The Hittite Noun išḫiul-

Law of Gods, Instruction and Treaty

Abstract

The Hittite texts titled išḫiul- are translated into English as either the king’s “instructions” for his of cials or “treaties” with foreign rulers. The verb išḫai-/išḫiya-, from which išḫiul- is derived, indicates that this noun represents a vertical relationship between the parties involved. In spite of that connotation, the Hittite king concluded some treaties with the Great Kings, his equals in rank. The purpose of this paper is to present the Hittite king’s employment of this term in imperial administration and diplomacy
   A philological analysis of the usages of išḫiul- reveals that it has three meanings: “the law of the gods,” “instruction of the king” and “treaty.” Its original meaning might be “the law of the gods.” The Hittites thought that the gods determined how they should be worshipped. Based on the responses of oracles, the king established concrete procedures of rituals and festivals for the gods on their behalf. He exercised this right even in state administration by dictating what he wanted of his subjects. Therefore, išḫiul- can be described as “the instruction of the king.” When the noun išḫiul- is used for diplomatic purposes, it is translated as a “treaty.” In the so-called “subordination treaties,” the Hittite king issued the išḫiul-treaties, stipulating what he demanded of subjugated kings, just as he had concerning his subjects. However, when a Hittite king concluded a “parity treaty,” he had to moderate the connotation that accompanied the noun išḫiul-. The Hittite king explained that he and his partner had mutually imposed the išḫiul-treaty, or that the god had imposed it upon both parties. If the Hittite king wanted to express friendly and neutral relationships with a foreign ruler without connoting the hierarchical order, he might have used the alternative diplomatic term takšul-.