Information about the Hittites

HBM #5 HBM #5

�1 [Thusly] My Sun:
Say [to] Mr. Kaššu:

�2 Because you took the cattle of the city Kašipura and distributed them in the administrative district of Mr. EN-tarawa:

�3 Now do not mobilize the former troops or the helper troops from the administrative district of Mr. EN-tarawa. May he take back those cattle, and may he not withdraw from the work!

COMMENTS

This is a difficult letter to interpret. I would suggest the following: The city of Gašipura was within the administrative district of Mr. EN-tarawa. This district was itself under Mr. Gaššu's authority. The "former" troops were probably veteran troops who had served their duty and been dismissed from military service. "Helper" troops appear, from other contexts, to have been auxiliary troops which were called up from the general population in times of need. i.e. these men were not currently active or serving in the army. Apparently Mr. Gaššu had mobilized these troops and intended to either supply them or reward their services with cattle from Gašipura. This had caused the work obligation of Mr. EN-tarawa to suffer. So the Great King has ordered Mr. Gaššu to return the cattle to Mr. EN-tarawa, and therefore not to mobilize the "former" and "helper" troops.

					Why?
	HBM #5 HBM #5 �1 [Thusly] My Sun: Say [to] Mr. Kaššu: �2 Because you took the cattle of the city Kašipura and distributed them in the administrative district of Mr. EN-tarawa: �3 Now do not mobilize the former troops or the helper troops from the administrative district of Mr. EN-tarawa. May he take back those cattle, and may he not withdraw from the work! *COMMENTS* This is a difficult letter to interpret. I would suggest the following: The city of Gašipura was within the administrative district of Mr. EN-tarawa. This district was itself under Mr. Gaššu's authority. The "former" troops were probably veteran troops who had served their duty and been dismissed from military service. "Helper" troops appear, from other contexts, to have been auxiliary troops which were called up from the general population in times of need. i.e. these men were not currently active or serving in the army. Apparently Mr. Gaššu had mobilized these troops and intended to either supply them or reward their services with cattle from Gašipura. This had caused the work obligation of Mr. EN-tarawa to suffer. So the Great King has ordered Mr. Gaššu to return the cattle to Mr. EN-tarawa, and therefore not to mobilize the "former" and "helper" troops.