Who were the Hittites and what were they known for?
The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian (modern-day Turkey) people who formed an empire between 1600-1180 BCE. The Hittites manufactured advanced iron goods, ruled over their kingdom through government officials with independent authority over various branches of government, and worshipped storm gods.
What was Hittite culture like?
The Hittites were the first ancient people to use iron for tools and weapons, and they spoke an Indo-European language—a branch of language that includes Sanskrit, Greek, Latin, Persian, German, and English. The Great Temple at Hattusa was the religious center of the empire. Hittite religion was polytheistic.
How was the Hittite government organized?
The Hittite government was probably the first constitutional monarchy in the world. The king ruled with the help of the Panku, or ”Assembly,” who took care of mostly judicial affairs. There was not a clear line of succession in the Hittite government, so King Telipinus issued an edict that established this line.
What did the Hittites contribute to civilization?
The Hittites, a major power in the ancient Near East in the second millennium BCE, are credited with being the first civilization to make iron into weapons and armor, transitioning from to the Iron Age (where the use of iron was predominant) from the previous Bronze Age, which saw the use of bronze that was cold- …
What god did the Hittites worship?
sun goddess
worship of Hittite sun goddess, the principal deity and patron of the Hittite empire and monarchy. Her consort, the weather god Taru, was second to Arinnitti in importance, indicating that she probably originated in matriarchal times.
What do the Hittites represent in the Bible?
They are repeatedly mentioned throughout the Hebrew Tanakh (also known as the Christian Old Testament) as the adversaries of the Israelites and their god. According to Genesis 10, they were the descendants of Heth, son of Canaan, who was the son of Ham, born of Noah (Genesis 10: 1-6).
What did Hittites believe in?
1 Polytheism The Hittites had gods for mountains, forests and animals. Kings became gods on death, and foreign gods – especially Babylonian deities – were absorbed into their pantheon. By merging the gods of a subjugated people with their own, Hittite rulers were able to control those people.