The Quest For The Hittites

The Hittites, one of the most powerful peoples of the ancient Near East, successfully challenged all other nations, including almighty Egypt, from their Anatolian stronghold. Then, their empire collapsed, was consigned to oblivion, and lay forgotten. Three thousand years later, a motley group of scholars, archaeologists, and adventurers rediscovered the Hittites in an enterprise spanning a century and weaving through the worlds of German kaisers, Turkish sultans, and even the Nazis. This is the history of the rediscovery of the Hittites, a story packed with intrigue and played out against a compelling historical backdrop. It involves colorful characters like an explorer fluent in 29 languages and an archaeologist who slept in royal tombs, along with Victorian historians, cuneiform experts, code-crackers, and grave robbers. These unlikely sleuths uncovered the very roots of the Hittite Empire.

An accessible introduction to the Bronze Age culture in Asia Minor. Famed for their warriors, the Hittites flourished in the region of modern Turkey from the seventeenth to thirteenth centuries BC. In this book, archaeologist Damien Stone explores the rich history of the Hittite civilization beyond their skill in battle, from religious reverence for the sun and storms to eclectic rock carvings which survive to this day. Stone describes the colorful succession of Hittite rulers, complete with assassinations, intrigue, and an evil stepmother, but he also parses the development of the Hittite language and considers the Hittites’ legacy in religion, art, and culture today. In short, The Hittites is a wide-ranging, accessible introduction to this vibrant ancient culture.

This book is for the reader who takes interest in an age-old issue that remains contemporary with every succeeding generation. When, how, and why we are here are questions that have caused countless generations of thinkers and laymen alike to intuitively seek at the very least the semblance of an answer to questions that have become more of an outlook than a science, and in turn spring up among the problems of modern life as opposed to allowing for a resolution to that which was intended to clarify instead of further complicate. Free from the shackles and bias imposed by the various schools of religious, scientific and philosophical thought, the examinations offered herein are rooted in systematic analyses of the scientific, philosophical, ethical, social and finally the religious; which in turn allows for the explanation and justification of concepts that enable the reader to adopt a perspective relevant to the distinctions of absolute truth and relativistic assumptions. Our age is accurately referred to as the age of advancement and technology and for good reason. The rapid pace of progression over the last century in the life sciences has contributed to a broadened understanding of knowledge itself and its relation to the psychological and sociological aspects of our existence. As a result of the significant expansion of the sciences, the desire for an understanding of "self" and simply of "why" has in many ways been diluted, thus negating the never ending questions that once tugged at man's conscious in the middle of the night for thousands of years. Today's amazing achievements have laid the foundation for a whole series of newer problems and questions that threaten mankind as never before. The medical and biological sciences have enabled us to have a life expectancy beyond that of prior generations, however coupled with that are the problems of population explosion, which in the not too distant future will give rise to serious concerns. We have the ability to harness the power of the atom, yet along with it comes the ability to destroy all that we hold sacred. Taking into consideration the advanced age we live in, how does one account for the remarkable complexity extant throughout the known universe? Is one to assume that our consciousness coupled with our overwhelming sense of purpose can be attributed solely to "random chance" alone? The law of causation deals with the need for a preceding event leading to the outcome, and despite the fact that this scientific age has left its handprint on every facet of life today, it has failed to satisfy the innate question of simply, .............................................. why?

An archaeologist who has spent much of his life in the Near East attempts to share his profound interest in an antique land, its inhabitants, and the surviving monuments that link the present to the past. Illustrations.

For many years I had wanted to write something about Troy and the Classical Age; ever since my earlier archaological 'digs' and flint knapping and an early essay on Troy, quite unplanned, that had my strict Headmaster quite aghast (and even myself). I expect it was something hidden within my psyche which knows a former life, I hesitate to go t here. Notwithstanding that, this book describes not just the story of 'Troy' but theories of whether it did exist, with recent archaeological 'finds'. The work done at Troy by Schliemann is portrayed, also the work of Dorpfeld, Blegen and more recently the modern methods of the recently deceased Professor Manfred Korfmann and the theories of Joachim Latacz are explored, with emphasis on the University of Tuebingen TROIA Project, which is consistently attracting international attention. Not only is Troy portrayed, but the travels of John Morritt to locate the site of Troy. The interesting way Morritt circumnavigated the Napoleonic armies makes one wonder if he was on a clandestine mission to record topography, as he later makes un-historical observations of military movements in an area the French navy were to invade to reach Egypt, etc. If the reader receives any benefit from this book, I will consider that I have done my part. If not, I recomend it wholeheartedly as a sure-fire cure for insomnia. Robert D. Morritt

The Hittites created one of the great civilizations of the ancient world, although it remained almost unknown until excavations in the early 20th century revealed the extent and importance of its culture. For nearly five centuries the Hittites controlled vast areas of Anatolia, by direct or indirect rule, engaging in almost incessant warfare, and, at the same time, making significant contributions to culture and religion of the region. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Hittites contains a chronology, an introduction, an appendix, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries on mportant persons, places, essential institutions, and the significant aspects of the society, government, economy, material culture, and warfare. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Hittites.

Translations from the original texts are a particular feature of the book. Thus on many issues the Hittites and their contemporaries are allowed to speak to the modern reader for themselves."--BOOK JACKET.