Einfuhrung in die hethitische Sprache und Schrift

Hittite, the oldest attested Indo-European language, was spoken in Anatolia in the 2nd millennium BCE and written in the Mesopotamian cuneiform script. As well as having an Indo-European background, the Hittites adopted and adapted the local Anatolian tradition in addition to the North-Syrian (Hurrian) and Mesopotamian cultural achievements including religion, literature and the cuneiform script. They also engaged in international politics and diplomacy. As such, Hittite is of great importance as a source language for the fields both of Indo-European linguistics and Ancient Near Eastern studies. This book presents an introductory course in the Hittite language and script arranged in lessons, each containing a section on grammar and script, exercises, and a text for translation based on original documents. It is intended both for formal course work and for self-study.