The present text seeks to determine whether the king will become sick while he is in the city of Nerik. It is immediately determined that he will, after which the oracular question aim to confirm the circumstances of his illness. The responses are that the fever will strike him while he is in Nerik rather than elsewhere. It is then determined that it will occur before his enthronement ceremony and during the time when the king is ritually beaten. The inquiry then turns to the cause of the fever, which is confirmed to be the Sun-Goddess of Arinna, in particular, the Sun-Goddess of Arinna of Progeny. The cause of the goddess’s anger is then investigated, which appears to be neglected prayers and the king’s offensive behaviour towards her. The next set of questions aim to work out what offerings should be given to the goddess for the different offences and negligences committed by the king. After two inquiries alluding to a matter involving Katapaili, the final question concerns whether a certain course of action involving the giving of gifts to the goddess will resolve the situation. However, the answer is negative, and so the issue remains unsolved.

• L. Warbinek, KIN, 2020: 331-333
• Th. van den Hout, DMOA 25, 1998: 124-136
• Th. van den Hout, ZA 81, 1991: 289-292

Handcopy: Figulla H.H. 1916a.

Partial edition: Warbinek L. 2020a, 331-333.

Full edition: Hout Th.P.J. van den 1998c, 124-136.

This is an almost entirely intact, medium-sized two-column tablet. Most of the surface and text is well preserved, though the top-right corner of the tablet has become misshapen. The text is laid out neatly in two columns, with several blank paragraphs delineating the different sections of the text and different topics of the inquiry.

The text is written in a neat, fairly compact New Hittite script (diagnostic signs include: E, ŠA, LI) though with some older forms (e.g. DA, GI).

This text has a regular orthographic peculiarity, in the the sign DAM is used to spell the word kardimmiyawanza, and so is read as dimx. See Rüster C. – Neu E. 1989a, 239.

According to Hout Th.P.J. van den 1998c, 79-89, this text dates to a period when a young Tudḫaliya IV had effectivelz been raised to the status of king while his father Ḫattušili III was still alive. Van den Hout places these oracular inquiries in the context of the postponed enthronement ceremony of Tudḫaliya, which was planned for after a journey to Kummani (as shown by KBo 16.98+). Various other oracle enquiries pertaining to the enthronement of Tudḫaliya are known (KUB 18.36, KUB 6.9+, KUB 50.7+, KUB 16.20, KUB 22.12+) which show a degree of concern about a possible disease which will afflict the young king and the need therefore to postpone the ceremony. The present text confirms this disease will strike the king and investigates further into its causes and how to appease the divine anger lying behind it. However, this inquiry ends with an unfavorable response to the proposed course of action. The oracles in CTH 569 seek further to specify and resolve the causes of the goddess’s wrath.