Hittite Éḫalentuwa- Revisited

This paper reconsiders ambiguous textual evidence concerning the meaning of the Hittite architectural term Éḫalent(i)u- / Éḫalentuwa-, which has been interpreted either as “cella, adyton” or “palace, residence.” It is argued that the ḫalentuwa was part of both a palace and a temple compound, as the culticresidential nucleus connected with the family identity and ancestor cult in the palace, or as the meeting place of mortals and gods in the temple. The ḫalentuwa as a gathering hall for cultic purposes would correspond to the Mesopotamian papāḫu.