Tradition of Old Hittite incantations. As most literary genres, the Hittite royal prayers

Were profoundly influenced by Mesopotamian prototypes (first of all, hymns and

prayers to the Sun-god), either by direct borrowing or through the mediation

of the Hurrians. As in the case of festivals and magical practices (see 3.2,6 & 9),

Kiinger 1996: 738f.

Cf. Laroche 1964-1965: 8ff.; Lebrun 1980: 431ff.

With regard to the structure of Hittite prayers, Justus (2004: 270) argues for the shared Indo-

European grammatical pattems. These patteras, however, go beyond the Indo-European reiigious

Heritage and are common for prayers belonging to different eultural and ethno-linguistic

Realms.

827 CTH 371, 389.2 & 385.10, Lebrun 1980: 83ff., 392£f,; Archi 1988b; Singer 2002a: 21ff. (mos 1-3);

B: 301«. The invocation of the Sun-goddess of the Earth (CTH 371) demonstrates close ties

With the Luwian milieu.

CTH 372-389, Lebrun 1980; Singer 2002a. For a discussion of arkuwar, see Laroche 1964-1965:

Ff.; cf. also Houwink teil Cate 1969: 82«; Lebrun 1980: 426«; Singer 1096: 47«; Melchert

Singer 2002a: 51. In some prayers of the type, however, the preambie and/or colophon

. reier to the mugawar (‘invocation’) of a certain deity; cf Lebrun 1980: 43 lf.

Beokman 1999a: 521.

For the distinction between original, translated and adopted literature, see, e.g., Singer 1995b;

Further 2002b: 311 on the Babylonian bacfcground of the prayers to the Sun-god, CTH 372-374.

Cf. also Güterbock 1958. For Hurrian prayers and hymns, see Wilhelm 1991; 1994a.

The Empire Period 143

Kizzuwatna presumably played a significant role in transferring Hurrian prayers

And adaptations of Mesopotamian prayers to the land of Haiti.

In the royal prayers a developed invocatio sometimes takes on the form of

A hymnic introduction, which in some of Mursili II’s prayers takes up about a third

,, g31

Or tne text. Hittite scribes adapted the style and lifted whole phrases from the

Babylonian hymns. The most frequently addressed gods are the solar deities: the

Sun-god of Heaven as the all-seeing supreme deity of justice and the Sun-goddess of

Arinna, Lady of the land of Haiti. In other prayers, Tessub as the main god of the

Pantheon is summoned in his various hypostases. Prayers have been preserved ad

Dressed to Telipinu, the Storm-god of Nerik, and the chthonic deities, the Sun-god

Dess of the Earth and Lelwani / Allatu. In a Situation of exceptional danger, with

Pestilence ravaging the land, Mursili II appeals to the highest divine authority, the

Storm-god of Hatti and the Assembly of Gods and Goddesses, also because all pre-

Vious efforts to stop the plague proved ineffective and there was need to determine

Which god’s unappeaaed anger had brought down the calamity. 832

Muwattalli II’s prayer CTH 381 holds an exceptional Position among prayers to

The Assembly of Gods (see also 3.2.1). The gods of the Hittite state pantheon (140 de

Ities belonging to 83 different localities) are approached by the sacred bull Seri, the

Sun-god of Heaven, and the king’s personal god, Tessub / Tarhunt of Lightning (pihas-

Scissi).^ 0 “Curiously, the prayer is lacking any confessions of actual sins and also

any specific request of the suppliant. It simply serves as an all-purpose mode! prayer,

The actual causes to be inserted whenever the occasion arises.” 834 The prayer was

Accompanied by sacrifices to the gods of Hatti.

The argumentation (plea) has also the features of a personal prayer, best ob-

835

served in prayers to the Sun-god (CTH 372-374)'“ that demonstrate a dependence

On Babylonian “incantations for appeasing an angry god.” 830 The author of one of

831 CTH 378 & 377. Lebrun 1980: loöff.; Bernabe 1987: 267ff.; Singer 2002a: 49ff. (nos 8-9): Kassian

- Yakubovich 2007.

832 Mursiii’s plague prayers. CTH 378 & 379, Lebrun 1980: 193fL; Beckinan 1997b; Garria Trahazo

Ff.; Singer 2002a: 56ff. (nos 10-14); cf. also Haas 2006: 255ff.

CTH 381, Lebrun 1.980: 256ff.; Bernabe 1987: 285ff.; Singer 1996; 2002a: 85ff. (no. 20); Garcia

Trabazo 2002: 331ff.

Singer 2002a: 86.

835 Lebrun 1980: 92ff; Bernabe 1987: 259ff.: Görke 2000; Singer 2002a: 30ff. (no. 4); and 2002b with

Refereaces to the earlier literature of this group of prayers (p. 310 n. 54); cf. also Haas 2006: 254.

836 Lambert 1974: Güterbock 1974h.

Hittite Anatolia

The prayers (CTH 373) was not the king, but prince Kantuzzili, who was appointed