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On the Writing of Hittite History 285 ON THE WRITING OF HI'I' T'1E HISTORY* AHMET tNAL THE ORIENTALINSTITUTE The publicationof a new edition of The Hittitesand their Contemporariesin Asia Minor by J. G. Macqueenprovided the opportunityto make availableto the Englishspeaking public an up-to-date survey of Hittite history and culturebased on the latest textual and archaeological data. Unfortunatelythis edition has failed to live up to this promise. Our comments below highlightthe shortcomingsof the book and providesome additions,corrections, and suggestions for yet anotherrevision. SINCE 1975THE FIRSTEDITION of this book has been has now been completely revised by the author and is serving laymen and decorating the racks of scholarly republished in a new format with additional illustra- libraries. It is easier to read than 0. R. Gurney's The tions." A superficial check against the first edition Hittites, includes more illustrations, refrains from reveals, however, that the book is far from being up- detailed scientific discussions, and does not include all to-date and hardly reflects the newest discoveries and fields of Hittite culture, some of which could be publications. boring for the general reader. Besides, as opposed to The book consists of the following 9 chapters: Gurney, Macqueen's main sources for reconstructing 1. Background and environment (pp. 11-21). The Hittite/Anatolian culture are the archaeological data, author starts with a very brief overview of the geo- which he scrutinizes meticulously, rather than the graphical setting of Anatolia, the historical back- Hittite texts. It is a well known and sad fact that ground of Hittite history, and its prehistoric cultures archaeology sells better and lures more readers than including the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Early Bronze an illustration of historical facts based on written Age, and the period of the Old Assyrian Trading sources, which, admittedly, are sometimes dull. This Colonies. does not mean, however, that Macqueen's book has 2. Who were the Hittites? (pp. 22-35). Discovery sold more than Gurney's work, nor can it compete of the Hittites, decipherment of their language, dif- with it. With very few exceptions, it has little to fusion of Indo-European languages (Hittite, Luwian, present to learned scholars and Hittitologists. Hieroglyphic Luwian, Palaic) in Anatolia, the Indo- The "revised and enlarged" new edition seems to be European homeland and Hittite migrations into Asia the same as the old one in its general layout. Although Minor, archaeological evidence on the Hittite penetra- no reasons are to given justify this second edition, we tion into Asia Minor, Hattians, origins of the alleged assume that the book has gone out of print and the "Greek" speaking population in northwest Anatolia, interest of the general reader has occasioned the new and Luwians in mainland Greece (known since edition. There is no explanation in the preface as to P. Kretschmer [1896] as speakers of -anthos and what extent the author has changed, updated or -assos languages), are treated briefly. modified the content of his book in light of recent 3. The Hittites and their neighbors (pp. 36-52). discoveries and research. The only clue is given by the This chapter makes up the bulk of the book and deals publisher on the flap of the dust jacket which, of with the geographical position of Arzawa and its course the praising book, reads as follows: "Hailed by neighboring countries, Ahhiyawa, the supply of tin reviewers as 'stimulating,' 'outstanding' and of 'endur- (for the source of which Macqueen proposes, aston- value' when it first ing appeared in 1975 The Hittites ishingly, such distant regions as Bohemia and Britain!), the history of the Hittite Empire during the Old, * Review articleof The Hittitesand their Contemporaries Middle and Empire periods, and finally the fall of the in Asia Minor and (revised enlarged edition). By J. G. Empire about 1200 B.C. The historical outline is very MACQUEEN. New York:THAMES AND HUDSON, 1986.Pp. 176, brief, superficial, and lacking in insight. At the end of 149 ills., bibliography,and index. $22.50. this chapter the author rightly warns the reader not to 283 284 Journal of the American Oriental Society 109.2 (1989) exaggerate the role of iron in explaining the political- second millennium art. Under the heading "art" he military power of the Hittites or the allegedly Indo- unfortunately discusses only stone sculptures, noting European origin of the dynasty. He also remarks the other artifacts of art such as pottery, seals and correctly that the Hittites were in no way "barbarians" statuettes only in passing. The second part of the before their raid on Babylon (1590 B.C.). chapter mentions briefly myths, historical texts of 4. Warfare and defence (pp. 53-73). This chapter is narrative nature, and prayers as literary works. one of the most exhaustive sections of the book. 9. Epilogue: Anatolia after the fall of the Hittite