‘Kings and Great Kings of the Mediterranean’
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM Decoding Representations of Status in the Bronze Age Aegean Patterns, definitions and interpretations, Athens, Yunanistan, 28 - 29 Kasım 2024, ss.19-20, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Athens
- Basıldığı Ülke: Yunanistan
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.19-20
- Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This paper explores the hierarchical dynamics between the Achaean Kings of
Mycenaean Greece and the Great Kings of the ancient Near East, specifically focusing
on the Kingdom of the Hittites. The study posits that the Achaean Kings were of
somehow lower status compared to the Great Kings of Hatti, Egypt, Assyria, and
Babylonia, who recognized each other as equals and addressed one another as
“brothers”, even if the Wanax of Linear-B tablets may refer to some kind of a Great
King of Achaeans. This assertion is supported by some archaeological evidence, like
the presence of Achaean gifts in the Hittite capital, Hattusa, contrasted with the absence
19of Hittite gifts in Achaean palaces. The same one-sided gifting practice can be seen with
Egyptian 18th Dynasty as well. The findings contribute to the understanding of the
geopolitical landscape of the Late Bronze Age, highlighting the subordinate position of
the Achaean rulers in the face of Near Eastern political hegemony.