Muwatalli II
The second theory of why Muwatalli II moved his capital south is for religious reasons. Itamar Singer, in his essay “The Failed Reforms of Akhenaten and Muwatalli” states that the reason for the move had deeper roots in a religious reform, although he does acknowledge the political advantages of the move. The main evidence for this is how the depiction of the Storm God on his royal seals changes significantly after the expulsion of Danuhepa. Muwatalli II introduces a new motif for seals that is followed by all the Hittite kings that rule after him: the Umarmungsszene. This style is identifiable because it shows the king being embraced by one (or more) gods. In Muwatalli II’s seals, he is being embraced by the Storm God of Lightning instead of the traditional Storm God of Heaven.