Danuḫepa

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Danuḫepa or Tanuḫepa (" Ḫepat created her") was a Hittite Great Queen ( Tawananna ) in the first half of the 13th century BC. And - after Gaššulawiya - the last wife of the Great King Muršili II. She is still under Muwatalli II. And Muršili III as the Great Queen. certainly attested.

The sources of Danuḫepa, who may have been of Hurrian descent, are thin and difficult to interpret. It is mentioned relatively seldom in Hittite texts and only a few seals (imprints) were known with its name until around 2005. Through the publication of numerous finds of seals in the “archive” (west building) at Nişantepe, among others by Suzanne Herbordt or Deliah Bawnypeck (see literature!), A number of other Danuḫepas seals became known. Nevertheless, not all questions have been answered. It is now certain that she was the last wife of Muršili II, as there is also an imprint of a seal on which she is clearly attested together with Muršili II. There were in the late 14th and early 13th centuries BC BC, however, two rulers of this name: in addition to her husband, his nephew Muršili III. (also Urḫi-Teššub, this name is also often found on seals). It is not always possible to judge from which of these Mursili a seal, which also names Danuḫepa, comes from. Especially before the publication of the new seal finds, this led to various theories, including that there were possibly two different great queens with this name or that Danuḫepa was not the wife of Mursilis II, but that of his successor Muwatalli.

Danuḫepa was removed from her office as Great Queen after a process by her stepson and Mursili's successor Muwattalli II in the late phase of his reign (approx. 1294-1272 BC), as were her sons and their apparently large entourage. Her religious offenses were accused, but in reality there were probably intrigues and power struggles, including the question of the heir to the throne Muwatallis, behind her deposition and banishment. Under Muršili III. , the son of Muwattalli II, she was rehabilitated and reinstated as the great queen.

Remarks

  1. ↑ On the problem of how many wives Muršili II had and whether Gaššulawiya was actually the wife for whose early death the Great King blamed his stepmother Tawananna , see: Metin Alprslan: Die Gattinnen Muršili II. A consideration of the current state of research. Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatoloici 69, 2007, pp. 31-37.
  2. ^ Trevor R. Bryce : The Kingdom of the Hittites. Oxford University Press, revised 2005 edition, p. 211.
  3. ^ Seals of the Great Kings: Suzanne Herbord, Daliah Bawanypeck, John David Hawkins : The seals of the great kings and great queens on clay bulls from the Nişantepe archive in Hattusa (Boğazköy-Ḫattuša, results of the excavations, Volume 23). Philipp von Zabern, Mainz 2011. Also, Suzanne Herbordt: The prince and official seals of the Hittite Empire period on clay bulls from the Nişantepe archive in Hattusa (= Boğazköy-Ḫattuša, results of the excavations 19). Philip von Zabern, Mainz 2005.
  4. ↑ Daliah Bawanypeck: The Queens on the Seals. In: Alfonso Archi, Rita Francia (ed.): VI Congresso Internazionale di Ittitologia, Roma 5-9 September 2005. Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 49/1, 2007, p. 57f.
  5. ↑ see also Trevor R. Bryce: The Kingdom of the Hittites. Oxford University Press, revised 2005 edition, pp. 242–245.
  6. ↑ so including Trevor Bryce: The Kingdom of the Hittites. Oxford University Press, revised 2005 edition, pp. 243–245; s. also Michele Cammarosano: Tanuḫepa. A Hittite Queen in Troubled Times. In: Mesopotamia 45, 2010, p. 48 ff.

literature

  • Trevor R. Bryce : The Kingdom of the Hittites. Oxford University Press, revised new edition 2005, pp. 210 f; 242-245; 255.
  • Metin Alparslan: The wives of Muršili II. A consideration of the current state of research. Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatoloici 69, 2007, pp. 31-37. - online at Academia.edu
  • Daliah Bawanypeck: The Queens on the Seals. In: Alfonso Archi, Rita Francia (ed.): VI Congresso Internazionale di Ittitologia, Roma 5-9 September 2005. Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 49/1, 2007, pp. 49-58
  • Michele Cammarosano: Tanuḫepa. A Hittite Queen in Troubled Times. In: Mesopotamia 45, 2010, pp. 47-64.
  • Daliah Bawanypeck: T / Danuḫepa. In: Michael P. Streck (ed.): Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Aräologie . Volume 13, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / Boston 2011-2013, ISBN 978-3-11-030715-3 , pp. 444-445.
personal data
SURNAME Danuḫepa
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Hittite great queen
DATE OF BIRTH 14th century BC BC or 13th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 13th century BC Chr.