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Puduḫepa
Puduḫepa or Pudu-Kheba (floruit, fl. 13th century BC) was a Hittites, Hittite tawananna, queen, married to the King Hattusili III. She has been referred to as "one of the most influential women known from the Ancient Near East." Biography Early life and marriage Puduḫepa was born at the beginning of the 13th century BC in the city of Lawazantiya in Kizzuwatna (i.e. Cilicia, a region south of the Hittite kingdom). Her father Bentepsharri was the head priest of the tutelary god, divinity of the city, Shaushka (identified with the Mesopotamian Ishtar), and Puduḫepa grew up to exercise the function of priestess of this same goddess. On his return from the Battle of Kadesh, the Hittite General officer, general Hattusili met Puduḫepa and, it was said, Ishtar instructed him to find in her love and companionship, decreeing that they would enjoy the 'love of being a spouse to each other.' She accompanied him then to the kingdom of Hapissa. For Puduḫepa it was an advantageous ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tawananna
Tawananna is the title for the queen of the Hittites, the king's consort, as long as she was living. Upon her death the title ''Tawananna'' passed to her daughter or the new king's consort, whichever was available to ascend. The Hittites were ruled by a theocratic monarchy, in which the king's heir's wife did not succeed as ''Tawananna'' until the death of the reigning ''Tawananna''. The ''Tawananna'' also had the duty of ruling when the King was away fighting in battle and was the High Priestess while the king was High Priest of the Hittite Empire. The main duties of Tawanannas were mainly religious. An example of a Hittite ''Tawananna'' was Puduhepa, wife of Hattusili III. After the death of Hattusili III, Puduhepa took on the responsibility of communicating with the Egyptian royal family and rulers of the Hittite vassal states. Because the title was reserved, it meant no ''Tawananna'' began the Ceremony of Enthronement to her king, until just after the previous Tawananna die ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
