Ancient Mesopotamia, Near East and Greater Iran: King Labarna of the Hittites

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King Labarna of the Hittites

Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: Ancient Mesopotamia, Near East and Greater Iran
Forum Discription: Babylon, Egypt, Persia and other civilizations of the Near East from ancient times to 600s AD
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1557
Printed Date: 23-Apr-2024 at 11:03
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Topic: King Labarna of the Hittites

Posted By: Guests
Subject: King Labarna of the Hittites
Date Posted: 14-Dec-2004 at 14:34

Hello there, i am a student studying ancient history and about to embark on a piece of coursework about a civillisation i know next to nothing about!! The hittites. So far after the small research i have done these guys sound fantastic.

I am putting up a post for any one who has absolutley any relevant information on the 1st known king of the hittites, king Labarna.

Any info would be really really great, huge thank you to any replies.

Replies:

Posted By: vagabond
Date Posted: 18-Dec-2004 at 00:22

A web search with "Hittite" and "Labarna" got a few hundred results - but most with rather sketchy information.

http://i-cias.com/ - http://i-cias.com has some information, as does http://www.allaboutturkey.com/hitit.htm - http://www.allaboutturkey.com/hitit.htm

If you can't find enough on the wwweb to go as far in depth as you need - try contacting the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago - they have several folks who might be able to point you in the right direction.

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In the time of your life, live - so that in that wonderous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it. (Saroyan)

Posted By: Berosus
Date Posted: 19-Dec-2004 at 19:34

Good luck, Eagle--the Hittites themselves didn't say much. All I know is that he lived shortly after Hammurabi (1700 B.C.?), and about two hundred years later, the lawgiver Telepinus wrote this summary:

"Formerly Labarnas was Great King; and then his sons, his brothers, his connections by marriage, his blood-relations and his soldiers were united. And the country was small; but wherever he marched to battle, he subdued the countries of his enemies by night. He destroyed the countries and made them powerless [?] and he made the sea their frontier. And when he returned from battle, his sons went each to every part of the country, to Tuwanuwa, to Nenassa, to Landa, to Zallara, to Parshuhanda and to Lusna, and governed the country, and the great cities were firmly in his possession [?]. Afterward Hattusilis became King . . . "

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Nothing truly great is achieved through moderation.--Prof. M.A.R. Barker

Posted By: J.M.Finegold
Date Posted: 20-Dec-2004 at 17:21

Pointing to the above - they think he never existed.

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Posted By: Berosus
Date Posted: 22-Dec-2004 at 17:33

Or the Hittites could have combined the achievements of several kings and given all the credit to one man. I've seen that happen in a few other places; for example, Herodotus thought the greatest king of Egypt was named Sesostris, but now he appears to have been a combination of Middle Kingdom and early New Kingdom pharaohs (the Thutmoses, at least).

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Nothing truly great is achieved through moderation.--Prof. M.A.R. Barker