ABSTRACT
The limitations of the written evidence have left us woefully ignorant of the standing and role of women in Hittite society. From priestesses of high status to singers and musicians, they took part in festival activities. 1 In the area of domestic religion we are fortunate to have relatively rich documentation, nevertheless, no systematic study has yet been done on gender and Hittite ritual. Clearly certain clusters of rituals, birth rituals, for example, were customized for female clients (see Bachvarova, this volume). But women take part in rituals in multiple capacities. They could commission rituals, serve as ritual “objects” key to the rite’s implementation and success, or construct and conduct the rituals. Women might also be the source of the misfortune the ritual is meant to address.
