- Tawananna
Tawananna (also spelt Tavannana) is the title for the queen of the
Hittites . The Hittites were ruled by a theocraticmonarchy , although the King was equal with the Queen when it came to rights of rulership. The Tavannana also had the duty of ruling when the King was away fighting at battle and was the High Priestess while the king was High Priest of the Hittite Empire.The Hittite queen bore the title "Tawanannas", and if she outlived her husband, she retainer her position. [Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture, W.H. Stiebing, p. 200 ] The main duties of Tawanannas was mainly religious. The examples of Hittite "Tawanannas" was
Puduhepa , wife ofHattusilis III . After the death of Hattusilis, Puduhepa took the responsibility of communicating with Egyptian royal family and rulers Hittite vassal states.This title is from the Hittite civilization 1000-3000 B.C, a society which recognized the governing queen. This title was for when the king was living and she reserved its position after her spouse dies, reserved also meant no Tawannanna began the Ceremony of Enthronement to her king, until just after the previous Tawannanna dies. Sort of like lining up 2 or 3 wives in advance so you always know what’s in store for you next, This often resulted in bitter rivalries between newly appointed queens and there stepchildren who would inherit the true power of the kingdom. Such an incident is noted in translated version of cuneiform tablet.Fact|date=January 2008
Notes
External links
* [http://www.atamanhotel.com/hattusilis.html "THE GREAT QUEEN PUDUHEPA and THE GREAT KING HATTUŞILI III"]
* [http://www.hittites.info/history.aspx?text=history%2FEarly+Empire.htm One webpage using the term]
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