Abstract:

Hittites thought that mountains were sacred places just as other societies in the ancient history. This was due to the idea that a mountain was viewed as a God and as an ermitage. Therefore, Hittites made some of their rituals on the mountains. Hittites thought some mountains, near their cities, were sacred mountains to be used in their religious lives. They consubstantiated these mountains with cities. The most notable ones are Boğazkale – Yazılıkaya, Ortaköy – Ağılönü, Alacahöyük - Kalehisar Tepesi, Kuşaklı – Karatonus/Kulmaç Dağı, Oymaağaç – Adatepe, Çadır höyük – Çaltepe, Hatıp höyük – Hatıp kayalığı, Maltepe Höyük – Arısama Dağı. There is no explanatory information in the Hittites cuneiform texts related with how open – air sacred spaces were chosen. We think that sacred mountains near the Hittite settlements were located within a few hours walking distance. In this paper, we will suggest that when Hitttie administrators or clergymen determined the sacred mountains of cities, they prefered to limit the distance within 5 km.

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