Selenga Explores Hattusa: Ancient Hittites and the Sun Disk

Rolling hills stretched across the Çorum plains. One after another. Yellow. Dry. But above the hills stood walls. Stone. Massive blocks. “This is Hattusa,” said the guide. “3,500 years ago, it was the capital of the Hittite Empire.” Selenga stepped out of the car. The wind blew. “Who were the Hittites?” "One of ancient Anatolia's most powerful empires. A civilization that rivaled the Egyptian pharaohs.“ The Lion Gate They arrived at a grand entrance. On each side stood carved stone lions. Their mouths open wide. ”Why lions?“ asked Selenga. ”They symbolize strength and protection. Any enemy entering the city would face these lions first. It's psychological warfare too—you might enter a great kingdom, but the first thing you see is a roaring lion.“ Selenga stood before one of the lions. The stone had weathered over time. Its color had faded. But its expression remained powerful. ”It looked the same 3,500 years ago.“ ”Exactly. Thousands of people passed through this gate. And every single one saw these lions.“ The Temple The foundations of a massive building lay before them. The walls had crumbled, but stone blocks remained in neat rows. ”This was a temple,“ explained the guide. ”Dedicated to the Sun Goddess.“ ”The Sun Goddess?“ ”The greatest goddess of the Hittites. She was called the Sun Goddess of Arinna. She protected the city.“ ”A female god.“ ”Yes. And Hittite queens were very powerful too. If the goddess was strong, so was the queen.“ Selenga gazed at the stones. ”What did people who came here to pray wish for?“ ”Harvest blessings. Health. Peace.“ ”Peace?“ ”Yes. Peace was something people prayed for." The World's First Peace Treaty “The Hittites accomplished something remarkable,” said the guide. “What?” "The world's oldest known written peace treaty. It was signed in 1259 BCE.“ ”Between whom?“ ”Between Hittite King Hattusili III and Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II. It's called the Treaty of Kadesh.“ ”Did they fight a war?“ ”A massive one. At Kadesh. Neither side could claim total victory. So they sat down at the negotiating table. And they made peace.“ ”It was written on both stone and clay tablets. One copy for Egypt, one for the Hittites.“ ”Do they still exist?“ ”They do. The Egyptian copy is in Egypt. The Hittite copy is in the Istanbul Museum.“ Selenga was amazed. ”A 3,000-year-old peace treaty is in Istanbul?“ ”In the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. It's worth seeing." The Hittite Sun Disk At the museum shop, something caught Selenga's eye. A circular disk. Bull heads, deer, various figures. “What is this?” asked Selenga. "The Hittite sun disk. A symbol of Hittite civilization. It's been found in archaeological digs. It represents the sun, the universe, and nature.“ Selenga studied it. Both beautiful and mysterious. ”There's a large one hanging in the Hatay Museum,“ said the guide. ”It's become one of the symbols of Turkish culture." What We Learned From This Story 1. The Hittites were a powerful empire that ruled Anatolia from around 1700-1200 BCE, with their capital at Hattusa, located in modern-day Çorum. 2. The Hittite sun disk is the most recognizable symbol of this civilization, representing their understanding of the universe and nature. 3. The Treaty of Kadesh, signed in 1259 BCE, is the world's oldest known written peace agreement between two major powers. 4. The Hittite copy of the Treaty of Kadesh is displayed in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. 5. Hittite queens held significantly more power and influence compared to women in other ancient civilizations of their time. Questions to Discuss as a Family 1. What do you think about a peace treaty made 3,000 years ago? 2. Who do you think suggested sitting down to talk instead of continuing the war? 3. Why do you think the sun was such an important symbol for so many ancient civilizations?