Manapa-Tarhunta letter
Encyclopedia
The Manapa-Tarhunta letter (CTH 191; KUB 19.5 + KBo 19.79) is a Hittite
letter discovered in the 1980s. It was written by a client king called Manapa-Tarhunta to an unnamed Hittite king around 1295 BCE.
The only datable Manapa-Tarhunta
was the one who became undisputed king of Seha River around the time of the death of Arnuwanda II
(1322 BCE). This letter further mentions a Kupanta-Kurunta
. A treaty between Mursili II
(1322-1295 BCE) and a Kupanta-Kurunta
, who is king of Mira (Western Asia Minor), survives which mentions this Manapa-Tarhunta as still alive.
The letter also mentions a "Piyama-Radu
", an "Atpa" (King of Miletus according to the Tawagalawa letter
), and an attack on Hatti's historic ally Wilusa
. These figures and events associate the Manapa-Tarhunta letter with an early stage of the events mentioned in the Tawagalawa letter
(c. 1250 BCE). The Tawagalawa in that letter was the brother of Ahhiyawa's king, and is identified as the legendary Eteocles
who lived a generation before the Trojan War
. No king of Ahhiyawa is on record before Mursili
's reign; at most there might have been a "man from Ahhiya" as under Arnuwanda I
(1400-1360 BCE).
Manapa-Tarhunta had passed on the succession to Manapa-Kurunta (presumably Tarhunta's son) by the time of the treaty between Muwatalli II
(1295-1272 BCE) and Alaksandu
of Wilusa. The Manapa-Tarhunta letter would then have been written in the later years of Mursili or else the earlier years of Muwatalli II.
Piyama-Radu is further mentioned, as a past figure, in the Milawata letter
(c. 1225 BCE); which like the other two letters handles the aftermath of events in Wilusa which did not go the Hittites' way.
The Manapa-Tarhunta letter mentions first an attack on Wilusa
, and then how a notorious local troublemaker called Piyama-Radu
is harrying the western lands. The Hittite king has apparently ordered Manapa-Tarhunta to drive out Piyama-Radu himself, but Manapa-Tarhunta's attempt has failed, so that a Hittite force is now sent out to deal with the problem. Before marching to Wilusa, the expeditionary force camps at the land near the Seha River, placing Wilusa in the north-west corner of Anatolia.
For Trevor Bryce
, this leads to the inescapable conclusion that the location of Wilusa is identical to that of the archeological site of Troy
(Illios).
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...
letter discovered in the 1980s. It was written by a client king called Manapa-Tarhunta to an unnamed Hittite king around 1295 BCE.
The only datable Manapa-Tarhunta
Manapa-Tarhunta
Manapa-Tarhunta was a king in western Anatolia during the Late Bronze Age. Manapa-Tarhunta is known through the archives of the kings of Hattusas.He was a younger son of King Muwa-Walwis of the Seha River Land, born ca. the 1330s BC....
was the one who became undisputed king of Seha River around the time of the death of Arnuwanda II
Arnuwanda II
Arnuwanda II was a king of the Hittite Empire ca. 1322–1321 BC . He succeeded his father Suppiluliuma I, who succumbed to the plague which Egyptian captives from his Canaan campaign had brought with them to the Hittite heartland....
(1322 BCE). This letter further mentions a Kupanta-Kurunta
Kupanta-Kurunta
Kupanta-Kurunta was the first recorded king of Arzawa, in the late 15th century BC. He was defeated by an earlier Tudhaliya and his son, the future Arnuwanda I. He then attacked Arnuwanda's restive vassal Madduwatta at Zippasla...
. A treaty between Mursili II
Mursili II
Mursili II was a king of the Hittite Empire ca. 1321–1295 BC .-Family:Mursili II was the younger son of Suppiluliuma I, one of the most powerful rulers of the Hittite Empire...
(1322-1295 BCE) and a Kupanta-Kurunta
Kupanta-Kurunta
Kupanta-Kurunta was the first recorded king of Arzawa, in the late 15th century BC. He was defeated by an earlier Tudhaliya and his son, the future Arnuwanda I. He then attacked Arnuwanda's restive vassal Madduwatta at Zippasla...
, who is king of Mira (Western Asia Minor), survives which mentions this Manapa-Tarhunta as still alive.
The letter also mentions a "Piyama-Radu
Piyama-Radu
Piyamaradu was a warlike aristocratic personage whose name figures prominently in the Hittite archives of the middle and late 13th century BC in western Anatolia. His history is of particular interest because it appears to intertwine with that of the Trojan War...
", an "Atpa" (King of Miletus according to the Tawagalawa letter
Tawagalawa letter
The Tawagalawa letter was written by a Hittite king to a king of Ahhiyawa around 1250 BC. This letter, of which only the third tablet has been preserved, concerns the activities of an adventurer Piyama-Radu against the Hittites, and requests his extradition to Hatti under assurances of safe conduct...
