Forgotten Ancient Kingdom Of Tuwana Is Hidden Among Ruins In Cappadocia

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - The familiar saying that the conquerors write history applies well to the forgotten ancient kingdom of Tuwana that was more or less erased from history. It was once a prosperous kingdom of great importance, but its history is lost in time today.

The Hittities. The kingdom of Tuwana arose in the wake of the Hittite empire’s fall. Image credit: www.smithsonianchannel.com

It is still possible for Tuwana to gain proper historical recognition now that the ruins of this ancient and powerful kingdom were discovered in Cappadocia, Turkey.

How Tuwana Became A Rich And Powerful Kingdom

During the ninth and eighth centuries BC, the kingdom of Tuwana rose to prominence under a series of kings. Unfortunately, only a few of them are known from inscriptions.

Tuwana derives its name from the Late Bronze Age Tuwanuwa, one of the cities of the Hittite Lower Land. Tuwana was the largest and most important kingdom of the southern Tabal region of Anatolia. Tabal was a Luwian-speaking neo-Hittite 'state' that emerged from the Hittite empire's collapse.

The kingdom of Tuwana arose after the Hittite empire's fall. It became one of the city-states that helped fill the power vacuum in Turkey.

Ruins in Cappadocia. Image credit: travelpromotionsturkey.com

Tuwana gained a strong position between the Phrygian and Assyrian empires. Tuwana facilitated trade throughout Anatolia and, as a direct result, the kingdom of Tuwana. As a result, it accumulated significant wealth. It was a wealthy kingdom with a strong economy and used a hieroglyphic language called Luwian. Later, the people of Tuwana adopted the alphabetical Phoenician script.

Tuwana lost its importance and greatness when the Assyrian Empire expanded westward and took control of all city-states.

Uncovering The Kingdom Of Tuwana In Cappadocia

The kingdom of Tuwana was practically unheard of and forgotten for a long time. Then, in 2012, archaeologists excavating a considerable site in southern Cappadocia, Turkey, uncovered the ruins of Tuwana.

Researchers from the University of Pavia and NY, who studied the site of ancient Tuwana, consider it part of the forgotten kingdom of Tuwana". Tiwana was only known from hieroglyphics and several sources from the Assyrian Empire, but the site was investigated archaeologically for the first time.

Inscription in hieroglyphic Luwian script. ron Age II, 8th century BC, basalt - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago.

Tuwana was one of the significant sites in terms of size in pre-classical Anatolia. The discovery of a massive city believed to be the base of Tuwana's power is changing the region's history.

With such a large and well-preserved find, archaeologists can finally piece together the story of this powerful and wealthy kingdom, which controlled trade through the Cilician Gates for several centuries.

In the second half of the 8th century BC, the king in Tuwana was Warpalawas II, son of Muwaharani I. These were times of strong influence from the kingdom of Mushki, ruled by King Mita (also identified as Midas of Phrygia).

Phrygia's power is seen in two Old Phrygian inscriptions found in Kemrhisar and by bronze objects of clear Phrygian origin in a tumulus at Kaynarca, seven kilometers northeast of Tyana.

Later, when the Phrygian kingdom and the kingdom of Urartu to the east fell to the Cimmerians, the kingdom of Tuwana disappeared.

Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Updated on January 16, 2024

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