The ancient Middle Eastern state of Mitanni (modern-day Northeast Syria, Southeastern Turkey, 2nd millennium BCE) used a dialect of Hurrian as its main language.
[2] It is thus generally believed that Indo-Aryan peoples settled in Upper Mesopotamia and northern Syria, and established the kingdom of Mitanni following a period of political vacuum, while also adopting Hurrian.
[7] In a treaty between the Hittites and Mitanni (between Suppiluliuma I and Shattiwaza, c. 1380 BC), the deities Mitra, Varuna, Indra, and Nasatya (Ashvins) are invoked.
[8] A document from Nuzi has babru(-nnu) (babhru, brown), parita(-nnu) (palita, grey), and pinkara(-nnu) (pingala, red) for horse colours.
[11] Sanskritic interpretations of Mitanni names render Artashumara (artaššumara) as Arta-smara "who thinks of Arta/Ṛta",[12] Biridashva (biridašṷa, biriiašṷa) as Prītāśva "whose horse is dear",[13] Priyamazda (priiamazda) as Priyamedha "whose wisdom is dear",[14][15] Citrarata as Citraratha "whose chariot is shining", [16] Indaruda/Endaruta as Indrota "helped by Indra",[17] Shativaza (šattiṷaza) as Sātivāja "winning the race prize",[18] Šubandu as Subandhu "having good relatives" (a name in Palestine[19]), Tushratta (tṷišeratta, tušratta, etc.)