), and an attack on Hatti's historic ally Wilusa
Wilusa
Wilusa was a city of the late Bronze Age Assuwa confederation of western Anatolia.It is known from six references in 13th century BC Hittite sources, including...
. These figures and events associate the Manapa-Tarhunta letter with an early stage of the events mentioned in the Tawagalawa letter
Tawagalawa letter
The Tawagalawa letter was written by a Hittite king to a king of Ahhiyawa around 1250 BC. This letter, of which only the third tablet has been preserved, concerns the activities of an adventurer Piyama-Radu against the Hittites, and requests his extradition to Hatti under assurances of safe conduct...
(c. 1250 BCE). The Tawagalawa in that letter was the brother of Ahhiyawa's king, and is identified as the legendary Eteocles
Eteocles
In Greek mythology, Eteocles was a king of Thebes, the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. The name is from earlier *Etewoklewes , meaning "truly glorious". Tawaglawas is thought to be the Hittite rendition of the name. Oedipus killed his father Laius and married his mother without...
who lived a generation before the Trojan War
Trojan War
In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans after Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad...
. No king of Ahhiyawa is on record before Mursili
Mursili
There were three Hittite kings called Mursili:*Mursili I*Mursili II*Mursili IIISee also: List of Hittite kings....
's reign; at most there might have been a "man from Ahhiya" as under Arnuwanda I
Arnuwanda I
Arnuwanda I was a king of the Hittite empire. He became a ruler by marriage and was very religious.- Biography :Arnuwanda became a king by marriage. His wife was Ašmu-nikal, daughter of king Tudhaliya I. He became a successor of Tudhaliya as his son-in-law. He began his reign under a co-regency...
(1400-1360 BCE).
Manapa-Tarhunta had passed on the succession to Manapa-Kurunta (presumably Tarhunta's son) by the time of the treaty between Muwatalli II
Muwatalli II
Muwatalli II was a king of the New kingdom of the Hittite empire .- Biography :He was the eldest son of Mursili II and Queen Gassulawiya, and he had several siblings....
(1295-1272 BCE) and Alaksandu
Alaksandu
Alaksandu was a king of Wilusa who sealed a treaty with Muwatalli II ca. 1280 BC. This treaty implies that Alaksandu had previously secured a treaty with Muwatalli's father, Mursili II, as well....
of Wilusa. The Manapa-Tarhunta letter would then have been written in the later years of Mursili or else the earlier years of Muwatalli II.
Piyama-Radu is further mentioned, as a past figure, in the Milawata letter
Milawata letter
The Milawata letter is a diplomatic correspondence from a Hittite king at Hattusa to a client king in western Anatolia around 1240 BCE...
(c. 1225 BCE); which like the other two letters handles the aftermath of events in Wilusa which did not go the Hittites' way.
The Manapa-Tarhunta letter mentions first an attack on Wilusa
Wilusa
Wilusa was a city of the late Bronze Age Assuwa confederation of western Anatolia.It is known from six references in 13th century BC Hittite sources, including...
, and then how a notorious local troublemaker called Piyama-Radu
Piyama-Radu
Piyamaradu was a warlike aristocratic personage whose name figures prominently in the Hittite archives of the middle and late 13th century BC in western Anatolia. His history is of particular interest because it appears to intertwine with that of the Trojan War...
is harrying the western lands. The Hittite king has apparently ordered Manapa-Tarhunta to drive out Piyama-Radu himself, but Manapa-Tarhunta's attempt has failed, so that a Hittite force is now sent out to deal with the problem. Before marching to Wilusa, the expeditionary force camps at the land near the Seha River, placing Wilusa in the north-west corner of Anatolia.
For Trevor Bryce
Trevor R. Bryce
Trevor Robert Bryce is a Hittitologist specializing in ancient and classical Near-eastern history. He lives in Brisbane in a small unit where he is semi retired. He has two children and five grand kids. His son is a widely acclaimed Doctor who has produced documentaries associated with Aboriginal...
, this leads to the inescapable conclusion that the location of Wilusa is identical to that of the archeological site of Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
(Illios).
Literature
- Forrer, Forsch. I/1 ('26) 90ff., AU ('32) 170 n.1
- Houwink ten Cate, JEOL 28 (1985) 33-79;
- Steph. JAOS 84:27 n. 35
See also
- Tawagalawa letterTawagalawa letterThe Tawagalawa letter was written by a Hittite king to a king of Ahhiyawa around 1250 BC. This letter, of which only the third tablet has been preserved, concerns the activities of an adventurer Piyama-Radu against the Hittites, and requests his extradition to Hatti under assurances of safe conduct...
- Milawata letterMilawata letterThe Milawata letter is a diplomatic correspondence from a Hittite king at Hattusa to a client king in western Anatolia around 1240 BCE...
- Historicity of the IliadHistoricity of the IliadThe extent of the historical basis of the Iliad has been a topic of scholarly debate in classical studies since the 19th century.While the Age of Enlightenment had rejected the story of the Trojan War as fable, the discoveries made by Heinrich Schliemann at Hisarlik reopened the question in modern...
.