Hattusa
Location
About
The capital of the Hittite Empire from approximately 1700 to 1200 BCE, Hattusa was one of the great powers of the Late Bronze Age world. The walled city contains massive temples, royal palaces, underground tunnels (poterns), and the famous Lion Gate. The cuneiform archives from Hattusa include the world's oldest surviving peace treaty — the Treaty of Kadesh with Ramesses II of Egypt (1259 BCE).
Significance
The Hittite Empire that ruled from Hattusa was one of the three great powers of the Late Bronze Age world alongside Egypt and Babylon. The Treaty of Kadesh (1259 BCE), with a copy in the UN General Assembly, is the world's oldest surviving international peace treaty. The Hittites appear extensively in the Hebrew Bible as one of the peoples of Canaan. Their archives contain Mesopotamian myths, Hurrian texts, and some of the earliest known liturgical hymns.
History & Historical Arc
Hattusa was settled from at least 2500 BCE. The Hittites made it their capital around 1700 BCE and expanded the city to …
Archaeological Notes
German excavations since 1906 have revealed the upper and lower cities, the Great Temple complex, royal palaces, archive…
Key Features & Structures
- Lion Gate
- Great Temple of the Storm God
Visitor Information
UNESCO World Heritage Site near Boğazkale, Turkey. Open year-round. Museum in Boğazkale village.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Treaty of Kadesh (1259 BCE)
- Bogazkoy-Hattusa excavation reports