Hititçe Çivi Yazılı Metinlerde Dericiler : Leather Workers in the Hittite Cuneiform Texts

The word leather worker is mentioned as ASGAB in ideograms in the Hittite cuneiform texts. As the leather workers are only mentioned in few documents and because the cuneiforms yvhich contain these documents are only fragments or their context doesn't lend itselfwell to provide broad Information about them, it has not been possible to determine the importance of leather workers in the Hittite's social and economic life. According to results of research on cuneiform tablets this craft was put into practice in Hittite and other Anatolian towns not only by free men but perhaps by slaves. The leather workers were buying and selling leather besides tanning and processing it. it is clearly understood that this profession, which was passed on from generation to generation by means of a master-apprentice releationship, was taken up by palace staffin the palace as well. Hitit siyasal ve sosyal yaşamına ilişkin bilgiler elde ettiğimiz Hititçe çivi yazılı belgelerde deri sözcüğü bir çok kez karşımıza çıkmakla beraber, deri işiyle uğraşanlarla ilgili kayıtlar çok sınırlıdır. Deri işiyle uğraşan kişiler metinlerde ASGAB ideogramı ile gösterilmektedir. Bu ideogramın karşılığı olarak "derici, deri işçisi" genellikle verilmektedir. Hititçe çivi yazılı belgelere *A.Ü.DTCF, Tarih Bölümü J.Friedrich, Hethitisch.es Wörterbuch, Heidelberg 1952, s.266; F.P.Daddi, Mestleri, professioni e dignita nell' Anatolia ittita, Roma 1982, s.45; Ayrıca M.Stol, "Leder(industrie)," Reallexikon der Assyriologie 8 (1980-83), s.529.