Three Hittite Inscribed Artifacts from Erimtan Museum

Abstract

This study presents the first scholarly edition of three inscribed artifacts from Hittite Anatolia, currently preserved in the Erimtan Museum in Ankara. The artifacts under examination consist of a seal, a seal impression, and a fragmentary cuneiform tablet. RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging) studies have been conducted to obtain clear images of the inscriptions on the artifacts, and their drawings have been completed for publication. A proposed reading of the seal owner’s name is provided for both the seal and the seal impression, offering insight into the individuals associated with these objects. These identifications contribute to the broader study of glyptic in the Hittite period. In addition, the preliminary reading of the tablet fragment, despite its heavily eroded state, suggests a possible association with the corpus of the AN.TAH. ŠUM festival. While this identification remains tentative due to the fragmentary nature of the text, it offers an opportunity to investigate potential connections between this document and Hittite religious texts. The analysis of these three artifacts not only expands the extant corpus of Hittite inscriptions but also renders these artifacts accessible to all through their publication. This study exemplifies the significance of examining artifacts from private museums. Systematic documentation of these artifacts can yield valuable data for refining scholarly reconstructions of Hittite history and culture. Further research may elucidate the historical and philological significance of these artifacts using a comparative analysis with securely provenanced materials.