The Hittite Woman

One of the biggest and most successful civilizations in Anatolia was the Hittites. According to the information obtained from the cuneiform tablets obtained as a result of the excavations, compared to neighboring states, the feature that makes the Hittites superior is the importance and respect they give to human rights.

When we look at the criminal law and family law, we see that there is no place for the degrading punishments that can be seen in many states. e.g; Penalties such as severe injuries to the body of the enemy, shapes made from severed heads, burning of captives, as seen in Assyrians, are not encountered in Hittites. Even slave rights were guaranteed by law.

In addition to these, it is observed that the Hittites gave great importance to women's rights. The fact that the queens have almost as wide rights as the kings reveals the equality of women and men in the Hittites. Hittite women played important roles in administration and foreign policy. Known as the first peace treaty in history, the Treaty of Kadesh between them and the Egyptians, includes the name and seal of the queen alongside the king's seal.

In addition, women could trade, and it was possible to see women in professions such as nuns, physicians, musicians, and farmers.

In Hittite laws, regardless of the gender of the victim, whether male or female, the criminal is treated equally according to the penal law.

There is no tradition of polygamy among the people, and in the Hittites, a girl could choose the person she wanted to marry and decide on her own.

A letter from a woman whose husband is thought to be a merchant is found on a tablet:

“My dear husband,

When are you coming back, Hattusas'aş I can't take your mother's nagging anymore and your children don't listen to me anymore. Please, I'm waiting for you in Hattusha as soon as possible."

Apparently, the bride-in-law's fights did not belong only to our century.