According, however, to all known history the Hittites were a warlike
and conquering race and ranked among the foremost of the nations of
Western Asia. The modern historian has come to the following conclusion
concerning them: “Their primitive home is thought to have been in that
part of Armenia where the Euphrates, the Halys, and Lycus approach
nearest to one another; and it is even asserted that the modern
Armenians are descendants of the old Hittites. From this point they
began their career of conquests, probably under the leadership of
some able and vigorous chief, whose ambition overleaped his native
boundaries. One conquest led to another. Their leaders acquired great
armies, and subdued many nations, until the Hittites became one of
the most powerful peoples of ancient times, and their kings were able
successfully to defy even Egypt, at that time the strongest nation on
the globe.”
This description accords with Armenian history; the Hai being known
from time immemorial as a warlike race, and extending their territory
by conquests, until, as I have narrated, under the leadership of Aram
their kingdom spread from the mountains of Upper Armenia to the shores
of the Mediterranean and into northern Mesopotamia, which proves that
almost all of Asia Minor was conquered by them, and according also to
Armenian history the language of the Hai was introduced into Cappadocia
by King Aram.[17]
Allowing, however, for the many obscurities of Armenian history,
confusion comes in, when historians or archæologists ascribe a
Mongolian ancestry to the Hittites, whereas Armenian history holds its
unquestionable ground firmly and decidedly on the Japhetian ancestry;
and the peculiar physiognomy of the Armenians; the oval contour of
face, the distinctive, prominent nose, large eye, and well marked arch
of eyebrow do not show any traces of Mongolian ancestry. It follows
therefore that if the Armenians are the descendants of the Hittites,
then the Hittites were not of Mongolian ancestry. If the Hittites were
the Hai, the name must have undergone corruption during the course of
centuries and it is reasonable to suppose that they shared the fate of
all conquerors, and after a period of power, were driven back from the
shores of the Mediterranean to their own native home.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account