A History of Hittite Literacy
Writing and Reading in Late Bronze-Age Anatolia (1650–1200 BC)

The first comprehensive overview of the development of literacy, script usage, and literature in Hittite Anatolia (1650–1200 BC).

Theo van den Hout (Author)

9781108816496, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 10 March 2022

453 pages, 51 b/w illus. 1 map 35 tables
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.3 cm, 0.66 kg

'Theo van den Hout is to be congratulated for having produced a groundbreaking book, which will remain for many years to come an essential reference work not only for all scholars in Hittitology and ancient Near Eastern studies, but also for anybody who wants to approach the topic of literacy in ancient societies.' Michele Cammarosano, Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research

Why did the Anatolians remain illiterate for so long, although surrounded by people using script? Why and how did they eventually adopt the cuneiform writing system and why did they still invent a second, hieroglyphic script of their own? What did and didn't they write down and what role did Hittite literature, the oldest known literature in any Indo-European language, play? These and many other questions on scribal culture are addressed in this first, comprehensive book on writing, reading, script usage, and literacy in the Hittite kingdom (c.1650–1200 BC). It describes the rise and fall of literacy and literature in Hittite Anatolia in the wider context of its political, economic, and intellectual history.

1. Writing and Literacy among the Anatolians in the Old Assyrian Period
2. From Kanesh to Hattusa
3. First Writing in Hattusa
4. Literacy and Literature in the Old Kingdom until 1500 bc
5. The Emergence of Writing in Hittite
6. A Second Script
7. The New Kingdom Cuneiform Corpus
8. The New Kingdom Hieroglyphic Corpus
9. The Wooden Writing Boards
10. The Seal Impressions of the Westbau and Building D and the Wooden Tablets
11. In the Hittite Chancellery and Tablet Collections
12. Scribes and Scholars
13. The End and Looking Back.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG], Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF]