07 Akkadian Imports (Hittite/Hurrian Mythology)
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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.
07 Akkadian Imports (Hittite/Hurrian Mythology)
Anu - See section A.
Antu - Anu's female counterpart, imported to the Hittites through the
Hurrians.
Ellil - He is presented with Ullikummis by the Irsirra deities and
declares that the child will bring the mightiest battles and an awesome
rival to the Storm-god. Later, Ea and presumably the Storm-god present
before him a case against Kumarbis' for his creation of Ullikummis. He
counters with Kumarbis' good record of worship and sacrifice and is in
turn countered with Ea's testimony describing Ullikummis.
Ninlil - Ellil's wife. She was imported by way of the Hurrians.
Lelwanis (Lilwani, Ereshkigal, sometimes assimilated with Ishtar),
'Sun of the Earth' - Goddess of the earth and the nether-world,
appeasement of her through sheep sacrifices helps remove threats from
evil omens.
Ayas (Ea) - He is the keeper of the 'old tablets with the words of
fate' (Tablets of Destiny? 'me'?). The Ullikummis' myth has him as the
father of the Storm-god.
He attends Kumarbis and fetches that god's son to be devoured as a
means of releaving Kumarbis pains from the Storm-god. He advises
Kumarbis to have experts work 'poor' magic to aid him in his distress,
bringing bulls and sacrifices of meal. This magic helps secure
Kumarbis' 'tarnassus'.
He is prevailed upon by the Storm-god following his defeat by
Ullikummis. He and presumably the Storm-god present a case against
Kumarbis' for his creation of Ullikummis before Ellil. Rebutting
Ellil's defense that Kumarbis is well behaved regarding worship and
sacrifices, Ea proclaims that Ullikummis 'will block off heaven and the
gods holy houses.' He seeks out Upelluri, and after interviewing him,
locates Ullukummis feet on Upelluri's shoulder. He charges the olden
gods to deliver the copper knife with which they severed heaven from
earth, in order to cut through Ullukummis' feet. He then spurs Tasmisus
and the Storm-god on to fight the crippled giant.
(Hurrian Tapkina, Damkina) - Ea's wife, imported from the Akkadians by
way of the Hurrians.
(Hurrian Shaushka, Ishtar) - She takes the form of a winged female
standing on a lion.
She spies her brothers, the Storm-god and Tasmisus, leaving the
kuntarra following word of the appearance of Ullikummis. She leads them
by hand, up Mount Hazzi, from which they can view the giant. When the
Storm-god is vexed and fearful at the site of Kumarbis' son, she chides
him. Later, she takes up her galgalturi/harp and sings to the blind and
deaf Ullikummis, but her folly is exposed to her by a great wave from
the sea, who charges her to seek out her brother who is yet to be
emboldened to the inevitable battle.
She was loved by the serpent Hedammu.
Ninatta - Shaushka's attendant.
Kulitta - Shaushka's attendant.
Ereshkigal - This goddess is the mother of the Storm-god. She plays a
role in returning him from the underworld by opening the gates of the
Dark Earth.
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