| Puduhepa | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pudu-Kheba |
| Spouse | Hattusili III |
| Children | Tudhaliya IV |
| Parents | Bentepsharri |
Puduhepa (Hittite: Pudu-Ḫepa, or Pudu-Kheba) was a Hittite tawanannas (queen) was married to King Hattusili III. She has been referred to as "one of the most influential women known from the Ancient Near East."[1]
Puduhepa was born at the beginning of the 13th century BCE in the city of Lawazantiya in Kizzuwatna (ie. Cilicia, a region south of the Hittite kingdom). Her father Bentepsharri was the head priest of the tutelary divinity of the city, Ishtar of Lawazantiya, and Puduhepa grew up to exercise the function of priestess of this same goddess. On his return from the Battle of Kadesh, the Hittite general Hattushili met Puduhepa and, it was said, Ishtar instructed him to take her as his wife. She went with him then to the kingdom of Hapissa. When his spouse successfully rose to the Hittite throne by defeating his nephew Urhi-Teshub (Mursili III), Puduhepa became queen of the Hittites.
She had an important role to play in the Hittite court and international diplomacy of the period. She would appear constantly by the side of her husband as he made his rulings and decisions. It appears however that she was portrayed reigning hand in hand with her husband rather than subservient to the king.
She played an important role in diplomacy with Egypt. Puduhepa communicated several times with the king of Egypt Ramses II as he signed a peace treaty with Hattushili, and when Hattusili agree that two of his daughters should go to Egypt to marry Ramses II.
After the death of Hattushili, her role expanded under the reign of her son Tudhaliya IV, under the title of goddess-queen. She was involved in judicial matters to the point of intervening in legal cases. She was also a priestess who worked on organising and rationalising Hittite religion.[2]