Armenian Asia Minor: Hittite Kingdom, Phrygia, Lydia

It is known that Armenian race was sole inhabitant of Asia Minor from the old time. In Asia Minor there were a number of Armenian old Kingdoms. About the Armenian Kingdoms of Komagena, Tsopc, Kappadokia and Armenia Minor we said in Item 3. 10. About Kilikia it was in Item 3. 11. About Troy (lllion) will be in next Item 3. 27. This Item 3. 26. is about Hittitian Kingdom, Phrygia and Lydia.

Hittitian Kingdom

It is known that Hittitian State was in central part of Asia Minor during 17-12 centuries BC and Hittitian language (Hattiti) was IndoEuropean [87]. But what was before the said centuries? The book “Ancient civilizations” says: “Hatti seems to have been in origin a very ancient name for the district around the city Hattush..•

The inhabitants of this district in the ID millennium BC spoke Hattiti and would therefore have had first right to the name of “Hattite” if they had not been pre-empted by the people of the later kingdom, of which Hattush was the capital” [93, p. 111].

What was before ID millennium BC is unknown. Let us remember here the anthropological data (see Item 3. 1.) that 10 thousand years ago all Asia Minor was populated by Armenoid race only, Le, by Armenians, from whom came Indo-Europeans and Indo-European languages. Before about the middle of XX century AD it was said everywhere that Hattitean language was Semitic.

But after the excavations of Hittitean capital Hattush with big library it was demonstrated that Hittitean language is IndoEuropean. Now it is known that many Hittitian words (and grammar) are
the same as Armenians or very close to them [64].

It is known also that Hittitean country (state, then Empire) was in close contacts with Great Armenia and other Armenian Kingdoms, particularly with Kilikia, the kings of which were at one period brothers (from the one dynasty) with Hittiean kings. They received from Great Armenia many goods, finery and weaponry.

Phrygia

After the fall of Troy (13c. BC) this country is known in the history as Phrygia, which was located in NW of Asia Minor, with its capital Gordion. According to historical data Phrygia existed from 10-8 cent. BC to 2-3 cent. AD.

The language is separate branch of Indo-European family (as Armenian also). The language is represented with inscriptions, glosses and personal names [70, p. 376; 1986]. It is obvious that these writings must be read in old Armenian language.

Lydia

Lydia located in SW of Asia Minor was, as Phrygia and other countries in Asia Minor, inside other (bigger) Armenian Kingdoms (as Kilikia, Hittites, Troy and others) in different times. Lydia was independent state at 7-6 cent. BC. The language was Indo-European.

An extract from the book “Armenians and Ancient Armenia” by Paris Herouni