Article ID: CBB405523478

Celestial Aspects of Hittite Religion: An Investigation of the Rock Sanctuary Yazılıkaya (2019)

unapi

Regular celestial events assumed remarkable significance for the cultic rituals of the Hittite civilisation (c. 1600-1180 BC) in central Asia Minor. Numerous texts found at the capital Ḫattuša relate to solar deities and celestial divination reminiscent of Old Babylonian astronomical and astrological practices. Here we suggest that the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya, which was considered one of the holiest places in the Hittite kingdom, had a calendrical function. It contains more than 90 rock-cut reliefs, dating to the second half of the thirteenth century BC, of deities, humans, animals and mythical figures. The reliefs in Chamber A are arranged in groups to mark the days, synodic months and solar years. Using this system, the Hittite priests were able to determine when additional months were required to keep lunar and solar years aligned. The astronomical and astrological interpretation of Yazılıkaya serves as a point of departure for a brief re-examination of celestial aspects in Hittite religion.

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Authors & Contributors
González-García, A. César
Belmonte, Juan Antonio
Gislén, Lars
Eade, J. C.
Daniela Sánchez-Giraldo
Maglova, Penka
Concepts
Astronomical chronology
Science and religion
Rituals
Time measurement
Celestial mechanics
Calendars
Time Periods
Ancient
Neolithic period
Medieval
17th century
Iron age
Prehistory
Places
Greece
Southeast Asia
Rome (Italy)
Thrace
Middle and Near East
Mesoamerica
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