Cuneiform tablets describe a 20-year plague from 1350-1330 BCE matching tularemia symptoms. Ancient descriptions of epidemiology, including animal vectors and seasonal patterns, help track historical disease evolution.
An Ancient Medical Detective Story
In the ruins of Hattusa, the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, archaeologists discovered an archive of over 30,000 cuneiform tablets. Among them are the "Plague Prayers," a series of pleas composed by King Mursili II around the 14th century BCE. These texts document a devastating epidemic that afflicted the Hittite lands for two decades, killing a significant portion of the population, including Mursili II's father, Suppiluliuma I, and his brother and predecessor, Arnuwanda II.
The prayers are addressed to the gods of Hatti, as Mursili II believed the plague was a divine punishment for his father's actions. Specifically, he cites the capture of Egyptian prisoners during military campaigns in Syria. The tablets state that the disease first broke out among these prisoners before spreading to the Hittite population. This account shows a clear understanding of disease contagion—that illness could be transmitted by people moving from one region to another. The Hittites referred to the plague as the "Hand of Nergal," naming it after the Mesopotamian god of pestilence.
Retrospective Diagnosis: Tularemia
Modern researchers and microbiologists have analyzed the descriptions in these ancient texts, proposing a scientific hypothesis: the Hittite plague was an epidemic of tularemia. This disease is caused by the highly infectious bacterium Francisella tularensis. Though the tablets do not give a detailed clinical breakdown, the references to death and illness are consistent with severe bacterial infection. Tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever," can cause high fever, skin ulcers, and respiratory failure. Without antibiotic treatment, its mortality rate can be as high as 15%.
The Hittite texts also contain clues about the disease's transmission. Mursili's prayers suggest the Hittites suspected a zoonotic link, meaning it could pass from animals to humans. One ritual described in the prayers involves using a ram to lure the plague away from the people, pointing to a possible connection with livestock. In a later conflict, the Hittites allegedly sent diseased rams into the lands of their enemies, the Arzawans, in what may be the first recorded instance of biological warfare. F. tularensis is known to be carried by animals, including sheep and rabbits, and transmitted to humans through direct contact, contaminated water, or the bites of insects like ticks and deer flies. This ancient account of a widespread epidemic, complete with observations on contagion and animal vectors, shows Bronze Age epidemiology.
💡Fun Facts
The Hittite plague is considered the first recorded instance of biological warfare, where diseased rams were allegedly sent to infect their enemies.
King Mursili II, author of the prayers, became king only because his father and older brother both died from the plague.
The bacterium *Francisella tularensis* is so infectious that inhaling as few as 10-50 organisms can cause the disease.
The archive at Hattusa, where the Plague Prayers were found, contained tablets written in at least eight different languages, showing the city's cosmopolitan nature.
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Admission
Approximately $10 USD. MuseumPass Türkiye is accepted.
Accessibility
The archaeological site is vast (around 180 hectares) and the terrain is uneven and hilly. Driving between the major points of interest is recommended, as a full walking tour takes over three hours.