Hattushash

The center of the Hittites’ domain was the mountainous central region of Anatolia, and their capital was the great city of Hattushash (see box, page 82), set in a natural fortress position in the north of this region. The history of the Hittites begins around 1850 BCE, when a prince called Anittas set out to extend his small kingdom in central Anatolia by conquering the cities of Kanesh and Hattushash. Although Hattushash was located in a commanding position, Anittas destroyed it completely and declared its ground to be cursed. Several generations later, another king, called Labarnas, decided to rebuild Hattushash and make it his capital. To commemorate the event, Labarnas changed his name to Hattusilis (meaning “man of Hattushash”).

It was this king, Hattusilis I (ruled c. 1650—1620 BCE), who was the real founder of the Hittite Empire. He was eager to conquer new territory, and after consolidating his position in central Anatolia he marched his army south across the Taurus Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea. Turning east, he invaded northern Syria, a region that was then ruled by the kings of a city called Aleppo. From Syria, Hattusilis brought back a band of scribes, whose task was to teach cuneiform writing to the Hittites.

Hattusilis was succeeded by his grandson, Mursilis I, who was equally imperialist in his mind-set. First, Mursilis conquered Aleppo. Then, marching east along the Euphrates River, he invaded Mesopotamia, sacking Babylon in 1595 BCE. However, while the Hittite army was returning home, it was attacked by the Hurrians, an aggressive tribe based

This sculpture depicts a Hittite god. In art, Hittite gods were often shown wearing horned helmets.

This statue depicts Tarunza, a Hittite king who ruled the city of Malatya.

On the upper Euphrates River. The Hittite army was routed, and when Mursilis finally managed to reach home, he was murdered by his brother-in-law. While conflicts within the royal family escalated, this first Hittite Empire went into rapid decline.