Lost Worlds: Lost City of the Bible Discovered - Full Episode (S2, E11) | History

HISTORY・2 minutes read

The Hittites, led by Hattusili, achieved architectural feats in Hattusha like the Great Temple and Yerkapi Rampart but faced internal strife, leading to the empire's downfall. Despite their disappearance, remnants of Hittite culture persisted with Neo-Hittites in Syria, showcasing their art in lion statues in Canaan.

Insights

  • Hattusha, the capital of the Hittite Empire, displayed advanced building techniques and infrastructure, including fortifications, a sprawling temple complex, and an ingeniously engineered water supply system, showcasing the empire's architectural prowess and strategic planning.
  • The rise and fall of the Hittite Empire, marked by victories like the Battle of Kadesh under Prince Hattusili but marred by internal strife and civil wars, led to the eventual abandonment of Hattusha and the empire's collapse, highlighting the delicate balance between power consolidation and internal stability in ancient civilizations.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of Hattusha in history?

    Hattusha was the capital of the Hittite Empire, showcasing advanced building techniques and political power rivaling Ancient Egypt. The city's fortifications, temple complex, and royal citadel highlighted the Hittites' political and religious significance, with elaborate ceremonies and ornamentation. The Yerkapi Rampart symbolized the empire's might, while the water supply system displayed ingenious engineering. Hattusha played a crucial role in the Battle of Kadesh, where Prince Hattusili achieved a strategic victory against Pharaoh Ramses. Despite its grandeur, internal strife, including Hattusili seizing the throne, led to the empire's downfall and the city's abandonment.

  • Who were the key figures in the Hittite Empire?

    The Hittite Empire was led by Prince Hattusili, who achieved victory at the Battle of Kadesh against Pharaoh Ramses, becoming a national hero but causing internal strife by seizing the throne from King Mutuwalli. Hattusili's reign marked a period of rebuilding and construction in Hattusha, including the temple. Queen Puddaheppa played a significant role in public life, influencing the empire and unifying its gods. The elite royal bodyguards, known as the Bears of the Golden Lance, protected Hattusili and his heirs within the royal citadel, Buyukkale. These key figures shaped the empire's history and culture.

  • What led to the downfall of the Hittite Empire?

    The collapse of the Hittite Empire was likely triggered by internal strife, possibly a civil war, as rival factions vied for the throne after Hattusili's reign. This internal conflict led to chaos and the abandonment of the capital, Hattusha. Despite facing little external threat, internal dangers arose due to Hattusili deposing the rightful heir and becoming king. The empire's abrupt end marked by civil wars and internal struggles, as seen in inscriptions within the rock sanctuary of Yazilikaya, ultimately led to the Hittite Empire's downfall.

  • What architectural marvels were present in Hattusha?

    Hattusha boasted impressive architectural marvels like the Yerkapi Rampart, a monumental structure symbolizing the empire's might and possibly serving a defensive or ritual purpose. The Great Temple of the Storm God, constructed with limestone blocks, mud bricks, and plaster, showcased the Hittites' advanced building methods. The temple contained massive stone blocks, some weighing 20 tons, carved into pillars, with statues of the Storm Father Teshub and the Sun Mother made of gold. The city's fortifications, including casemate walls and the royal citadel, highlighted the Hittites' architectural prowess.

  • How did the Hittites worship and practice their religion?

    The Hittites worshipped multiple gods, incorporating deities from conquered peoples into their religion. The temple complex in Hattusha provided clues to the rituals and ceremonies that once took place there, shedding light on the Hittite culture and beliefs. The inner sanctum of the Great Temple was accessible only to the king, queen, and top officials, indicating the importance of hierarchy in religious practices. The rock sanctuary of Yazilikaya, dedicated to the Storm God, showcased a new pantheon of gods conceived by Hattusili and Puddaheppa. The Hittites' religious practices and beliefs were integral to their society and culture.

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Summary

00:00

Lost City of Hattusha: Ancient Hittite Secrets

  • The Hittites are an ancient tribe mentioned in the Bible, with limited knowledge about them until the 19th century.
  • Explorers in Central Turkey discovered the lost city of Hattusha, the capital of the Hittite Empire, over 3,000 years old.
  • Hattusha showcased advanced building techniques similar to modern-day methods.
  • The city was perched on high cliffs, surrounded by formidable walls, with evidence of a massive pyramid and secret tunnels.
  • A sprawling temple complex dedicated to forgotten gods and a royal citadel were found in Hattusha.
  • The Hittites emerged as a powerful tribe controlling Anatolia's highlands, rivaling Ancient Egypt.
  • Investigating the Lion's Gate, archaeologists aim to uncover the secrets of the Hittites and their disappearance from history.
  • Hattusha's fortifications, including casemate walls, were built with advanced engineering techniques for defense.
  • The Yerkapi Rampart, a monumental structure in Hattusha, remains a mystery, possibly serving a defensive or ritual purpose.
  • A network of secret subterranean tunnels in Hattusha, once thought for defense, may have had a different, possibly ritualistic function.

