The source object : studies in Hittite diplomatics

Author(s):
Waal, W.J.I.
Published
2010
Publication type
Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

This thesis deals with the record management of the Hittite Empire (ca. 1650-1180 BCE). Starting point is the clay tablet itself: its physical features and its colophon. In the Hittite capital Hattusa altogether some 30,000 tablets and mostly tablet fragments have been found on several locations. These tablets span the whole period of the Empire and hold various text genres, ranging from historical texts, letters and inventories to oracle inquiries and festival descriptions. This research has analyzed the physical characteristics of the Hittite tablets. As has been demonstrated, certain conventions regarding their shape and layout surely existed, which could depend on the content of the composition, as well as the time period in which the tablet was written. The research further includes a text edition and analysis of the Hittite colophon, a subscript found at the end of the composition containing metadata of the composition, such as the title, scribe and series number of the tablet. Both the distribution and the content of these colophons are very consistent they are likely to have played a crucial role in the organization of the Hittite tablet collections.

Ancient archivesCuneiform clay tabletsDiplomaticsHattusaHittite colophonsRecord management
Defense date
2010-09-14
Language
English
Supervisor(s)
Soldt, W.H. van; Hout, T.P.J. van den
Qualification
Ph.D.
Degree granting institution
Leiden Institute for Areastudies (LIAS), Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University, Leiden
hdl
1887/15939

Juridical information

Court
LEI Universiteit Leiden