The Luwians were a major cultural group of the Late Bronze Age who settled for many centuries in a vast and geographically diverse area of western and southern Anatolia. They functioned as cultural and political intermediaries between the Hittite kingdom to the east and the Mycenaean world to the west. Their existence is attested to by Hittite and Egyptian records, in which they are sometimes mentioned as independent states, sometimes as allies, rivals, or mercenaries. The Luwian language, an early representative of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family, was widely spoken in the region. It has been preserved in both cuneiform and hieroglyphic scripts and is one of the oldest documented Indo-European languages.
Luwians must have been as important for the history of Bronze Age Anatolia as were the Hittites.
The Luwians never formed a centralized kingdom but instead consisted of a network of independent city-states and regional dominions. Some, such as Arzawa and Tarhuntašša, were powerful enough to challenge Hittite supremacy, while others, including Wiluša – possibly Troy – controlled strategic positions along important trade routes. This political fragmentation proved to be an advantage: The decentralized structure made the Luwians adaptable and resilient. They were able to adapt to changing power relations and even survive major regional upheavals.
The geography of the Luwian realm had a significant impact on its political organization. The diversity of Luwian settlements – from fertile plains to strategic coastal cities – ensured a flexible political system that absorbed both regional and transregional influences and skillfully used them to maintain its own stability. While Arzawa flourished on fertile plains with a strong agricultural base, Wiluša mined metals and used its coastal location to control maritime trade.
Middle Bronze Age two-handled, footed bowl (Myve tabağı); an example of Anatolian Gray Ware from Seyitömer Höyük (courtesy of © Zeynep Bilgen 2015, 97; Luwian Studies #0314)
Agriculture, pottery, textiles, and ore mining determined production beyond subsistence agriculture. The area was rich in copper and silver, two valuable raw materials in Bronze Age trade. Archaeological evidence suggests a well-connected economic system with roads and rivers as transportation arteries. Textile production in places like Troy was on an industrial scale. High-quality cloth was transported by sea to Cyprus and Syria, and from there to Central Anatolia.
A great number of the Bronze Age settlements in western Anatolia were probably Luwian foundations.
Basalt orthostat from Karkamış with Luwian hieroglyphic inscription (Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara; © Luwian Studies #0528)
The strategic location of the Luwian heartland made it a central hub for trade and cultural exchange between the Aegean, Mesopotamia, and the Levant. As intermediaries in long-distance trade, the Luwians contributed significantly to the spread of artistic styles, religious motifs, and technological innovations. Their economic resilience was based not only on their resource wealth, but also on their ability to adapt to political change. Despite recurring conflicts, they maintained stable trade relations with both the Hittites and the Mycenaeans.
Beyond trade, the Luwian area was a center of cultural innovation. Close ties with the leading civilizations of the time fostered the transfer of ideas and technologies that had lasting effects, from the development of early writing systems to religious practices and artistic styles. From Anatolia, for example, some 150 high reliefs carved in natural stone are known. In Greece, however, only one is known from this period: the lions of the Lion Gate at Mycenae. Strabo (Geography 8.6.11) even says that the Cyclopean walls at Tiryns were built with the help of seven engineers from Lycia.
It turns out that the Luwians were a far greater people than the Hittites.
Luwian religion was a fascinating synthesis of indigenous traditions and external influences. Its beliefs and rituals integrated elements from Hittite and Mesopotamian cultures, while preserving local deities and ceremonies. This amalgamation of different religious currents testifies to the openness and adaptability of Luwian culture. Despite fragmentary archaeological evidence, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Luwians formed a highly developed and dynamic civilization whose religious and cultural contributions to the ancient world are only now beginning to be fully appreciated.
The Kızıldağ cone of the Karadağ mountains near Karaman south of the Konya Plain with a Luwian inscription by king Hartapu (© Luwian Studies #1508)
