| Lawazantiya | |
| Native Name: | Tatarlı Höyük |
| Map Type: | Turkey |
| Relief: | yes |
| Coordinates: | 37.1228°N 36.0508°W |
Lawazantiya (URULa-wa(-az)-za-an-ti-ya) was a major Bronze Age city in the Kingdom of Kizzuwatna and the cultic city of the goddess Šauška.[1] It was famous for its temple that got purification water from its seven springs.[2] Today the best candidate for the site is Tatarli Höyük which is known for its seven springs.[3] [4]
During the Old Assyrian Trade Network into Anatolia it was mentioned as Luhuzantiya. The earliest mention of the city comes from the Old Assyrian documents as a trading colony in Kaniš, where the place Luḫuzatia is often mentioned, which is common to Lawazantiya.[5]
In the late 17th century BC, Lawazantiya was a target for Hittite expansion to the sea and the base of the military campaigns of Ḫattušili I (c. 1620 BC). He went northeast attacking Urshu and Hassu, which then got aid from Halap (Aleppo) and Carchemish.
In Hittite texts the city is known as Lawazantiya (also: Lahuwazantiya, Lauwanzantiya or Lahuzzandiya), in Ugarit as Lwsnd[6] and in Assyrian Annals as Lusanda.[7] There is a Hittite document entitled "Festival of Teššub and Ḫebat of Lawazantiya" which has the king calling these deities in to open the spring festival.[8]
In the Telipinu Edict that Hittite ruler (c. 1525-1500 BC) reports that the city had rebelled and been retaken.[9]
In the 13th century BC, Hattušili III met and married Pudu-Heba, daughter of Pentipšarri, a priest of Šauška, in Lawazantiya. She was a strong promoter of Kizzuwatnean cults and traditions. [10]
For the Festival for Teššup and Ḫebat of Lawazantiya, see CTH 699.[11]
The city is known to have been part of the Kizzuwatna region. Gojko Barjamovic considers Luḫuzatia and Lawazantiya to be two separate localities, with the former locating in Elbistan.[12] Meanwhile Lawazantiya might be located at Sirkeli Höyük. Tatarli Höyük has also been proposed as the location based on cylinder and stamp seals found at that site.[13]