Tunnels in the Hittite Kingdom: A Study in Hittite Military Architecture | ||
| Shedet | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 30 October 2025 | ||
| Document Type: research articles | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/shedet.2025.424414.1329 | ||
| Author | ||
| Emad Abdel Azeem* | ||
| Fayoum University, Faculty of Arts, History Dep. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Tunnels—both defensive and offensive—represent a prominent military strategy in antiquity, serving multiple functions that range from strengthening the defenses of fortified settlements to enabling surprise attacks against adversaries. Archaeological evidence underscores the significant role these constructions played within Hittite military thought. The Hittite state relied on advanced fortification systems—massive curtain walls and fortified citadels—that frequently incorporated subterranean passages designed to serve both defensive and offensive purposes. Ḫattuša (Boğazköy), the Hittite capital and one of the major archaeological sites in Anatolia, provides a striking example of such engineering and military sophistication; its tunnels formed an integral component of the city’s defensive fabric. The functions of these passages varied widely: securing water supplies, facilitating counter-attacks, and in some instances hosting religious and ritual activities. These tunnels are distributed across different urban zones (Upper City, Lower City) and across several Hittite settlements. This study examines the architecture, typology, functions, and regional diffusion of Hittite tunnels, and places them within the broader strategic and symbolic context of Late Bronze Age fortifications. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Hittite; Tunnels; Posterns; Fortifications; Warfare | ||
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