Cultural Harmonies: Unveiling Mesopotamian and Hittite Musical Legacies
In Ancient Mesopotamia, the Hittites adopted certain traditions from the region, evident from the presence of some musical instruments and musical professional groups recorded in Hittite texts in Sumerian. Excavations in Mesopotamia hosting the Sumerian, Assyrian, and Babylonian civilizations have provided insights into ancient Mesopotamian music, uncovering cuneiform tablets, seals, original musical instruments, relief carvings, orthostats, and statuettes (Masalcı Şahin, p.9).
In Mesopotamia, music was observed in Sumerian temples, transitioning from poetic invocations to religious music or hymns, sung in chorus with antiphonal singing. It was present in palace and temple ceremonies, marriage rituals, magical rites, and funerals.
Studies have suggested the existence of a notation system in ancient Mesopotamian music. Tablets from the city of Ur mention nine strings in Sumerian and Akkadian. It has been proposed that these strings indicated intervals of four and five (Kilmer, 1971; Duchesne-Guillemin, 1984).
At the excavation site of Ur, a lyre and a curved harp were discovered, while the harp was visible in Assyria and the lute in Babylon. The origin of the frequently encountered çalparan in Hittite works, however, can be traced back to Egypt.
In Ancient Anatolia, musical instruments such as the sistrum and bells were found in Kültepe. Two documents discovered here provide information about the goddess Ishtar's musical instrument. These documents are not related to festivals or musical rituals but to oaths. Goddess Ishtar was identified with music, observed in Hittite cuneiform texts. Interestingly, the oath was made in front of the goddess's instrument. While men took oaths in front of a dagger, for women, Ishtar's representation was a divine symbol. In the Hittite period, the GIŠ INANNA instrument, referred to as the instrument of the goddess Inanna, had a separate place among musical instruments. Sacrifices were offered to the gods, including sheep or libations, on this instrument.
The Hittites made significant contributions to the development and progression of music. They analyzed the music culture from written and visual archaeological data. Music constituted a substantial part of the state cult in Hittite culture and featured in various aspects of their lives. It played a crucial role in festivals, ceremonies, sacrificial rituals, and funeral rites. These rituals followed predetermined rules, and musicians were required to perform their duties diligently and adhere to regulations throughout the ceremonies. The primary responsibility of Hittite kings was to fulfill their obligations to the gods, as the rituals of a polytheistic society could be attributed to their fears and multiple rituals. The purpose of festivals was to ensure rainfall, sustain hunting game and food supplies, and enhance the king's power. They prayed and made offerings to ensure fertility and prosperity in the lands they cultivated.
Besides its function in uplifting spirits, music among the Hittites possessed a soothing quality. In a mythological narrative, the goddess Ishtar attempted to enchant a monster by singing and playing a musical instrument. The most frequently used musical instrument in the rituals was mentioned in texts as the instrument of the goddess Inanna.
During certain festivals like Antahsun, Nuntariyasha, and Vurulliya, sacred places were visited, offerings were made to the sun and storm gods, animals were sacrificed, yet music wasn't mentioned. However, during festivals like KI.LAM, Witaššiia, Nerik, Kizuwatna, and NIN. DINGIR, music was noted. Texts reveal that in KI.LAM rituals, singers, clappers, and musicians carrying statuettes and torches danced. Music activity is also evident in ceremonies held in Hassumas.
Music features in Hittite-originated mythologies. Each of the five mythological narratives is referred to as a song, forming the Kumarbi series: Kumarbi, Lamma, Silver, Hedamnu, and Ullikummi's songs.
Hittite funeral ceremonies lasted for 14 days, involving animal sacrifices, offering drinks and bread. Texts mention individuals starting to mourn using flutes called SULPATU. Music was present in treatments and rituals, illustrating the inclusion of healing and sorcery in the official religion associated with the god Telipinu.
The presence of musical instruments among the Hittites is known through written and visual findings. Written texts, particularly verbs, provide insights, while visual evidence in orthostats, seals, relief ceramics, and rhytons depicting music scenes allows us to deduce their role in music.