Hittite Mythology and Religion

Hittite Mythology and Religion:

1.    Though drawing on Mesopotamian mythology, the religion of the Hittites holds noticeable Indo- European elements, for example Tarhunt the god of thunder, his conflict with the serpent Illuyanka resembles the conflict between Indra and the cosmic serpent Vritra in Hindu mythology. His goddess is the Hattic sun goddess. The divine couple were presumably worshipped in the twin cellas of the largest temple at Hattusa.

2.    Gods:

○     A’as - god of wisdom

○     Arinniti - the sun goddess

○     Aruna - god of the sea

○     Aserdus - goddess of fertility

○     Elkunirsa - the creator

○     Ellel - god of the sky

○     Halki - god of grain

○     Hannahannah - mother goddess

○     Hanwasuit - goddess of sovereignty

○     Hapantali - pastors goddess

○     Hasameli - god of metalworks and craftsmen

○     Hatepuna - daughter of the sea

○     Inar - god of woods and fields

○     Hutena - goddess of fate

○     Inara - goddess of the wild animals of the steppe (Hattic)

○     Ishara - goddess of oaths and love

○     Istanu - god of the sun and of judgement

○     Istustaya and papaya - goddesses of destiny

○     Jarri - god of plague and pestilence  (“Lord of the Bow”)

○     Kamrusepa - goddess of healing, medicine and magic

○     Kaskuh - god of the moon

○     Lelwani - goddess of the underworld

○     Rundas - god of the hunt and good fortune

○     Sandas - lion god

○     Sarruma - god of the mountains

○     Sauska - goddess of fertility, weather and storms

○     Telepinu - god of farming

○     Tarhunt - god of the sky, weather and storms

○     Tilla - bull god

○     Upelluri - god of dreaming

○     Wurrukatte - god of war

     3. The story of Illuyanka:

In the first version, the gods Tarhunt and Illuyanka fight and Illuyanka wins. Tarhunt then goes to the Hattian goddess Inaras for advice. Having promised her love to a mortal named Hupasiyas in return for his help, she devises a trap for the dragon. She goes to him with large quantities of food and drink, and entices him to drink his fill. Once drunk, the dragon is bound by Hupasiyas with a rope. Then the Sky God Tarhunt appears with the other gods and kills the dragon.

In the second version, after the two gods fight and teshub loses, Illuyanka takes Tarhunt’s eyes and heart. To avenge himself upon the dragon, the Sky God Tarhunt marries the goddess Hebat, daughter of a mortal, named Arm. They have a son, Sarruma, who grows up and marries the daughter of the dragon Illuyanka, The Sky God Tarhunt tells his son to ask for the return of Tarhunt’s eyes and heart as a wedding gift, and he does so. His eyes and heart restored, Tarhunt goes to face the dragon Illuyanka once more. At the point of vanquishing the dragon, Sarruma finds out about the battle and realized that he had been used for this purpose. He demands that his father take his life along with Illuyanka’s, and so Tarhunt kills them both with thundery rain and lightning.

      4. Religion and Mythology:

Hittite religion and mythology were heavily influenced by their Hattic, Mesopotamian, and Hurrian counterparts. “Storm gods” were prominent in the Hittite pantheon. Tarhunt (Hurrian’s Teshub) was referred to as ‘The Conqueror’, ‘The King of Kummiya’, ‘King of Heaven’, ‘Lord of the land Hatti’. He was chief among the gods and his symbol is the bull. As Tarhunt he was depicted as a bearded man astride two mountains and bearing a club. Tarhunt is also known for his conflict with the serpent Illuyanka.