Hattusa — What Does the Historical Capital of the Hittite Empire Conceal?
On the tourist map of the world, Turkey is primarily renowned for its splendid resorts. However, one must not forget that the paradisiacal beaches and luxurious hotels are not the only assets of this country. In fact, the entire historical region of Anatolia is literally studded with fantastic monuments that open the gates to distant history for visitors. One such place is Hattusa — the capital of a mighty empire that, during its zenith, stood as one of the major powers in the eastern Mediterranean region. What is the history of this place? I will answer these questions and more below.
The Hittites arrived in Anatolia in the second millennium BCE, but the history of their empire began in the 17th century BCE. It was then that Hattusili I brought the Anatolian city-states under his control and expanded into neighboring territories. From the debris, a city emerged — one that transformed from the ruins of a trading center into a formidable capital.
The History of Hattusa.
The first city in the future capital of the Hittite Empire arose around the third millennium BCE, serving as the main center of one of the city-states founded by the Hatti people. The name Hattusa (also Hattusas or Hattusza) appeared in written texts around 2000 BCE, when Assyrians…
