- Anitta
Anitta, son of
Pithana , was a king ofKussara , a city that has yet to be identified. He is the earliest known ruler to compose a text in theHittite language .Anitta reigned in the 17th century BC (
short chronology ) and is the author of the Anitta text (CTH 1.A, edited inStBoT 18,1974 ) [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/didact/idg/anat/hethbs.htm] , the oldest known text in theHittite language (and the oldest known Indo-European text altogether). This text seems to represent a cuneiform record of Anitta's inscriptions atKanish , perhaps compiled byHattusili I , one of the earliest Hittite kings ofHattusa .The Anitta text indicates that Anitta's father,
Pithana , conqueredNeša (Kanish,Kültepe ), which became an important city within the kingdom ofKussara . During his own reign, Anitta defeated the Hattic kingPiyusti and then conquered his capital at the future Hittite capital ofHattusa . He then destroyed the city, sowed cress over it, and laid a curse on the site.Anitta's name appears on an inscription on a dagger found in Kültepe and also, together with the name of his father
Pithana , on various Kültepe texts, as well as in later Hittite tradition.ee also
*
History of the Hittites External links
* [http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/lrc/eieol/hitol-1-R.html The Anitta text]
* [http://history-world.org/hittitesrise.htm The Hittite occupation of Anatolia]
* [http://www.usc.edu/dept/LAS/religion/arcproj/war/Gallery.html Kültepe-dagger inscription]
* [http://www.hittites.info/history.aspx?text=history%2fHattic.htm#Anitta Reign of Anitta]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