From the point of view of warfare and strategy it Empire (pp. 154-60). It has become customary for explains the strategic settings of the countries of the any book or monograph on Hittite history to have an Kaskeans in the north, Azzi-Hayasa in the northeast, appendix which deals with events after the downfall Isuwa in the southeast, Kizzuwatna in the south and of the Hittite Empire in 1200 B.C. Macqueen's book is Arzawa in the southwest and west. Following this no exception; he tries to give an overview of the so- Macqueen deals with the main sorts of weapons, such called Neo-Hittite states using mostly the Neo-Assyrian as chariot, spear, sword, dagger, and bow. A long sources. He further mentions in passing the Urarteans, section is devoted to the description of fortifications Muski, Cimmerians, Phrygians, Lydians, Medes, and in excavated Anatolian sites. Persians. 5. Society and administration (pp. 74-78). This Macqueen's book is, on many points, controversial. chapter starts with a description of the character of Being aware of the enormous difficulties one has in Anatolian settlements. The author stresses, sometimes providing any account of Hittite-Anatolian history unnecessarily, the rural, village character of most of and civilization, I will restrict my remarks in the the settlements. He then touches briefly on various following only to the important points. items such as land tenure, marriage, slavery, deportees, The book does not include any discussion of chron- and the administrative system, including the king, ology, no practical tools such as a chronological table, queen, and the ruling classes. and no king list. The pictures are old and do not 6. Daily life in Late Bronze Age Anatolia (pp. 79- reflect the newest discoveries: cf. nos. 38, 101, 106 (it 108). Under this heading Macqueen subsumes many does not show the lintel, "seen restored to its original different aspects of Hittite culture. First of all he position"), and 113. discusses the residential architecture, shops (mainly P. I lf. A more detailed geography would help the from Beycesultan and Troy), palaces, agriculture, reader understand Anatolian history better. The map trade, industry, clothing, jewellery, seals and pottery. on pp. 12-13 gives unnecessary place names such as Strangely, he finishes this chapter with some remarks Eflani, Bolu, Gerede, Ilgaz, etc., which are obviously on "Mycenaean pottery in Anatolia" (see below). taken from the British surveys in the related areas, 7. Religion (pp. 109-35). In this chapter Macqueen while, on the other hand, missing some important discusses only some peripheral aspects of the com- names such as Arslantepe, Buget, Hacibektas, Ikiztepe, a plicated religion of the Hittites. He gives some and Yanarlar near Afyon. (For complete map new explanations and mentions the Anatolian and showing the locations see M. Forlanini-M. Marazzi, non-Anatolian background of Hittite religion. He Atlante Storico del Vicino Oriente Antico, Fasc. 4.3: subsumes under the latter category only the "Indo- Anatolia: L'Impero Hittita [1986], Tav. Iff.) This attention to Europeans" (i.e., the Hittites) and the Hurrians, dis- shows that the author did not pay enough not evaluate their regarding Mesopotamian influences. He then proceeds, Turkish excavations and did results; of under the misleading subtitle "village religion," to the this is also traceable in the course of his handling the main text. It is cult, magical ritual (at the wrong place!), the open air the archaeological material in sanctuaries, and other temples of smaller size. The significant in this connection that his work does not correct rest of the chapter is devoted to the role of the king as reflect the correct spelling of Turkish names; head of religious affairs, a description of the Great the following: Acemkoy, Alihar, Caynii, Dundartepe, to Temple at Hattusa as the nucleus of the king's religious Ergani, Gumushacik6y, Tepecik, Acemhoyiik, activities, the other temples at Hattusa (II-VII), Yazl- Allhar, Cayonu, Dindartepe, Ergani, Gumushacikoy, likaya, and burial practices. Tepecik. of 8. Art and literature (pp. 137-53). This chapter P. 14f. The reader expects at least some mention begins with a deprecating account of Hittite-Anatolian the Stone Age cultures. art. In connection with relief sculptures the author P. 21. During the Old Assyrian Colony period there in Anatolia. Of these recognizes, however, the unique aspects of Hittite were at least 17 small kingdoms low-relief, rock-carving as an original contribution to the author mentions only Kussara. UNAL: On the Writing of Hittite History 285 P. 27. In connection with the archaeological evi- These topics are truly side issues which encroach upon dence on Hittite origins Macqueen begins his discus- the main interest of the book: Hittite history. Indeed, sion with southwest Anatolia, which is archaeologically since the book's first edition in 1975, not a single piece one of the most poorly investigated regions.
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