Mnamon

Ancient writing systems in the Mediterranean

A critical guide to electronic resources

Cuneiform Hittite

- 1570 B.C. - 1200 B.C. (ca.)


Examples of writing



First paragraph of the Bronze Tablet: treaty between Tuthaliya IV and Kurunta of Tarhuntassa. Hard Copy by Heinrich Otten

First paragraph of the Bronze Tablet: treaty between Tuthaliya IV and Kurunta of Tarhuntassa. Hard Copy by Heinrich Otten
Source: H. Otten, Die Bronzetafel aus Boğazköy, StBoT Bh. 1, Wiesbaden 1988

Ro. I

1         UM-MA ta-ba-ar-na mTu-ut-ha-li-ya LUGAL.GAL LUGAL KUR URUHa-at-ti UR.SAG

2         DUMU mHa-at-tu-ši-li LUGAL.GAL LUGAL KUR URUHa-at-ti UR.SAG

3         DUMU.DUMU-ŠU ŠAmMu-ur-ši-li LUGAL.GAL LUGAL KUR URUHa-at-ti UR.SAG

4         DUMU.DUMU.DUMU-ŠU ŠAmŠu-up-pí-lu-li-u-ma LUGAL.GAL LUGAL KUR URUHa-at-ti UR.SAG

5         ŠÀ.BAL.BAL ŠAmTu-ut-ha-li-ya LUGAL.GAL LUGAL KUR URUHa-at-ti UR.SAG

Thus speaks Tabarna Tuthaliya, great king, king of the Land of Hatti, the hero, son of Hattušili, great king, king of the Land of Hatti, the hero; grandson of Muršili great king, king of the Land of Hatti, the hero; offspring of Šuppiluliuma, great king, king of the Land of Hatti, the hero, kin of Tuhaliya, great king, king of the Land of Hatti, the hero.



Two paragraphs of the Hittite Laws

Two paragraphs of the Hittite Laws
Source: Keilschriftexte aus Boghazköi, Heft 6, Nr. 6, 1921

 Ro. I
16  ták-ku  ARAD-an  šu-ul-la-an-na-za  ku-iš-ki  da-šu-wa-ah-hi

17  20 GÍN  KÙ.BABBAR  pa-a-i  ták-ku  ŠU-aš  wa-aš-ta-a-i 10 GÍN  KÙ.BABBAR  pa-a-i
      _____________________________________________________________________________

18  ták-ku  LÚ-an  ZU9-ŠU EL-LUM ku-iš-ki  la-a-ki ma-a-an  2 ZU9

19   na-aš-ma  3 ZU9 la-a-ki  12 GÍN KÙ.BABBAR pa-a-i  ták-ku ARAD-iš  6 GÍN  KÙ.BABBAR  pa-a-i

If someone blinds a male slave in a quarrel he shall pay 20 shekels of silver. If it is an accident he shall pay 10 shekels of silver. If someone knocks out a tooth of a free man -if he knocks out 2 or 3 teeth - he shall pay 12 shekels of silver. If it is a slave he shall pay 6 shekels of silver.