Description
By A.H. Sayce. Rediscover one of the great lost civilizations of the ancient world in this pioneering classic of archaeology and ancient history.
In The Hittites: The Story of a Forgotten Empire, renowned scholar and archaeologist A. H. Sayce brings to life the remarkable story of the Hittites, a mighty Bronze Age civilization that once rivaled Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon for power across the ancient Near East. Written during the great age of nineteenth-century archaeological discovery, this influential work introduced readers to a civilization that had been almost entirely forgotten for thousands of years.
Drawing upon newly deciphered inscriptions, archaeological discoveries, biblical references, and ancient records, Sayce reconstructs the rise and fall of the Hittite Empire and the world it inhabited. Readers are transported into an age of warrior kings, fortified cities, diplomatic intrigue, and imperial conquest stretching across Anatolia and Syria. The book explores the Hittites’ military power, religion, political organization, and cultural achievements, while also examining their famous interactions with neighboring civilizations, including Egypt and Assyria.
Written in a clear and engaging style, The Hittites: The Story of a Forgotten Empire captures the excitement of historical discovery at a time when scholars were only beginning to uncover the secrets of the ancient Near East. More than a historical survey, the book is a fascinating record of how archaeology transformed humanity’s understanding of the ancient world.
Sayce’s vivid narrative and accessible scholarship make this work both educational and highly readable, introducing modern audiences to a civilization whose influence shaped the course of Bronze Age history.
This carefully restored reprint revives a landmark work of early archaeological literature for modern readers. Ideal for students, historians, and lovers of ancient civilizations, it remains a compelling gateway into the mystery, grandeur, and rediscovery of the Hittite Empire.
About the author: A. H. Sayce (1845–1933) was a British Assyriologist, linguist, and professor of Assyriology at Oxford University, renowned for his pioneering work on ancient Near Eastern languages and civilizations. He wrote extensively on Assyria, Babylon, the Hittites, and biblical archaeology, helping bring the discoveries of nineteenth-century archaeology to a wide international readership.
C0ntents
Chapter I: The Hittites of the Bible
Chapter II: The Hittites on the Monuments of Egypt and Assyria
Chapter III: The Hittite Monuments
Chapter IV: The Hittite Empire
Chapter V: The Hittite Cities and Race
Chapter VI: Hittite Religion and Art
Chapter VII: The Inscriptions
Chapter VIII: Hittite Trade and Industry
Index
