The land of the Hittites

In Short

This work documents the archaeological rediscovery of the Hittite Empire, a culture that had faded into near-total obscurity until the early twentieth century. By combining meticulous field surveys of remote Turkish sites with historical analysis, the text traces the expansion of Hittite influence from its capital at Boghaz-Keui to its reach into Northern Syria. It serves as a vital record of the period’s "new" archaeology, grounding the abstract history of the Hittite kings in tangible evidence—temples, fortresses, and carved rock inscriptions—while exploring how this civilization acted as a critical bridge between the traditions of the East and the developing cultures of the West.

The Story

The narrative begins with a recognition of a "blank" in the history of Asia Minor. While the great empires of the Nile and the Euphrates were well understood by scholars at the turn of the century, the lands north and south of the Taurus mountains remained an archaeological mystery. The text gradually fills this void by positioning the Hittite Empire as a sophisticated, independent power that contended on equal terms with the Egyptians and Babylonians. The story is one of reclamation: as explorers move through the varied terrain of Turkey—traversing mountain passes like the Beilan and following river systems like the Zamanti Su—they uncover the physical remnants of a people who once commanded the transit of commerce and culture between continents.

As the author travels through the high, often arid plateau of the interior, the account transforms from a geographical survey into a historical reconstruction. We are introduced to the rise of major Hittite centers, most notably the capital at Boghaz-Keui, where royal archives and monumental gate-sculptures reveal a highly organized state. The narrative follows the reach of the "Great Kings," particularly the expansionist policies of figures like Subbi-luliuma. Through the recovery of diplomatic correspondence and treaties, the book demonstrates how the Hittites consolidated power, establishing a protectorate system that spanned from the Euphrates to the Mediterranean.

The middle section of the work focuses on the architecture and artistry of these lost cities. By examining the masonry of city walls and the decorative motifs on stelae and palace gateways, the author illustrates a culture that valued both defensive engineering and symbolic religious expression. The sculptures, often carved directly into living rock at sites like Ivrîz or Iasily Kaya, depict priest-kings and deities that provide a window into the Hittite worldview. These monuments suggest a society deeply attuned to its environment, where divine power is linked to the life-giving nature of local springs and the rugged strength of the surrounding peaks.

The arc of the story follows the empire’s eventual transition. As the central authority at Boghaz-Keui wanes, the text shifts its attention to the survival of "post-Hittite" culture in smaller, successor kingdoms. The arrival of new influences, including the gradual "Hellenizing" of the interior following the conquests of Alexander the Great, marks a profound cultural shift. Yet, the book concludes that the Hittite legacy was not simply erased; it persisted in the local customs, religious ideas, and artistic conventions that continued to permeate the region for centuries. The final chapters emphasize that while these cities eventually fell into ruin, the "forgotten empire" was successfully recovered, permanently altering our understanding of how ancient civilizations interacted and evolved.

How It Unfolds

The geography of discovery The text establishes the physical setting by describing the harsh, mountainous landscape of Asia Minor and the crucial mountain passes that dictated the movement of ancient armies and trade caravans. By mapping these routes, the author connects isolated, disparate sites into a coherent network of ancient influence.

The recovery of the capital The narrative turns to the excavation of the Hittite capital at Boghaz-Keui, where the discovery of royal tablets and massive stone walls provides the first clear evidence of an organized imperial state. This beat highlights the transition from speculative history to scientific archaeology.

The study of monumentality The author explores the artistic legacy of the culture through detailed examinations of rock-cut reliefs and sculpted gateways. Each site, from the "God-has-given" springs of Ivrîz to the sphinx-guarded entries, is analyzed as a testament to the ideological and religious life of the Hittite ruling class.

The transition of power The final section examines the decline of the central empire and the rise of local successor states in Syria and Cappadocia. The account traces how this regional culture slowly integrated with Hellenistic and later influences, concluding the historical arc of the Hittite people.

The People

The "people" in this work are represented as much by the ancient figures identified through archaeology as by the scholars attempting to reconstruct their lives. At the center is the figure of the Hittite King, specifically the "Great King" such as Subbi-luliuma. He is portrayed as a shrewd diplomat and administrator who manages the volatile politics of the ancient Near East, securing his borders by marrying his daughters into rival houses and utilizing the "new army-machine" of his era to maintain order.

Alongside the king, we encounter the Priest-King and the Queen, whose figures are immortalized on the rock reliefs of Iasily Kaya. They appear as symbols of stability and religious authority, often depicted leading processions or performing rituals that honor the Mother-goddess and the storm-gods. Their dress, including the distinctive conical hat and upturned shoes, serves as a focal point for the author’s attempt to distinguish Hittite identity from neighboring cultures.

Then there are the contemporary researchers and local residents who populate the narrative. Figures like Professor Winckler and Dr. Wright are credited with the initial breakthroughs in excavation and the securing of vital inscriptions. Yet, the author also brings a human element to the study by describing the modern inhabitants of the Turkish interior—the villagers and Turkomans living near the ruins. Whether it is an aged couple in a garden or the local shepherds who guide explorers to a hidden relief, these individuals provide the lived context for the ancient stones, grounding the high-flown history of empires in the enduring realities of the land.

In Its Own Voice

The history of ancient Oriental civilisation is slowly revealing itself to the excavator and archæologist.

This statement, provided by Professor A. H. Sayce in the introductory note, frames the broader effort to uncover the histories buried under the soil of Asia Minor.

In this way the character of Hittite inscriptions may be recognised as boustrophedon, turning alternately in direction with the successive rows, like oxen ploughing in a field.

The author uses this vivid analogy to explain the mechanics of reading the mysterious hieroglyphic signs found on basaltic blocks.

This source is called by the natives Huda Verdi, ‘God-has-given,’ in appreciation of a divine gift that transforms an arid corner of the desert into a garden-valley rich in fruit-trees and vines.

The author links the ancient reverence for the site of Ivrîz to the present-day gratitude of local people, illustrating the persistence of cultural association with the land.

What It's Really About

The book is an argument for the historical significance of Asia Minor as a pivotal theater of the ancient world, rather than a mere peripheral region between the great powers of the East and West. It challenges the reader to view the Hittites not as a footnote, but as a central player whose political and artistic innovations helped define the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds. Beyond the archaeology, the work explores the theme of continuity. By examining how local artistic conventions persisted through the rise and fall of various empires, the author asks how civilization survives the collapse of political structures. It is a study of how people, language, and art adapt to the shifting tides of history while remaining rooted in the specific, unyielding geography of the land they inhabit.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the thrill of early twentieth-century discovery will find much to admire in this work. The writing is characterized by a Victorian-era academic rigor, offering a window into a time when large swathes of the ancient world were still being mapped for the first time. It is essentially a travelogue of the mind and the road, perfect for those who enjoy the blend of technical observation and historical storytelling.

However, the modern reader should be prepared for the realities of the text’s age. The writing style is formal and sometimes dense with technical descriptions of masonry or linguistic analysis, which may challenge those accustomed to contemporary, fast-paced narratives. Furthermore, the attitudes expressed reflect the period’s colonial-archaeological perspective; the author’s focus is primarily on the "Great Kings" and the "discovery" of these sites, often treating the local population as a secondary, if picturesque, background element.

Despite these period-specific limitations, the book remains a fascinating primary resource for anyone interested in the Hittites. What stays with the reader is the sense of scale—the sheer ambition of the empire and the stark, beautiful descriptions of the Anatolian landscape that remains largely unchanged. For those who want to understand the origins of the "forgotten empire" and witness the early efforts to piece together a human story from fragmented stones, this volume remains an essential, authoritative, and deeply evocative starting point.