Hittite Laws

( ca. 1650–1400 BCE ) Commentary by Terri Tanaka, University of California, Berkeley

Glossary

arnuwalaš-man/woman a person captured in battle
šahhan-services a type of service for the state
he shall give 4 persons This and other stipulations like it (“2 persons” and so on) refer to the turning over of people to the family of the victim or the owner of the slave who was killed; it is unknown who was to be turned over.
He shall look [to his house for it.] A greatly debated phrase in Hittite law that is thought to indicate that an injured party or his or her family has the right to receive compensation / damages from the estate of the perpetrator of the crime.
hipparaš captive; prisoner of war
karpina a type of tree
they shall roll the wheel Although some scholars see this as a type of punishment or even execution (the exact nature of which is unknown), this interpretation is not certain.
TUKUL-obligation a type of service for the state

Sculptures of large figures thought to be Hittite gods on a rock wall at Gavurkale, Turkey (Library of Congress)

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