| Revision as of 20:48, 11 January 2005 view sourceMzajac (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users66,545 editsm →possible connections to Sanscrit=: heading format, capitalization, spelling← Previous edit | Revision as of 16:08, 20 January 2005 view source Dbachmann (talk | contribs)227,714 edits →HistoryNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| The '''Mitanni''' (also, more correctly, '''Mittani''') was the name of the ] population in West ] in the ], around the ] in upper ], and, most notably, to a ruling dynasty of maybe ] origin who dominated that population during the ] and ] centuries BC. Theirs was a ] led by a warrior nobility. | The '''Mitanni''' (also, more correctly, '''Mittani''') was the name of the ] population in West ] in the ], around the ] in upper ], and, most notably, to a ruling dynasty of maybe ] origin who dominated that population during the ] and ] centuries BC. Theirs was a ] led by a warrior nobility. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The kingdom ] ruled northern ] (including ]), with the capitals ] ( |
The kingdom ] ruled northern ] (including ]), with the capitals ] (''vasu-khani'', would mean "mine of wealth" in sanskrit, but c.f. ] ''vasu-'' "good") and ]. | ||
| By approximately ], the Mitanni kingdom had weakened, and had become practically dependent on the ], then under the rule of ]. ], previously under Mitanni control, was able to assert its independence during the reign of ] in approximately ]. |
By approximately ], the Mitanni kingdom had weakened, and had become practically dependent on the ], then under the rule of ]. ], previously under Mitanni control, was able to assert its independence during the reign of ] in approximately ]. | ||
| == Possible connections to Sanskrit == | == Possible connections to Sanskrit == | ||
| Some scholars try to equate the deities venerated by the Mittanni with ] deities and try to trace the names used by the aristocracy to ] roots. In a treaty between the ] and the Mitanni, the deities ], ], ], and ] (]) are invoked. A text by a Mitannian named Kikkuli uses words such as ''aika'' (''eka'', one), ''tera'' (''tri'', three), ''panza'' (''pancha'', five), ''satta'' (''sapta'', seven), ''na'' (''nava'', nine), ''vartana'' (''vartana'', round). Another text has ''babru'' (''babhru'', brown), ''parita'' (''palita'', grey), and ''pinkara'' (''pingala'', red). Their chief festival was the celebration of '']'' (]) which was common in most cultures in the ancient world. Some people believer that it is not only the kings who had ] names; a large number of other Sanskrit names have been unearthed in the records from the area; other point out that over interpretation of ancient names is an issue that must be taken into account. The Mitanni warriors were called ''marya'', which is the term for warriour in ] as well. | Some scholars try to equate the deities venerated by the Mittanni with ] deities and try to trace the names used by the aristocracy to ] roots. In a treaty between the ] and the Mitanni, the deities ], ], ], and ] (]) are invoked. A text by a Mitannian named Kikkuli uses words such as ''aika'' (''eka'', one), ''tera'' (''tri'', three), ''panza'' (''pancha'', five), ''satta'' (''sapta'', seven), ''na'' (''nava'', nine), ''vartana'' (''vartana'', round). Another text has ''babru'' (''babhru'', brown), ''parita'' (''palita'', grey), and ''pinkara'' (''pingala'', red). Their chief festival was the celebration of '']'' (]) which was common in most cultures in the ancient world. Some people believer that it is not only the kings who had ] names; a large number of other Sanskrit names have been unearthed in the records from the area; other point out that over interpretation of ancient names is an issue that must be taken into account. The Mitanni warriors were called ''marya'', which is the term for warriour in ] as well. | ||
Revision as of 16:08, 20 January 2005
The Mitanni (also, more correctly, Mittani) was the name of the Hurrian population in West Asia in the second millennium BC, around the Khabur River in upper Mesopotamia, and, most notably, to a ruling dynasty of maybe Indo-Aryan origin who dominated that population during the 15th and 14th centuries BC. Theirs was a feudal state led by a warrior nobility.
History
The kingdom Hanilgalbat ruled northern Mesopotamia (including Syria), with the capitals Washshukanni (vasu-khani, would mean "mine of wealth" in sanskrit, but c.f. Luwian vasu- "good") and Taite. By approximately 1350 BC, the Mitanni kingdom had weakened, and had become practically dependent on the Hittites, then under the rule of Shuppiluliuma I. Assyria, previously under Mitanni control, was able to assert its independence during the reign of Ashuruballit I in approximately 1330 BC.
Possible connections to Sanskrit
Some scholars try to equate the deities venerated by the Mittanni with Vedic deities and try to trace the names used by the aristocracy to Indo-Aryan roots. In a treaty between the Hittites and the Mitanni, the deities Mitra, Varuna, Indra, and Nasatya (Ashvins) are invoked. A text by a Mitannian named Kikkuli uses words such as aika (eka, one), tera (tri, three), panza (pancha, five), satta (sapta, seven), na (nava, nine), vartana (vartana, round). Another text has babru (babhru, brown), parita (palita, grey), and pinkara (pingala, red). Their chief festival was the celebration of vishuva (solstice) which was common in most cultures in the ancient world. Some people believer that it is not only the kings who had Sanskrit names; a large number of other Sanskrit names have been unearthed in the records from the area; other point out that over interpretation of ancient names is an issue that must be taken into account. The Mitanni warriors were called marya, which is the term for warriour in Sanskrit as well.
Chronology of Mitanni rulership
- Kirta 1500 BC-1490 BC
- Shuttarna I 1490 BC-1470 BC
- Baratarna 1470 BC-1450 BC
- Parsatatar 1450 BC-1440 BC
- Saustatar 1440 BC-1410 BC
- Artatama 1410 BC-1400 BC
- Shuttarna II 1400 BC-1385 BC
- Artashumara 1385 BC-1380 BC
- Tushratta 1380 BC-1350 BC
- Mattivaza 1350 BC-1320 BC
- Sattuara I 1320 BC-1300 BC
- Vashasatta 1300 BC-1280 BC
- Sattuara II 1280 BC-1270 BC
The name Sutarna I means ("good sun"). He was followed by Paratarna I ("great sun"), Parashukshatra ("ruler with axe"), Saukshatra ("son of Sukshatra, the good ruler"), Paratarna II, Artatama or Ritadhama ("abiding in cosmic law"), Sutarna II, Dasharatha, and finally Mativaja (Matiwazza, "whose wealth is prayer") during whose lifetime the Mitanni state appears to have become a vassal to Assyria.
The daughter of the King Tushratta (Tushyaratha or Dasharatha), Princess Tadukhipa, became the second queen of Akhenaten; the daughter of King Artatama was married to Thutmose IV, Akhenaten's grandfather; and the daughter of Sutarna II (Gilukhipa) was married to his father, Amenhotep III, the great builder of temples who ruled during 1390-1352 BC ("khipa" of these names is the Sanskrit "kshipa," night). In his old age, Amenhotep wrote to Dasharatha many times wishing to marry his daughter, Tadukhipa. It appears that by the time she arrived Amenhotep III was dead. Tadukhipa married the new king Akhenaten and she may have became famous as the Queen Kiya (short for Khipa). Some theories however identify her with Nefertiti, also a Queen of Akhenaten.