalliyaš, and possibly Inaraš, although the last may have an Indo-European
Indo-European
Indo-European may refer to:* Indo-European languages** Aryan race, a 19th century and early 20th century term for those peoples who are the native speakers of Indo-European languages...
origin if it reflects a derivation of the root *h2ner-/*aner-, "strong, virile"). The Hattian civilization may also have given rise to the Hittite legend of Teshub
Teshub
Teshub was the Hurrian god of sky and storm. He was derived from the Hattian Taru. His Hittite and Luwian name was Tarhun , although this name is from the Hittite root *tarh- to defeat, conquer.- Depiction and myths :He is depicted holding a triple...
and Illuyankas, although similar legends are found in many Indo-European cultures (Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
and Vrtra, Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
and Typhon
Typhon
Typhon , also Typhoeus , Typhaon or Typhos was the last son of Gaia, fathered by Tartarus, and the most deadly monster of Greek mythology. He was known as the "Father of all monsters"; his wife Echidna was likewise the "Mother of All Monsters."Typhon was described in pseudo-Apollodorus,...
, Thor
Thor
In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
and Jörmungandr
Jörmungandr
In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr , mostly known as Jormungand, orJörmungand , or Midgard Serpent , or World Serpent, is a sea serpent, and the middle child of the giantess Angrboða and the god Loki...
, Sigurd
Sigurd
Sigurd is a legendary hero of Norse mythology, as well as the central character in the Völsunga saga. The earliest extant representations for his legend come in pictorial form from seven runestones in Sweden and most notably the Ramsund carving Sigurd (Old Norse: Sigurðr) is a legendary hero of...
and Fafnir
Fafnir
In Norse mythology, Fáfnir or Frænir was a son of the dwarf king Hreidmar and brother of Regin and Ótr. In the Volsunga saga, Fáfnir was a dwarf gifted with a powerful arm and fearless soul. He guarded his father's house of glittering gold and flashing gems...
, and even the medieval Saint George and the Dragon
Saint George and the Dragon
The episode of Saint George and the Dragon appended to the hagiography of Saint George was Eastern in origin, brought back with the Crusaders and retold with the courtly appurtenances belonging to the genre of Romance...
).
Physiognomy
The Hattians and the Hittites apparently had different personal characteristics. Egyptian depictions of the Battle of KadeshBattle of Kadesh
The Battle of Kadesh took place between the forces of the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II at the city of Kadesh on the Orontes River, in what is now the Syrian Arab Republic....
reportedly show long-nosed Hattian soldiers, while their Hittite leaders looked different according to Turkish archaeologist Ekrem Akurgal
Ekrem Akurgal
Ekrem Akurgal was a Turkish archaeologist. During a career that spanned more than fifty years, he conducted definitive research in several sites along the western coast of Anatolia such as Phokaia , Pitane , Erythrai and old Smyrna Ekrem Akurgal (March 30, 1911 – November 1, 2002) was a ...
.
Akurgal claims that "The Hattians were still the great majority of the population in the Hittite period." If true, the Hittite Indo-Europeans constituted a ruling elite within the Hittite Empire whereas the assimiliated Hattians were lower ranking members of Hittite society. A gold and silver statuette of a long-nosed Hattian woman can be seen in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations is located on the south side of Ankara Castle in the Atpazarı area in Ankara, Turkey. It consists of the old Ottoman Mahmut Paşa bazaar storage building, and the Kurşunlu Han...
in Ankara, Turkey. It was found in Hasanoğlan and dates from about 2000 BC. Akurgal writes concerning the statuette:
- "This is a masterpiece of Hattian art. The large 'Roman noseRoman NoseRoman Nose, a.k.a. Hook Nose , was a Native American of the Northern Cheyenne, and possibly the greatest and most influential warrior during the Plains Indian War of the 1860s...
' of the Hasanoğlan statuette reveals the ethnic type of Anatolian people of that time."