Empire of the Hittites

Professor Archibald Henry Sayce decoded Hittite inscriptions in a book written by a senior biblical scholar at the British and Foreign Bible Society in London. The author's personal investigations of inscriptions discovered while on missionary work near Damascus in the Middle East formed the basis of this work. The author was certain that he had uncovered the first mention of the Hittites outside the Bible, and proceeded to create a comprehensive study of the Hittite culture, drawing from their own writings as well as those of neighboring civilizations such as the Egyptians and Assyrians.

The book then delves into an analysis of the geographical reach of the Hittite empire, their art, education, religion, and ethnic origins. The author notes, "The sculptures indicate that the Hittites were not of Semitic descent. Their features more closely resemble those of a northern people, with some even displaying a distinctly Scythian appearance, including shaved heads and a single lock of hair from the crown." While this hairstyle is not depicted on Hittite monuments, similar features were observed at Karnak and Thebes, suggesting a shared cultural influence.

Although the author utilized the Bible as a key reference point, they also incorporated non-biblical sources to ensure the accuracy of the overall analysis, given the ancient and often enigmatic nature of the Hittite civilization.

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