This paper refers to the hotly debated issue of mutual relations between the Mycenaean world and the Hittites in western Anatolia. An archaeological history of Miletus (Millawanda of Hittite texts) is outlined, with an emphasis put on its... more
This paper refers to the hotly debated issue of mutual relations between the Mycenaean world and the Hittites in western Anatolia. An archaeological history of Miletus (Millawanda of Hittite texts) is outlined, with an emphasis put on its exceptional position as the main Mycenaean colony in western Anatolia, maintaining contanct with the interior along the trade route leading eastwards through the valleys of Cine (Marsyas) stream and the Buyuk Menderes (Meander) river. The finds of a Hittite seal impression and Mycenaean-type, LH IIIB – IIIC, pottery from Cine-Tepecik shed new light on emulation processes to be observed in the local (material) culture and the stronger Hittite impact on both, Miletus and the Cine plain in the second half of the 13th century B.C.
This intends to correct some misapprehensions of the chronological intentions of my paper concerning the date of the Theban supremacy in Ahhiyawa, to add informations capable to expain both its historical reasons as well to better fix it... more
This intends to correct some misapprehensions of the chronological intentions of my paper concerning the date of the Theban supremacy in Ahhiyawa, to add informations capable to expain both its historical reasons as well to better fix it historically. An important excursus dealing with theoretical issues concerning the transition from LH IIIB to LH IIIC and thus with the absolute date pertaining to the fall of Mycenean palaces, points at our essential dependence on the absolute date of LH IIIC export wares in the Levante. As a matter of fact are however all these early LH IIIC cases exclussively imports from either the region of the Anatolian Interface or from Cyprus. Given the fact, that a political break between Ahhiyawa proper and these former regions is historically attested happenning since at least before 1200 BCE it is common sense to ask, what we are dating actually by these early LH IIIC finds: the creation of an own variant style of the LH IIIB in the region of the Anatolian Interface, later diffusing towards the Mycenean mainland, or instead - due to political separation - an unexplainable diffusion of a mainland Mycenean style to the not anymore to Mycenae pertaining peripheries? A valid answer to this question is essential for the next one concerning the fall of the Mycenean civilization. The question concerning the direction of diffusion seems to have been overlooked, before even having been formulated.
