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This book examines two middle Hittite texts: KBo 15.10 + KBo 20.42 (+)1? KUB 57.39 and KBo 20.34 and includes transliteration of the texts, their translation into English and Russian, commentaries and a complete glossary.

Previously transliteration and the translation of the main part of the tablet KBo 15.10 was published in 1968 and 1971 by G. Szabó (THeth 1). Since then, another fragment of the tablet (or of its copy) was published as KUB 57.39. The publication of this fragment as well as a number of inaccuracies in the first edition call for revision and a new publication of these texts.

KBo 15.10+ describes a magic ritual performed by an Old Woman with her several female assistants in order protect the sitting king Tuthalija II, his wife Nikalmadi and their sons from the evil spells of the king’s sister, Ziplantawija, and of destroying Ziplantawija with her children as potential heirs to the throne.

The second text (KBo 20.34) describes a ritual performed for Attai, the son of Ziplantawija (the king’s nephew). The aim of the ritual is to enthrone Attai by by-passing the lawful heirs, i.e. the sons of Tuthalija and Nikalmadi. It might be that this ritual chronologically preceded the ritual described in KBo 15.10+ and served as casus belli between Tuthalija and Ziplantawija.

The text of KBo 15.10+ is a typical example of the language of the Middle Hittite Kingdom (XV — 1st half of the XIV century BC according to the «middle chronology»). In the Introduction, there are graphic, morphological and syntactic grounds given in support of such dating. Unlike Szabó’s edition, A. Kassian provides more detailed linguistic comments to the texts, suggests new interpretations of some obscure words (e.g. atteß c. pl.t. ‘soul, spirit’) and several new etymologies (e.g. lilai- ‘to conciliate’).

In the Linguistic Commentary two spelling rules concerning plene-writing are postulated.