A recently discovered Hittite tablet shows striking parallels with the narrative of Homer's Iliad (Pariyamuwa/Priam, Vilusha/Ilion, Alaxandu/Alexander) and provides evidence of second-millennium Luwian songs about the fall of Troy.
According to Michele Bianconi, a linguist and lecturer in classics and linguistics at the University of Oxford, the Hittite tablet has striking parallels with Homer's narrative of the Iliad.
“Hittite tablet telling about the Trojan War?”, – asks Michele Bianconi. As noted, a recently discovered Hittite tablet depicts correspondence between an unknown Hittite ruler and a man named Pariyamuwa (Priam), possibly the king of the city.
The first line apparently talks about the attack of the sons of Attarshiya (probably Atreus or Atreida) from Akhhiyawa (as they called the Achaeans) on the city of Taruisha (Troy), which is known to us from other Hittite sources.
The Iliad contains evidence of the presence of Lycian troops (Luqqa/Lukka = Lycia) among the Trojans, but the most striking passage is at the end, where there is a direct reference to the songs about the fall of Troy.
It is obvious that the dactylic rhythm of Lucian's passage is certainly not accidental.
Amazing discovery in Anatolia! New #Hittite tablet shows striking correspondences with the narrative of #Homer's Iliad and testifies to second-millennium Luwian songs about the fall of #Troy. More here: https://t.co/glZr1xIqBO pic.twitter.com/S9x68apazm
— Michele Bianconi (@MicheBianconi) April 1, 2024
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