Pithana

Pitḫana was a king of Kussara and Kaniš / Nesa in 18 BC (middle chronology ). He is considered the first recorded Hittite rulers.

Tradition

Pitḫana is in Old Assyrian documents called from Kaniš ( Kültepe ) along with his rabi simmiltim Anitta. From its conquest of the then most important Anatolian Mart Kaniš / Nesa reported the althethitische Anitta text ( CTH 1):

" The King of Kussar [ came ] out of the city down with great power and took Nesa at night with violence. The King of Nesa he seized by the inhabitants Nesas but he said to no harm, [ but ] made ​​[ them ] to mothers ( and ) fathers. "

Discussion

Pitḫana was the ruler of Kussara, which is well east of Kültepe to look between the river Kizilirmak and the Taurus Mountains. The name Pitḫana belongs to a pre-Indo- speech layer, since the volume group / th / does not occur in Hittite Erbwortschatz.

The indication that Pitḫana the people of Nesa to " mothers and fathers " made ​​, is unique in cuneiform texts. This was closed on ethnic ties between the Indo-European population of Nesa and the royal house of Kussara. Bryce it looks but rather as an effort to stylize Pitḫana to a caring ruler. Nesa was after the conquest by Pitḫana residence of his son Anitta.