Anitta, son of Pithana, was a semi-legendary king of the Hittites at Kussara, a city that has yet to be identified.

Anitta reigned in the mid-18th century BC and is mentioned by his descendant Hattusili I, the first Hittite king of Hattusa, in the Anitta text (CTH 1.A, edited in StBoT 18, 1974)^*, the oldest known text in the Hittite language (and the oldest known Indo-European text altogether).

The text encourages speculation that both Anitta and Pithana, were of Hattian origin. The Hittite texts gives a list of cities sacked by Pithana, among which was Nesa (Kanish, Kültepe), which Anitta later made his capital. Also among the city list is Hattusa; Anitta destroyed the city of Hattusa after defeating King Piyusti of Hattusa and laying a curse on the site.

Anitta's name appears on an inscription on a dagger found in Kültepe and also, together with the name of his father Pithana, on various Kültepe texts, as well as in later Hittite tradition.

External links

• The Anitta text
• The Hittite occupation of Anatolia
• Kültepe-dagger inscription
• Reign of Anitta

Hittite kings | Hittite texts

Anitta | Anitta | Kuššaru Anittaš