Hittite Texts 1

Key information

Status: Module not running
Module code: 155901288
FHEQ Level: 6
Credits: 30
Department: Department of Religions and Philosophies

Module overview

This module offers a general overview of the Hittite text corpus and its different cultural layers. Students read texts selected to illustrate the important genres of the Hittite corpus: historical texts, letters, tales and legends, myths, rituals and hymns and prayers.

Key skills to be acquired include the reconstruction of cuneiform texts from multiple manuscripts, a deepened understanding of the diachronic development of the Hittite language and of Hittite palaeography. The actual selection of texts to be read in class takes into account current research in Hittite history and culture and introduces the student to the sources underlying the important current scholarly debates within the field.

Prerequisites

The module is suited to the second year of the study of Hittite. Introductory Hittite is a prerequisite.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

At the end of the module the student should have acquired competence in the reading of intermediate-level cuneiform texts in Hittite; should have made progress in the reading, translation and interpretation of cuneiform texts in the genres studied; should have a better understanding of the written legacy of ancient Anatolia; and should have gained appropriate knowledge of the philological and methodological issues with which Hittitologists engage.

Workload

The module will normally entail two hours in the classroom each week and comprises mainly the reading and discussion of a selection of set texts in cuneiform. Preparation for classes will include the study of passages from the set texts for reading in class.

Scope and syllabus

The syllabus of the module comprises a selection of Hittite texts which can be adapted to the individual needs of students in a given year. This is a typical syllabus:

Term 1:

Historical text (e.g. extracts from Deeds of Suppiluliuma, Anitta-Text, Annals of Hattusili I, parts of an international treaty)
Letters (samples from Egyptian-Hittite correspondence, administrative Masat-letter)
(Historical) story, legend (e.g. parts of Zalpa tale, Story of Appu)

Term 2:

Hittite myths (e.g. Illuyanka myth, parts of Telipinu myth, extracts from the Kumarbi cycle)
Hittite ritual texts (e.g. Purification ritual for the army, Execration ritual for enemy cities, Palace building ritual, various therapeutic rituals, sample of a festival text)
Hittite hymns & prayers (e.g. one of Mursili's plague prayers, the prayer of Kantuzzili and related texts)

Method of assessment

One three-hour written examination taken in May/June (70%); an exercise to be submitted day 5 after reading week, term 1 (5%); an exercise to be submitted day 5, week 1, term 2 (10%); an exercise to be submitted day 5 after reading week, term 2 (5%); an exercise to be submitted day 5, week 1, term 3 (10%).