ABSTRACT
The libraries of the Hittite capital provide us access to the myths of a variety of cultures in a variety of languages, including indigenous (pre-Hittite) Hattic and imported Hurrian stories. Indeed, Hattusa is currently our primary source for Hurrian mythology, both in the original Hurrian and in Hittite. Most of the translations provided here are of a set of texts that belong more or less securely to the Hurro-Hittite genre of narrative poetry; oral-derived texts drawn from a bilingual oral poetic tradition that was originally the province of Hurrian-speakers, but was adopted by Hittite-speakers. 1 Hurro-Hittite song addressed a shared set of concerns about the interactions between mankind and the divine, superior and subordinate, and men and women. At least some Hurro-Hittite songs were performed during festivals, 2 although other settings can also easily be imagined, such as entertainment at court, or to provide an admonitory example in magic rituals.
