03 Hittite and Hurrian deities: part1
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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.
03 Hittite and Hurrian deities: part1
Alalu(s) - was king in heaven in olden days and Anus was the first
among the gods. Anus served as his cupbearer for 9 years before
defeating him and dispatched him to under the earth.
Anu(s) (Akkadian in origin) - while Alalus was king in heaven, Anus
was more powerful. He served as Alalus' cup bearer for nine years and
then defeated him, dispatching him to under the earth. He took his seat
on the thrown and had Kumarbis as his cupbearer. Likewise, after nine
years Kumarbis rebelled, chased Anus - who fled in the sky like a bird,
and bit off and swallowed his phallus. In this act Anus had some
revenge by impregnating Kumarbis with the Storm-god, the Aranzahus
(Tigris) river, and Tasmisus. He then hides himself in heaven. He
advises the Storm-god on the places where he might exit Kumarbis. After
the Storm-god's birth, they plot to destroy Kumarbis and, with his other
children, apparently succeed.
Kumarbi(s) - 'the father of all gods' according to the Hurrians. He
is sometimes equated with Enlil and Dagan. His city is Urkis. He
thinks wise thoughts and carries a staff. He served as Anus' cup-bearer
for nine years and then rebelled, chased Anus, and bit off and swallowed
his phallus, thereby becoming impregnated with the Storm-god, the
Aranzahus (Tigris) river, and Tasmisus. With that news, he spat out
Aranzahus and Tasmisus of on Mount Kanzuras. The Storm-god begins to
exit through Kumarbis' 'tarnassus', causing him to moan in pain. He
asks Ayas to give him his son to devour, which he does. Ayas has 'poor'
magic worked on him and his 'tarnassus' is secured, so the Storm-god
exits through his 'good place' instead. He is then presumably defeated
by the Storm-god, Anus, and his offspring.
During a plot to overthrow the Storm-god, he lay with a Rock as if
it were a woman. He instructs Imbaluris, his messenger to send a
message to the Sea, that Kumarbis should remain father of the gods. The
Sea hosts a feast for him and later Kumarbis' Rock gives birth to
Ullikummis. Kumarbis announces that his son will defeat the Storm-god,
his city Kummiya, his brother Tasmisus and the gods from the sky. He
charges Imbaluris to seek out the Irsirra deities to hide Ullikummis
from the Sun-god, the Storm-god, and Ishtar.
Imbaluris - Kumarbis' messenger. He is sent to warn the Sea that
Kumarbis' must remain the father of the gods.
Mukisanus - Kumarbis' vizier
Hannahanna(s) (Nintu, Mah) - the mother of all the gods. She is
associated with Gulses. After Telipinu disappears, the Storm-god
complains to her. She sends him to search himself and when he gives up,
she dispatches a bee, charging it to purify the god by stinging his
hands and feat and wiping his eyes and feet with wax.
She recommends to the Storm-god that he pay the Sea-god the bride-
price for the Sea-god's daughter on her wedding to Telipinu.
Apparently she also disappears in a fit of anger and while she is
gone cattle and sheep are stifled and mothers, both human and animal
take no account of their children. After her anger is banished to the
Dark Earth, she returns rejoicing. Another means of banishing her anger
is through burning brushwood and alowing the vapor to enter her body.
After Inara consulted with her, she gave her a man and land. Soon
after, Inara is missing and when Hannahanna is informed thereof by the
Storm-god's bee, she apparently begins a search with the help of her
Female Attendant a. She appears to consult with the Sun-god and the
War-god, but much of the text is missing.
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