10:07

Hittite Capital: Power, Conflict, and Reconstruction

  • Hittite capital displayed political and religious significance through elaborate ceremonies and ornamentation.
  • The Yerkapi Rampart symbolized the might of the Hittite Empire and served as a warning to potential adversaries.
  • Hattusha's water supply was ingeniously engineered, with reservoirs strategically placed to ensure survival during a siege.
  • Prince Hattusili led the Hittite army against Pharaoh Ramses in a battle over borders at Kadesh.
  • The Hittite account of the Battle of Kadesh contradicted Ramses' version, highlighting Hattusili's strategic victory.
  • Hattusili's victory at Kadesh made him a national hero but also led to internal strife within the Hittite royal family.
  • Prince Hattusili seized the throne from his nephew, King Mutuwalli, breaking a sacred Hittite law.
  • Hattusili's decision to rebuild Hattusha's greatest temple may have been a form of penance for his actions.
  • Hattusili's reign marked a significant period of rebuilding and construction in Hattusha, including the temple.
  • The temple site in Hattusha provides clues to the rituals and ceremonies that once took place there, shedding light on the Hittite culture and beliefs.

20:30

Hittite Temple: Ancient Engineering and Religion

  • Tessa discovers the green stone, a local stone with a smooth surface, believed to be a ritual or holy stone.
  • The temple complex contains massive stone blocks, some weighing 20 tons, carved into pillars.
  • The inner sanctum houses the statues of the Storm Father Teshub and the Sun Mother, made of gold according to Hittite tablets.
  • The temple's floor plan reveals it was the largest building in the city, with specific areas accessible only to the king, queen, and top officials.
  • Engineer Jesse Karp investigates the ancient Hittite quarry where 20-ton blocks were extracted for the temple's foundations.
  • Archaeologist Thomas Zimmerman explains the Hittite building methods, involving limestone foundations, wooden frames, and mud bricks.
  • The ancient Hittite drill, capable of drilling 3 inches per hour, was used to create holes for fixing the wooden framework of the temple.
  • The Hittites constructed the Great Temple with limestone blocks, mud bricks, and plaster, creating massive walls over 40 feet high.
  • The Hittites worshipped multiple gods, incorporating deities from conquered peoples into their religion.
  • Hittite law focused on compensation rather than retribution, with treaty-making being a crucial aspect of their diplomacy for empire expansion and peace.

30:18

Hittite Empire: Citadel, Queen, and Downfall

  • The Hittite Empire, with the Egyptians as allies, faced little external threat but internal dangers arose due to Hattusili deposing the rightful heir and becoming king.
  • To protect himself, Hattusili embarked on constructing a royal citadel called the Buyukkale, with natural defenses and heavily fortified walls.
  • The citadel housed the elite royal bodyguards known as the Bears of the Golden Lance, tasked with protecting Hattusili and his heirs.
  • Within the citadel was the King's Swimming Pool, believed to be a ceremonial pool for the Hittites.
  • A reception hall within the citadel served as a meeting place for foreign dignitaries and important visitors to meet the king.
  • Hattusili's residence within the citadel included private apartments for his family and trusted servants.
  • Puddaheppa, Hattusili's queen, played a significant role in public life, influencing the empire and unifying its gods.
  • The citadel complex, with a sacred royal temple and bustling reception hall, was the empire's center, housing envoys from various ancient world regions.
  • The rock sanctuary of Yazilikaya, dedicated to the Storm God, was conceived by Hattusili and Puddaheppa, showcasing a new pantheon of gods.
  • Clues from inscriptions within the sanctuary suggest the Hittite Empire's abrupt end three decades after Hattusili's reign, marked by civil wars and internal struggles.

40:28

Rise, Fall, and Legacy of Hittite Empire

  • The collapse of the Hittite Empire was likely triggered by internal strife, possibly a civil war, as rival factions vied for the throne, leading to chaos and the abandonment of the capital, Hattusha.
  • Despite the fall of Hattusha, remnants of Hittite civilization persisted, with Neo-Hittites in Syria continuing their existence and creating art reminiscent of the original Hittite culture, as seen in lion statues in Canaan.
  • The Hittites, known for their impressive city of Hattusha, reached their peak under Hattusili, boasting architectural marvels like the Yerkapi Rampart and the Great Temple of the Storm God, but ultimately succumbed to the consequences of seizing the throne, leading to the city's disappearance for millennia.
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