Forging an Empire: The Borders of the Land of Karkemiš According to the Treaty between Šuppiluliuma and Šattiwaza

Abstract

The article analyses the border descriptions of the land of Karkemis according to the treaty between Suppiluliuma and Sattiwaza (CTH 51). We argue that the toponyms that establish the boundaries of Hanigalbat and Karkemis in the treaty were excluvisely on the east bank of the Euphrates; this is contrary to what is usually proposed by scholarship, which locates some of the toponyms on the west bank of the river. Thus, the territory of Karkemis significantly expanded beyond the Euphrates after the establishment of Hanigalbat, while the east bank was subsequently controlled by Suppiluliuma’s son, Piyassili. Pushing the borders beyond the natural limits of the river was groundbreaking, albeit eventually an unfeasible enterprise.