Symbolic Representation of the Sacred Space/Landscape in the Telepinu Myth

DELLA CASA, ROMINA

Warsaw

Congreso; 8th International Congress of Hittitology; 2011

University of Warsaw

The point of departure of this communication is to recognize that the Hittite society was immersed in a different logic (Weltanschauung) than ours, named?following Henri Frankfort?s ideas??integrated thinking.? With regard to the sacred space/landscape dimension, a ?sacred experience of the world? implies recognizing that several ancient societies visualized territories as an expression of their ideas of chaotic and ordered cosmos. This viewpoint emphasizes the differences between the lands that are believed to have been created and protected by the gods (considered as ordered or cosmic territories), from those that have not (considered as chaotic territories). During Hittite Old and New Kingdoms, the high interaction with neighboring societies encouraged significant transformations of landscape and their symbolic representations. Therefore, I shall analyze the significant presence of space symbolism and its meaning in the Telepinu Myth. Furthermore, this analysis does not attempt to establish categorical assertions, but to consider the function and meaning of the Telepinu Myth during Hittite socio-historical contexts characterized by territorial contractions and expansions.