July 3, 2019 ☼ history ☼ 1600BC ☼ hittites ☼ exibition

Royaumes Oubliés | Forgotten Kingdoms | Hittite Empire

If you are in Paris until 12th of August, do not miss “Royaumes Oubliés - de l’Empire Hittite aux Araméens” (Louvre, Hall Napoléon).

Ah, the Hittites, one of the most amazing civilizations, the pioneers of the Iron Age and the masters of heavy chariots. To have an idea of their location and power, check the map of the Hittite Empire at the greatest extent, after 4 enlighten rulers in a row:
Šuppiluliuma I (1344-1322 BCE) > Mursili II (1321-1295 BCE), son of S. I > Muwatalli II (1295-1272 BCE) and Hattusili III (1267-1237), sons of M. II

There are plenty of reasons to remember them, however one is above: the peace treaty between Muwatalli II vs Ramesses II from 1259 BCE was the first written peace treaty in history… and also was never broken.
This peace treaty followed the Battle of Kadesh from 1274 BCE, the largest chariot battle ever fought (5-6000 chariots) and the best documented battle in all of ancient history. If you are curious how was possible for the Hittites to almost crush the mighty army of Rameses II, well, the secret is: the fabulous horse trainers from the Mitanni Empire (employed by the Hittites), combined with the the redutable innovative chariot: large, heavier, shock-absorber (axle was on the mid cab, not in the back like Egyptian ones) and.. with a crew of 3 instead of 2 (pilot, archer and - innovative ! - a third one with a shield, protecting the first two). Rameses II had to run and only the greed of Hittites, plundering Rameses’ camp instead of chasing the target, stopped a possible tragic end for the Pharaoh.

MAIN ARTICLE: ‘Forgotten Kingdoms: From the Hittite Empire to the Arameans’ at the Musée du Louvre, Paris

Exibition:
https://www.louvre.fr/expositions/royaumes-oubliesde-l-empire-hittite-aux-arameens