SyroHittite

Syro-Hittite refers to the Neo-Hittite states that emerged in the Levant and southeastern Anatolia following the collapse of the Hittite Empire. These states flourished roughly between the 11th and 8th centuries BCE. They were not a monolithic empire but rather a collection of independent or semi-independent kingdoms and city-states, often interacting with neighboring powers like Assyria, Urartu, and Phoenicia.

The Syro-Hittite culture represents a fusion of indigenous Levantine traditions and the legacy of the Hittite Empire. While they adopted and adapted Hittite art, architecture, and religious practices, they also incorporated elements from Aramean, Phoenician, and other local cultures. This syncretism is evident in their monumental art, characterized by relief sculptures depicting religious scenes, royal processions, and mythological figures. Hieroglyphic Luwian script, a descendant of the Anatolian hieroglyphic writing system used by the Hittites, continued to be employed for inscriptions, alongside Aramaic script for administrative and economic purposes.

Prominent Syro-Hittite states included Carchemish, Hamath, and Tabal. These kingdoms often engaged in complex diplomatic and military relationships, sometimes forming alliances against larger empires, and at other times becoming vassals or tributaries. Their history is primarily known through archaeological discoveries, particularly inscriptions, and through the records of their powerful neighbors. The Assyrian conquests of the 8th century BCE eventually led to the demise of the Syro-Hittite states, absorbing them into the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Their cultural legacy, however, persisted in the region for centuries.