Hattusha is in northern Central Anatolia at Cappadocia’s north edge. Today it is within a dry climatic zone that delivers short summers and long cold winters. Earlier however the region was more moist and temperate, with nearby forests, dense vegetation and a variety of wild game. Hattusha remained the Hittites’ political and religious center until [...]

Kadesh Treaty, ~1269 BC. Akkadian on Terracotta from Hattusa. Museum of the Ancient Orient Bo. 10403+6549+6674. Image by L. M. Clancy, 2009/08/28. The Kadesh Treaty was established ~1269 BC between Hittite king Hattusilis III and Egyptian pharaoh Ramses II, and is the earliest known equitable peace treaty. Ramses II’s reign began with hostility against the [...]

Yazilikaya (written rock) is the largest known Hittite rock sanctuary. It may have been a place for celebrating the arrival of the New Year each spring. It was established in its present form by Hittite king Tudhaliya IV. Building A substantial building blocked outside entrance to Chamber A. Chamber A Chamber A was carved in [...]

The Lower City (aka Old City) of Hattusha stretched from the northwestern wall bounding the modern village of Bogazkale all the way southeast to the tip of Büyükkale. The the south and southwest, the Lower City is bound by the Postern Wall. # Structure Time Period Overview 2 Abschnittsmauer In use during the Hittite empire, [...]