SyroHittites

The Syro-Hittites, also known as Neo-Hittites, were a collection of successor states that emerged in Anatolia and the Levant following the collapse of the Hittite Empire in the early 12th century BCE. These kingdoms, which flourished from around the 11th to the 7th centuries BCE, maintained many aspects of Hittite culture, language, and political organization. They were distinct from the Old Hittite kingdom and the later Hittite Empire, representing a period of decentralization and adaptation.

Geographically, Syro-Hittite states were concentrated in southeastern Anatolia and northern Syria. Prominent among these were kingdoms like Carchemish, Hamath, Samal, and Gurgum. These entities were often characterized by their use of Luwian and Aramaic languages, with Aramaic gradually becoming more dominant over time. Their art and architecture often blended Hittite traditions with influences from neighboring civilizations, particularly Assyria and Phoenicia, resulting in a unique artistic synthesis.

The Syro-Hittite kingdoms played a significant role in regional politics, frequently interacting with the rising powers of Assyria, Urartu, and later Phrygia. Initially, they were able to maintain a degree of independence, but by the 8th century BCE, Assyrian expansion began to exert increasing pressure. The Assyrian Empire eventually conquered and absorbed most of the Syro-Hittite states, marking the end of their independent existence by the mid-7th century BCE. Despite their eventual subjugation, the Syro-Hittite period left a lasting legacy in the art, writing, and political landscape of the ancient Near East.