The Secret of the Hittites

The Secret of the Hittites chronicles the discovery and decoding of an ancient civilization that was lost to history for over 3,000 years. C.W. Ceram traces the work of archaeologists and researchers who uncovered evidence of this powerful empire that once rivaled Egypt and Babylon. The narrative follows key figures in Hittite research, including Czech scholar Bedřich Hrozný who broke the code of their language, and German archaeologist Hugo Winckler who excavated their capital city. Through their efforts and discoveries, the book reconstructs the rise and fall of this sophisticated Bronze Age civilization. The story moves between archaeological sites, academic institutions, and ancient battlefields as scholars piece together the Hittite puzzle through clay tablets, monuments, and architectural ruins. The detection work spans over a century of research across multiple countries and academic disciplines. This work illuminates larger themes about how civilizations can be forgotten by time and rediscovered through scientific persistence. The book demonstrates how archaeology and linguistics combine to resurrect lost chapters of human history.

Readers find this book tells the archeological detective story behind decoding Hittite civilization while remaining accessible to non-experts. Reviews note that Ceram brings drama and suspense to academic discoveries. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex archeological concepts - Personal stories of the researchers involved - Maps and photographs included - Writing style that balances education and entertainment Common criticisms: - Dated language and attitudes (published 1956) - Some historical conclusions now disproven - Technical details can overwhelm casual readers - Lack of cultural context about ancient Hittites Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (142 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) "Reads like a detective novel but teaches real history" - Amazon reviewer "Got bogged down in linguistic minutiae" - Goodreads reviewer "Made archeology exciting but needed more about Hittite daily life" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🏺 The book was first published in German in 1955 under the title "Enge Schlucht und Schwarzer Berg" ("Narrow Gorge and Black Mountain") before being translated into English. 🗿 C.W. Ceram was the pen name of Kurt Wilhelm Marek, a German journalist who wrote several popular archaeology books, including the bestseller "Gods, Graves, and Scholars." 📜 The book helped bring widespread public attention to Hittite civilization at a time when many discoveries were still relatively recent, including the breakthrough in deciphering their language in the 1910s-1920s. 🏛️ The author dedicated significant portions of the book to the work of Czech linguist Bedřich Hrozný, who made the crucial breakthrough in decoding the Hittite language by recognizing it as an Indo-European tongue. 🗺️ The book traces the rediscovery of the Hittite civilization from the first mysterious hieroglyphic inscriptions found in Turkey through the gradual realization that this was one of the great empires of the ancient Near East.