astronomy

Hittite sun disk

Hittite sun disk is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Hittite sun disk rather than just read about it. In short: The Hittite Sun Disk or Hittite Sun Course is an ancient Anatolian symbol dating back to the 20th century BC. The disks can be divided into four distinct variations.

Key takeaways

Hittite sun disk belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Hittite sun disk to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Hittite sun disk from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Hittite Sun Disk or Hittite Sun Course is an ancient Anatolian symbol dating back to the 20th century BC. The disks can be divided into four distinct variations. These are Semi-circular, Diamond shaped, Circular with bulls' horn and circular of semicircular with a complex design including animals and horns. The last one of those types was replicated in the Hittite Sun Course Monument. The sun disks have been found in at least 13 royal tombs from the early Bronze Age in Alaca Höyük.

Description

Ankara University writes that:

The symbol belongs to the Hattis from the pre-Hittite period. The Sun Disc is made of bronze, and was commonly used about 4250 years ago in religious ceremonies. The circle which forms the perimeter of the disc represents either the earth or the sun. At the bottom, there are two horn-like protrusions but what they represent is not clear. The protrusions at the top represent fertility, and the procreation of nature. The birds symbolize fertility and the freedom in nature. The sun disc is known to have been made about 300 years prior to the Hittite settlement in Anatolia. Hatti kings were buried in funeral ceremonies typically with 4-5 such symbols of similar design.

Modern usage

The sun disk is used as the symbol of Ankara University. In 1974, it became the symbol of the Turkish capital, Ankara until it was replaced with an Islamic symbol in 1995. A monument, Hittite Sun Course Monument, to the Hittites was created by the sculptor Nusret Suman and was erected in Sıhhiye Square in 1978. The Turkish food producing company Eti uses the sun disk as their logo.

See also Alaca Höyük bronze standards Hittite Art Sun Cross

References

Sources http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/histmemo.29.2.02?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Hittite sun disk

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Hittite sun disk claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Hittite sun disk before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Hittite sun disk ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Hittite sun disk

In research: Hittite sun disk appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Hittite sun disk in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Hittite sun disk is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Hittite art, Hittite mythology, Hittites, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Hittite sun disk outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Hittite sun disk in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Hittite sun disk means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Hittite sun disk out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hittite sun disk in simple terms?

The Hittite Sun Disk or Hittite Sun Course is an ancient Anatolian symbol dating back to the 20th century BC. The disks can be divided into four distinct variations.

Why does Hittite sun disk matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Hittite sun disk?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Hittite sun disk.