The plague in Hittite Kingdom and its effects (BC. first half of II. millennium)

Epidemic diseases have been seen on the world from ancient times up to the present and have caused a large number of deaths. One of these epidemic diseases is the plague epidemic. The plague has also occured during the Hittite State and it was afected King II. Mursili's Plague Prayers. When the Hittites did not perform their mystical duties on a regular basis, to the Gods, they belived that the epidemic was given as punishment. Hittites applied medical treatment methods developed by them to prevent diseases. Because religious rituals had an important place in social life, they often used religious-based magic treatment methods to get rid of diseases. They also prayed to God by organizing religious ceremonies to prevent epidemics. In spite off all these efforts, when they could not get rid of the diseases, they left their living spaces thinking that they and their places were punished by God. Keywords: Hittite State, Plague Epidemic, Rituals, Gods.