06 Hittite and Hurrian deities: part4
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This article is from the Hittite/Hurrian Mythology FAQ, by Christopher B. Siren cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu with numerous contributions by others.
06 Hittite and Hurrian deities: part4
Hapantallis - the Sun-god's shepherd.
Moon-god (Hurrian Kashku) - He fell upon the 'killamar', the gate
complex, from heaven and disappeared. Storm-god/Taru rain-stormed after
him, frightening him. Hapantali went to him and uttered the words of a
spell over him. While known to bestow ill omens, he can be appeased by
sheep sacrifice.
The Sea - She is told by Imbaluris that 'Kumarbis must remain father
of the gods!'. Struck with fear by this message, she makes ready here
abode and prepares to act as hostess for a feast for Kumarbis. This
feast may have served as a meeting of Mother-goddesses who delivered
Kumarbis' child by the Rock, Ullikummis.
The Sea-god - He quarreled and kidnapped the Sun-god of Heaven. When
Telipinu came to recover the Sun-god, the Sea-god was so intimidated
that he also gave him his daughter. He later demanded a bride-price for
her of the Storm-god, and was eventually given a thousand cattle and a
thousand sheep. In another version, he caught the Sun-god in a net as
he fell and may have sealed him in a Kukubu-vessel, allowing Hahhimas
(Frost) to take hold of most of the other gods.
He questions the fire in its role in one of Kamrusepa's healing
spells.
Inara(s) - Daughter of the Storm-god and goddess of the wild animals
of the steppe. After the Storm-god's initial defeat by Illuyankas, she
follows his request to set up a feast. She recruits Hupasiyas of
Zigaratta, to aid her in revenge on Illuyankas by taking him as a lover.
She then sets about luring Illuyankas and his children to a feast. After
the dragon and his children gorge themselves on her meal, Hupasiyas binds
him with a rope. Then the Storm-god sets upon them and defeats them.
She then gives Hupasiyas a house on a cliff to live in yet warns him
not to look out the window, lest he see his wife and children. He
disobeys her, and seeing his family begs to be allowed to go home.
Gurney speculates that he was killed for his disobedience.
She consults with Hannahanna who promises to give her land and a
man. She then goes missing and is sought after by her father and
Hannahanna with her bee.
Illuyankas - the Dragon. He defeated the Storm-god in Kiskilussa.
Later he was lured from his lair with his children by a well dressed
Inaras with a feast. After they were too engorged to get into their lair
again, the Storm-god, accompanied by the other gods, killed him.
In another version of the myth, he defeated the Storm-god and stole
his eyes and heart. Later, his daughter married the son of the
Storm-god. Acting on the Storm-god's instruction, his son asked for the
eyes and heart. When these were returned to him, the Storm-god
vanquished Illuyankas, but slew his son as well when the youth sided
with the dragon.
The ritual of his defeat was invoked every spring to symbolize the
earth's rebirth.
Hedammu - a serpent who loved Ishtar.
Irsirra deities - These gods who live in the dark earth are charged by
Kumarbis through Imbaluris to hide Ullikummis from the sky gods, the
Sun-god, the Storm-god, and Ishtar. They are also charged with placing
the child on the shoulder of Upelluri. Later they accept the child and
deliver it to Ellil, before placing it on Upelluri's right shoulder.
Hapantali/Hapantalliyas - He took his place at the Moon-god's side
when he fell from heaven on the gate complex and unttered a spell.
Kamrusepa(s)/Katahziwuri ('Mother Kamrusepa') - She is the goddess of
magic and healing. She witnessed and announced the Moon-god's fall from
heaven on to the gate complex.
After Telepinus has been found, yet remains angry, she is set to
cure him of his temper. She performs an elaborate magical ritual,
removing his evil and malice.
In another tablet, she performs the spell of fire which removes
various illnesses, changing them to a mist which ascends to heaven
lifted by the Dark Earth. The Sea-god questions the fire on its role.
Astabis (Zamama, Akkadian Ninurta) - a Hurrian warrior god. After the
Storm-god's first attack on Ullikummis is unsuccessful, he leads seventy
gods in battle wagons on an attack on the diorite giant. They try to
draw the water away from him, perhaps in order to stop his growth, but
they fall from the sky and Ullikummis grows even larger, towering over
the gate of Kummiya.
Uliliyassis - a minor god who, properly attended to, removes
impotence.
Kurunta? - This god's symbol is the stag. He is associated with rural
areas.
Kubaba - chief goddess of the Neo-Hittites, she became Cybebe to the
Phrygians and Cybele to the Romans.
Yarris - a god of pestilence. A festival was held for him every
autumn.
Hasamelis - a god who can protect travelers, possibly by causing them
to be invisible.
Zashapuna - He is the chief god of the town of Kastama, held in
greater regard there than the Storm-god, possibly gaining such influence
through drawing lots with the other gods.
Zaliyanu - She is the wife of Zashapuna
Zaliyanu - She is the concubine of Zashapuna
Papaya - One of the deities who sat under the Hawthorn tree awaiting
the return of Telipinus.
Istustaya - One of the deities who sat under the Hawthorn tree
awaiting the return of Telipinus.
Miyatanzipa - One of the deities who sat under the Hawthorn tree
awaiting the return of Telipinu. (S)he? also sat under the ippiyas tree
when Hannahanna found the hunting bag.
Fate-goddesses - They were among the deities who sat under the
Hawthorn tree awaiting the return of Telipinu. In one myth, they and
the Mother-goddesses are missing.
Dark-goddess - One of the deities who sat under the Hawthorn tree
awaiting the return of Telipinu.
Tutelary-deity (Sumerian Lamma) - One of the deities who sat under the
Hawthorn tree awaiting the return of Telipinu.
Uruzimu - A deity involved in returning the lost Storm-god of Nerik.
Hahhimas (Frost) - When the Sea-god captures the Sun-god, he takes
hold of the other gods and of the lands plants and animals, paralyzing
them. He is half brother to Hasamili's brothers and spares them from
his grip.
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