combination with all appropriate rituals to gain the goodwill of the
gods. Given that the kingdom of Hatti almost certainly suffered
chronic shortages in its labour and defence forces, a newborn child
must have been one of its most valuable assets.
Such an asset was essential to the maintenance of Hatti’s status
as a great military power. And that brings us to the reign of
Mursili’s son Muwattalli, and the decisive showdown with the
king’s Royal Brother from the land of the Nile.
WOMEN,MARRIAGE AND SLAVERY 157