Ancient people of Anatolia, dominating the central parts of the mountain regions since unknown times, until the arrival or emergence of the Hittites in the 18th century BCE. Their heartland stretched from Hattusha to Nerik.
Social structures
Hattians formed smaller states, feudal in character, based upon cities or more extensive principalities. It is assumed that religion and state were merged, that a religious elite was partly or completely identical to the political elite.
After the formation of the state of the Hittites, the Hattians seem to have represented the majority, but being secondary members of the society.
Religion
Much of the religion of the Hattians would survive well into Hittite times, the Hittites adopting Hattian beliefs. There was the belief in a sun goddess, who was married to the Storm god. Their children were Nerik and Zippalanda, continuing two more generations.
Related ethnic groups
Despite the similarity in names, the Hattians and the Hittites are not to be confused, they represent different peoples, rather it was the established name from the Hattians that was transferred on to the Hittites. Then, over time, the Hattians merged with the Hittites, losing much of the distinguishable character and language. Judged from Egyptian imagery, the Hattians looked different from the Hittites, Hattians with longer noses.
It is suggested that there was a link between the Hattians and the Khaldi.
