Ancient Anatolia SESSION 6 : 1 © 2015 Ian Russell Lowell  Tudhaliyas II of Ḫatti (c. 1360–1344) campaigned success- fully in Anatolia, re-establishing a strong Hittite state.  Perhaps at about this time, Ashur-uballit I of Assyria (c. 1362–1327), a Mitanni vassal, asserted himself as ‘king’ and no longer as ‘governor’. He politely corresponded with Egypt as a king to king, sending gifts. Adapted from David Wilkinson (2004: p. 674), op. cit. Figure 6.1 • GREAT KINGS OF IMPERIAL GROWTH & PLATEAU We owe much to our understanding of the Hittites from their concern for historical recording. Although the Annals only relate to military campaigns, under Muršili II this reached its apogee in his three great historiographies: the re-writing of his father Šuppiluliuma’s annalistic account as Pēšnatār ‘Courageous Deeds’ (similar to Homeric ἀριστεία ), the Ten-Year Annals of his own first decade of rule offered to his patron the Sungoddess of Arinna, and his detailed Annals which add the historic context of his father’s link to geographical and political outcomes alongside the mention of other campaigns by his own military commanders. Muršili also wrote a number of prayers seeking an answer to the reason for the plague which had devastated the land of Ḫatti for over twenty years, and in which he recognised the sins of his father. Under his son Ḫattušili III , the genre of Telipinu’s Proclamation is re-invented as an ‘Apologia’ for this king’s usurpation of the throne and for the new legitimacy for the cadet branch of the royal family. Ḫa ttušili also creates a new and detailed ‘international’ treaty with the peace accord between Ramesses II of Egypt and himself, both agèd veterans of the Battle of Qadesh (c. 1275/4 B.C.). Figure 6.2a, 6.2b • PATRON GODDESSES Ištar-Šauška ( rear ), the Goddess of Love and War, patroness of Ḫattušili III, with her attendants Ninatta & Kulitta (nos. 38, 36-37, Yazılıkaya — interestingly from the male procession of gods). Tiny gold pendant votive image of the Sungoddess of Arinna ( front ), with her son Teššup on her knees. CREATING AN EMPIRE