THE ARZAWA LANDS. THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF IZMIR AND ITS ENVIRONS DURING LATE BRONZE AGE IN THE LIGHT OF NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Abstract

Keywords

• Arzawa/Mira
• Late Bronze Age

THE ARZAWA LANDS. THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF IZMIR AND ITS ENVIRONS DURING LATE BRONZE AGE IN THE LIGHT OF NEW ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

Abstract

The core of Arzawa (Arzawa Minor) before Mursili II is defined as the maritime Ephesos/Apasa region extending from Mt. Arinnanda (Mykale), including also the inland settlement Puranda (Bademgediği Tepe).The boundaries of Arzawa Minor were actually laid out generally by S. Heinhold - Krahmer and D. J. Hawkins. Nevertheles some minor changes were undertaken in their schemes due to the discovery of new LBA sites and topographical observations in the area. Kaystros river basin and northern foothills of Mt. Tmolos from Karabel pass to the east seemed to constitute the land of Mira which had a legitimate vassal kingdom after Mursili II and incorporated into Arzawa Minor. Considering the northern foothills of Mt. Tmolos (Boz Dağı) belonging to Mira we have then an important clue to locate the cities of Arsani, Sarawa, Impa and Hapanuwa which were fortified and garrisoned by Mursili II on his way from Seha River land back to Mira, following a route from west to east. This was plausibly the same geographic order for the cities of Mira in the texts. Now it seems conceivable to locate these towns along the foothills of Mt. Tmolos (Boz Dağı) after the itinerary of Mursili II with the help of newly discovered LBA sites by the author or by other researchers. New evidence for revising the boundaries of Kuwaliya provided the site for Elmacık near Uşak. The classical site of Kaualia/Kabalia located at Elmacık is related to Kuwaliya. A prehistoric mound with LBA pottery discovered at Elmacık is a hint that the area between Elmacık, Banaz and Akarçay (Astarpa) constituted the upper part of Kuwaliya adjacent partly to the Siyanta River land in the North. Consequently, this article contributes new information to the historical geography of İzmir and its surroundings in the light of recent archaeological and topographical research.

Keywords

• Mursili II
• Arzawa/Mira
• Late Bronze Age

References

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