The Hittites: The Story of a Forgotten Empire
1890
The Hittites: The Story of a Forgotten Empire
1890
The Hittites: The Story of a Forgotten Empire, written by A. H. Sayce and first published in 1890, is a historical account that revives the significance of the Hittite civilization, which has largely faded from memory. Sayce connects archaeological findings, biblical references, and ancient inscriptions to illustrate the Hittites' influential role in ancient geopolitics, particularly in relation to the Old Testament. The book explores Hittite culture, language, and their interactions with other civilizations like the Egyptians and Assyrians, providing a comprehensive understanding of this once-prominent empire.
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“The same double-headed eagle, supporting the figure of a man or a god, is met with at Boghaz Keui, and must be regarded as one of the peculiarities of Hittite symbolism and art. The symbol was adopted in later days by the Turkoman princes, who had perhaps first seen it on the Hittite monuments of Kappodokia; and the Crusaders brought it to Europe with them in the 14th century. Here it became the emblem of the German Emperors, who have passed it on to the modern kingdoms of Russia and Austria. It is not the only heirloom of Hittite art which has descended to us of to-day.””
— A. H. Sayce
“The Hittites and Amorites were therefore mingled together in the mountains of Palestine like the two races which ethnologists tell us go to form the modern Kelt.””
— A. H. Sayce
“Like the Egyptians, the Hittites sat when eating.””
— A. H. Sayce
“Elephants' tusks were among the tribute paid by the Hittites to the Assyrian kings. It may be that the extinction of the elephant in this part of Asia was due to Hittite huntsmen.””
— A. H. Sayce
“It is not probable that the Hittite system of writing passed away without leaving its influence behind it ... There is reason to think that the curious syllabary which continued to be used in Cyprus as late as the age of Alexander the Great was derived from the Hittite hieroglyphs ... It is also possible that the names assigned to the letters even of the Phœnician alphabet were influenced by the hieroglyphs of the Hittites.””
— A. H. Sayce
“So, too, we may imagine that the sight of the hieroglyphs of Egypt, and the knowledge that thoughts could be conveyed by them, suggested to some Hittite genius the idea of inventing a similar means of intercommunication for his own people.””
— A. H. Sayce
“The direction in which the characters look determines the direction in which they should be read. This alternate or boustrophedon mode of writing also characterises early Greek inscriptions, and since it was not adopted by either Phœnicians, Egyptians, or Assyrians, the question arises whether the Greeks did not learn to write in such a fashion from neighbours who made use of the Hittite script.””
— A. H. Sayce
“Hettites appeal to us not alone because of the influence they once exercised on the fortunes of the Chosen People, not alone because a Hittite was the wife of David and the ancestress of Christ, but also on account of the debt which the civilisation of our own Europe owes to them. Our culture is the inheritance we have received from ancient Greece, and the first beginnings of Greek culture were derived from the Hittite conquerors of Asia Minor ... The Hittites carried the time-worn civilisations of Babylonia and Egypt to the furthest boundary of Asia, and there handed them over to the West in the grey dawn of European history.””
— A. H. Sayce
“Even the buckle, with the help of which the prehistoric Greek fastened his cloak, has been shown by a German scholar to imply an arrangement of the dress such as we see represented on the Hittite monument of Ibreez.””
— A. H. Sayce
About The Hittites: The Story of a Forgotten Empire
Chapter Summaries
- 1
- Introduces the Biblical references to Hittites, distinguishing between northern Syrian Hittites and southern Palestinian ones. Discusses how modern criticism once dismissed Biblical accounts of Hittite power, but archaeological discoveries have vindicated Scripture.
- 2
- Traces Hittite history through Egyptian and Assyrian records, from their first appearance under Thothmes III through their wars with Ramses II and eventual conquest by Assyrian kings. Includes the full text of the famous treaty between Ramses II and the Hittite king.
- 3
- Describes Sayce's discovery that the mysterious sculptures of Asia Minor, including those at Karabel, were actually Hittite monuments. Explains how he connected these with the Hamah inscriptions to prove a Hittite empire extending across Asia Minor.
Key Themes
- Archaeological Discovery and Historical Reconstruction
- The book demonstrates how modern archaeology can resurrect forgotten civilizations from scattered evidence. Sayce shows how monuments, inscriptions, and artifacts can be pieced together to reveal the story of an entire empire.
- Biblical Confirmation and Scholarly Vindication
- A central theme is how archaeological discoveries confirm Biblical narratives that were once doubted by critics. The Hittites, once dismissed as historically insignificant, are revealed as a major power exactly as Scripture described.
- Cultural Transmission and Influence
- The book explores how the Hittites served as cultural intermediaries, carrying Babylonian civilization westward to Asia Minor and ultimately influencing Greek culture and European civilization.
Characters
- A. H. Sayce(protagonist)
- The author and scholar who reconstructed the history of the Hittite empire through archaeological and textual evidence. He serves as the narrator and primary investigator throughout the work.
- Ramses II(major)
- The great Egyptian Pharaoh who fought extensive wars with the Hittites and eventually made a famous treaty with them. Known as the Pharaoh of the Oppression in Biblical context.
- Kheta-sira(major)
- The great Hittite king who made the famous treaty with Ramses II and gave his daughter in marriage to the Egyptian Pharaoh. Represents the height of Hittite diplomatic power.
- Tiglath-pileser I(major)
- The famous Assyrian king who conducted campaigns against the Hittites but was unable to capture their stronghold at Carchemish. Represents Assyrian military power.
- Sargon(major)
- The Assyrian king who finally conquered Carchemish in 717 BC, ending Hittite supremacy in Syria and marking the final doom of their empire.
- Uriah the Hittite(major)
- The Biblical figure who was one of David's chief officers and husband of Bath-sheba. Represents the Hittite presence in Judean society.
