Information about the Hittites

Decree of Hattusili III for the Sons of Mittanna-muwa Decree of Ḫattušili III for the Sons of Mittanna-muwa

(KBo 4.12)

(Translation)

Ed. Götze, Albrecht, Ḫattušilis: Der Bericht über seine Thronbesteigung nebst den Paralleltexten, Mitteilungen der Vorderasiatisch-Aegyptischen Gesellschaft (E.V) 1924, 3, Hethitische Texte in Umschrift, mit Übersetzung und Erläuterungen Heft 1, 1925.

§1
Thusly My Sun, Ḫattušili (III), Great King, King of [Ḫatti, Hero],
Son of Muršili (II), Great King, King of Ḫatti, Hero,
and grandson of Šuppiluliuma (I), Great King, Hero,
Seed of Ḫattušili (I), Son of the city Kuššar, Great King, Hero.

§2
In the time of my father an evil sickness struck me, a small child. So my father put me in the hand of Mr. Mittanna(-muwa), the Great Scribe. He performed invocations for me, and he saved me from the illness. On account of my father, Mittanna-muwa was an honored person. When he saved me from the illness, and he (i.e. Muršili) honored him for my sake, for that reason he showed special honor to you (i.e. Mittanna-muwa).

§3
When my father became a god (i.e. died), Muwattalli, my brother, sat down in the kingship. I was the Great One of the Royal Bodyguard. Muwattalli, [...?], my brother, honored Mittanna-muwa. He advanced him. He gave the city Ḫattuša to him. My welfare was important to him. He (i.e. Muwattalli) took Mr. Burandaya, son of Mittanna-muwa, and made him the Great Scribe.

§4
When my brother became a god, I took up Mr. Urḫi-TeŠŠup, the son of my brother, and I installed him in the kingship. Mittanna-muwa had already become ill. So they kept promoting other people to the position of Great Scribe. When Urḫi-TeŠŠup was evil to me, in no way was I indifferent to the matter of Mittanna-muwa. I spoke on behalf of the sons of Mittanna-muwa. Whoever else they promoted to the position of Great Scribe, I did not approve(?) it for them. [I] installed Walwa-ziti, son of Mittanna-muwa, in the position of Great Scribe.

§5
[When I] became king, I [. . . . .]. Mittanna-muwa from(?) the midst [. . .] Mittanna-muwa [. . .] not out [. . .]
And Mr. [. . . . .]

[obv. breaks, beginning of rev. lost]

§?
[. . . . .] They supported(?) [. . . . .] May you (pl.) protect [. . .]! May they likewise protect the sons of My Sun and the grandsons of My Sun! How My Sun, Ḫattušili, and Pudu-Ḫepa, the Great Queen, honored Mr. Aliḫḫešni, the Ḫalipe-functionary, Mr. Walwa-ziti, the Great One of the Scribes, Mr. Adduwa, and Mr. ŠEŠ-ZI, (all) sons of Mittanna(-muwa), may they (likewise) stand with our sons, our grandsons, the son of My Sun, the grandsons of My Sun, and the Seed of Pudu-Ḫepa, the Great Queen. May they not let alone the wellbeing of My Sun. May you (sg.) not upset their welfare or their places!

Colophon
The Storm God of Ḫatti and the Sun Goddess of Arinna are (witnesses) for these words.

					Why?
	Decree of Hattusili III for the Sons of Mittanna-muwa Decree of Ḫattušili III for the Sons of Mittanna-muwa (KBo 4.12) (Translation) Ed. Götze, Albrecht, Ḫattušilis: Der Bericht über seine Thronbesteigung nebst den Paralleltexten, Mitteilungen der Vorderasiatisch-Aegyptischen Gesellschaft (E.V) 1924, 3, Hethitische Texte in Umschrift, mit Übersetzung und Erläuterungen Heft 1, 1925. §1 Thusly My Sun, Ḫattušili (III), Great King, King of [Ḫatti, Hero], Son of Muršili (II), Great King, King of Ḫatti, Hero, and grandson of Šuppiluliuma (I), Great King, Hero, Seed of Ḫattušili (I), Son of the city Kuššar, Great King, Hero. §2 In the time of my father an evil sickness struck me, a small child. So my father put me in the hand of Mr. Mittanna(-muwa), the Great Scribe. He performed invocations for me, and he saved me from the illness. On account of my father, Mittanna-muwa was an honored person. When he saved me from the illness, and he (i.e. Muršili) honored him for my sake, for that reason he showed special honor to you (i.e. Mittanna-muwa). §3 When my father became a god (i.e. died), Muwattalli, my brother, sat down in the kingship. I was the Great One of the Royal Bodyguard. Muwattalli, [...?], my brother, honored Mittanna-muwa. He advanced him. He gave the city Ḫattuša to him. My welfare was important to him. He (i.e. Muwattalli) took Mr. Burandaya, son of Mittanna-muwa, and made him the Great Scribe. §4 When my brother became a god, I took up Mr. Urḫi-TeŠŠup, the son of my brother, and I installed him in the kingship. Mittanna-muwa had already become ill. So they kept promoting other people to the position of Great Scribe. When Urḫi-TeŠŠup was evil to me, in no way was I indifferent to the matter of Mittanna-muwa. I spoke on behalf of the sons of Mittanna-muwa. Whoever else they promoted to the position of Great Scribe, I did not approve(?) it for them. [I] installed Walwa-ziti, son of Mittanna-muwa, in the position of Great Scribe. §5 [When I] became king, I [. . . . .]. Mittanna-muwa from(?) the midst [. . .] Mittanna-muwa [. . .] not out [. . .] And Mr. [. . . . .] [obv. breaks, beginning of rev. lost] §? [. . . . .] They supported(?) [. . . . .] May you (pl.) protect [. . .]! May they likewise protect the sons of My Sun and the grandsons of My Sun! How My Sun, Ḫattušili, and Pudu-Ḫepa, the Great Queen, honored Mr. Aliḫḫešni, the Ḫalipe-functionary, Mr. Walwa-ziti, the Great One of the Scribes, Mr. Adduwa, and Mr. ŠEŠ-ZI, (all) sons of Mittanna(-muwa), may they (likewise) stand with our sons, our grandsons, the son of My Sun, the grandsons of My Sun, and the Seed of Pudu-Ḫepa, the Great Queen. May they not let alone the wellbeing of My Sun. May you (sg.) not upset their welfare or their places! Colophon The Storm God of Ḫatti and the Sun Goddess of Arinna are (witnesses) for these words.