Kešši
Hurrian hunter-hero whose story survives in multiple ancient versions.
Kešši (also romanized as Keshshi or Kešše) is the eponymous protagonist of a narrative of Hurrian origin known from fragments discovered at Hattusa and Amarna. Versions in Hurrian, Hittite, and Akkadian have been found, and while individual events vary between them, scholars agree they record variants of the same main story. The tale is one of six texts from Hattusa whose colophons designate them as belonging to the genre 'song' (ŠÌR).
Quick Facts
- Occupation
- Hunter
- Spouse
- Šintalimeni
- Origin
- Hurrian
Facts from the source article.
Background
The name Kešši is of Hurrian origin and can be translated as 'the one who sets (traps),' literally 'hunter.' Fragments of the tale have been discovered in Hurrian (estimated originally over 3000 lines, only about 450 preserved), Hittite (six fragments), and a single Akkadian tablet from Amarna. The Hittite translation does not directly follow the Hurrian original, possibly relying on an oral version. The Akkadian tablet is presumed to have been imported to Egypt from the Hittite Empire.
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