The problems investigated in this series of bird oracles remain unknown due to the fragmentary state of the text. However, some personal names and individuals appear, including Šaušgatti, mentioned in several other oracle texts (see Historical Context), as well as the ‘mother of His Majesty’ and a certain Kupanta-Kurunta. According to Heinhold-Krahmer S. 1977a, 373-375, the latter should be identified as the king of Mira-Kuwaliya, a vassal of the Hittite kingdom and a contemporary of Muršili II, Muwatalli II, and Urḫi-Teššup.

Based on parallel contexts (e.g., CTH 573.63), it is possible that the oracle inquiries addressed issues related either to the ‘spirits’ of these deceased individuals or to their Zawalli deities (for this deity, see Other characteristics). This is most likely the case in §3´, kolon 18, where the reference to “[… o]f the mother of His Majesty” suggests an inquiry concerning her ‘spirit; ghost’ (GIDIM, e.g. Archi A. 1979b, 83) or her Zawalli deity (Hout Th.P.J. van den 1998c, 38). Typically, such inquiries arose when a spirit or Zawalli deity was believed to be angry, and the oracle investigation sought to identify the cause and determine how to appease them. In this text, the same pattern appears to be followed, with follow-up questions aimed at confirming whether certain actions — particularly the performance of specific atonement or reparation rites (kola 37–38, 40–42, 56) — would be successful. Similar issues may have been addressed in the sections concerning Šaušgatti (for which see CTH 573.63, with oracles for her Zawalli) and Kupanta-Kurunta, although the poor preservation of the text makes this uncertain.The oracles concerning Šaušgatti and the ‘mother of His Majesty’ were conducted by the augurs Zapalli and Zella, respectively. However, since the augurs’ names are not preserved on the reverse, it is unclear whether they were also responsible for this part of the text.

• Y. Sakuma, Diss., 2009: II 138-145

Handcopy: A. Walther (KUB 16, Walther A. 1926a).

Edition: Sakuma Y. 2009b, II, 138-145.

A remarkable feature of this fragment is the noticeable difference in script between the two sides of the tablet. On the side identified as the probable obverse, the script is slightly smaller than on the reverse, where the lines of text are less densely written and display more irregular spacing (approximately four full lines per cm versus two/three lines per cm). However, the scribe of both sides may have been the same person, as a comparison of individual signs reveals similar handwriting characteristics. This discrepancy is difficult to explain or correlate with the content of the reports, especially given the fragmentary state of the reverse. Additionally, the names of the augurs are lost on this side. For a general discussion of variations in handwriting across oracle tablets, see Trameri A. 2025a, 289-308.

NS (jh.); diagnostic signs: AL, DA, ḪAR, IK, IT, LI, TAR. Notably, the forms of ŠA and TA feature ‘tall’ central vertical wedges.

For the sources referring to Šaušgatti, see the discussion by Hout Th.P.J. van den 1998c, 64-67. The name Šaušgatti is found in a group of documents dating to the 13th century, all probably referring to the same person. Note that an earlier namesake had also existed, to whom other earlier texts should be assigned. The two Šaušgatti mentioned in the group of texts CTH 585 (Vows of Pudu-Ḫeba) might also have to be distinguished (Hout Th.P.J. van den 1998c, 65).

For other texts in the oracle corpus concerning Šaušgatti, see the editions of the letters CTH 581.1, CTH 581.3, and the bird oracles CTH 573.16, 573.63, 573.87.

The augurs Zapalli and Zella appear in several other bird oracles (Zapalli in CTH 573.4 and CTH 573.6; Zella in CTH 573.63), as well as together in one other text (CTH 573.62). In a tablet containing oracles by Zella and the augur Piyammu (CTH 573.63), the text is largely concerned with the Zawalli deity of Šaušgatti, recalling to some extent the content of the present fragment. Evidently, these augurs were involved in multiple oracle investigations on the same matter, and worked on different ‘dossiers’ related to this important person, who appears in several other oracle documents — including, among the bird oracles, CTH 573.16, conducted by the augur Piyammu.

On the Zawalli deities (possibly mentioned in the oracle questions of kola 5, 18), see Archi A. 1979b, Wilhelm G. 2017 (RlA 15, 235), Cognetti C. 2021a, 201-298. The Zawalli deities, found both as individual gods and as a group, are attested primarily in oracular context, in texts concerned with vows and dreams, and in cult inventories. Especially in the oracle texts, a Zawalli deity appears to be associated to an individual person, usually in reference to members of the royal family. In these contexts, the oracle questions typically focus on determining whether the Zawalli of a particular person is angry, or responsible for bewitching someone. Offerings were provided to the angry Zawalli deities, in the attempt to appease them.

For other bird oracles referring to the Zawalli deities, see the text editions of CTH 573.10, CTH 573.61, and CTH 573.63. For further discussion, including the debated relationship between these deities and the ‘spirits’ of the dead (GIDIM), see the respective commentaries.