More is known about the beliefs of this period: the origins and names of prominent

Deities, their nature, the pantheon structure and its development, and the forms of

Cult. Most of the Information comes from written sources, much less from archae

Ological evidence.

The arrival of Mesopotamian merchants in Anatolia is confirmed by their docu-

Mente in the first half of the twentieth Century BC. A settlement of Assyrien trad-

ers (kärum) appeared in the lower city of Kültepe/Kanes and functioned in two phases:

114

kärum II and Ib. ' Corresponding occupation on the hill (höyük), where the local

ruler rcsided, included layers 8 (-- kärum II) and 7 (= kärum Ib). 11 " Of nearly 23,000

tablets.found to date in the kärum of Karies, only some 400 came from Level Ib,

While the rest were excavated in Level II. 1 16 The texts confirm that the network of

Assyrian colonies (kärum) and stations (wabartum) covered all of central Anatolia,

Reaching as far as the region of modern Ankara. One such Assyrian trading colony

Was situated at Hattusa, later Capital of the Hittite kingdom (modern Bogazkale,

c. 160 km as the crow flies east of Ankara). 1 '' The timeframe for this period at Kültepe/

H8

Kanes is set by the Old Palace (Eski Saray) ' ' built on the South. Terrace alter

11 9

2024 BC, which can be taken as a terminus post quem for Level II in the kärum,.'

114 T. Özgüg 2003. Cf. also Wilhelm 1998—2001c.

115 T. özgüg 1999: 77.

Michel 2003.

More reeent research has demonstrated that already at this time the town had extended beyond

the limits of the Lower City. On the probable settüng of the Western pari of the Upper City in

Bogazköy/Hatfcusa in the kärum and early Old Hittite times, see, e.g\, Seeher 2004: 72. In 2007

a cylinder seal of the later kärum phase was found at the foot of Sankale, confirming the exi.sten.ee

Of a settlement in this area in the discussed period (pers. comm. A. Schachner).

118 T. özgüc 1999: 106ff.; 2003: 133ff.

Newton — Kuniholm 2004: 167.

The Old Assyrian Colony Pbriod

The kämm II period is currently dated between c, 1974 and 1837 BC (or e. 1958 and

1821 BC in the so-called “lowered” middle chronology 120) based on limü lists which

have shown that this phase lasted 138 years. " The end of the kämm Level II has

Been attributed to the reign of the Assyrian king Naram-Sin on the evidence of the

Latest attested bullae with the name of this king found in this level. 2 The revival

Of the city and Warum at the beginning of the Level Ib period, presumably alter the

erection of the so-called Warsama Palace (Warsama Sarayx) in 1832 (+4/-7) BC, 123

Is usually dated to c. 1800 BC, or c. 1785 BC in the “lowered” middle chronology,

The end of this period came in c. 1720 BC.'" ‘ Substantial architectural remains from

Acemhöyük on Lake Tuz are Contemporary with Level Ib of the kärum in Kanes.

T wo major buildings, the Sarikaya palace and the Hatipler Tepesi building, were

constructed in the same year: 1774 (+4/-7) BC, 1 " 0

A vast majority of the Cappadocian tablets — records of Assyrian merchants who

Ran trading colonies and stations in the largest towns of central Anatolia during the

first quarter of the second millennmm BC - come from Kültepe/Kanes, which was

At that time the Capital of one of the most important States in the region. These

Texts speak of gods worshiped in Kanes and, indirectly, of central Anatolian beliefe.

*

120 Michel - ■ Kocher 1997-2000; Michel 2002; cf. also Blocher 2008; Pruzsinszky 2006; Veenhof 2007.

Veenhof 2003.

. 122 Özkan 1993.

123 T. Özgü<? 1999: 79ff.; 2003: 120ff. For the date of the construction of the Warsama Palace, see

Newton -• Kumholm 2004: 168.

124 Cf. Günbatti 2008: 118.

Newton — Kuniholm 2004; 168.

Kanesite Gods in the Light of the Cappadocian Tablets 27

Kanesite gods in the light of the Cappadocian tablets

The theophoric names of the native inhabitants of Kanes indicate that they worship