04 Hittite and Hurrian deities: part2
Description
This article is from the Hittite/Hurrian Mythology FAQ, by Christopher B. Siren cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu with numerous contributions by others.
04 Hittite and Hurrian deities: part2
Upelluri (Ubelluris) - similar to Atlas, this giant carries the world
on his shoulders. The olden gods built the earth and heaven upon him -
though he did not notice, even when they those two were separated with a
cleaver. On the direction of Kumarbis' messenger Imaluris, the Issira
deities place Ullikummis on his right shoulder where the child grows.
Ea interviews him, in search of Ullikummis and Upelluri admits to a
small pain on his shoulder, although he can't identify which god is
causing it.
Storm/Weather-god (Hurrian's Teshub, Taru, Luwian's Tarhun(t) - 'The
Conqueror'), 'The king of Kummiya', 'King of Heaven, Lord of the land of
Hatti', 'The divine Kazal, the valiant king'. He is chief among the
gods and his symbol is the bull. As Teshub he has been pictured as a
bearded man astride two mountains and bearing a club. He is a god of
battle and victory, especially when the battle is with a foreign power.
As Taru, he is the consort of Wurusemu. - He was the child of Anus and
Kumarbis - conceived along with Tasmisus and the Aranzahus (Tigris)
river when Kumarbis bit off and swallowed Anus' phallus. He is,
however, considered Ea's son in the myth of Ullikummis. He is
informed by Anus of the possible exits from Kumarbis, and tries to exit
through Kumarbis' 'tarnassas', causing him great pain. With the
'tarnassas' blocked, he exits through Kumarbis' 'good place'. He plots
with Anus, Tasmisus, and Aranzhus to destroy Kumarbis, and apparently
succeeds seizing kingship in heaven.
He sent rain after the fallen Moon-god/Kashku when he fell from
heaven.
Alerted to the imminent arrival of the Sun-god, who in some myths is
his son, he has Tasmisus prepare a meal for their guest and listens to
his report about the sudden appearance of the giant Ullikummis. He and
Tasmisus then leave the kuntarra and are led to Mount Hazzi by his
sister, Ishtar, where they behold the monstrous creature. He looks upon
Kumarbis' son with fear and Ishtar chides him. Later, emboldened, he
has Tasmisus prepare his bulls and wagon for battle, and has him call
out the thunderstorms, lightning and rains. Their first battle resulted
in his incomplete defeat. He dispatches Tasmisus to his wife, Hebat, to
tell her that he must remain in a 'lowly place' for a term. When
Tasmisus returns, he encourages the Storm-god to seek Ea in the city
Abzu/Apsu and ask for the 'tablets with the words of fate' (Tablets of
Destiny? 'me'?). After Ea cleaves off Ullukummis' feet, he spurs
Tasmisus and the Storm-god on to battle the crippled giant. Despite the
diorite man's boasting, the Storm-god presumably defeats him.
He fought with the Dragon Illuyankas in Kiskilussa and was defeated.
He called the gods for aid asking that Inaras prepare a celebration.
She does so and when the dragon and his children have gorged themselves
on her feast, the mortal Hupasiyas binds him with a rope. Then the
Storm-god, accompanied by the gods, sets upon them and destroys them.
In another version of that myth, he looses his eyes and heart to
Illuyankas after his first battle. He then marries a poor mortal woman
and marries their son to Illuyankas daughter. He has the son ask for
his eyes and heart. With their return, he attacks the dragon again.
When his son sides with Illuyankas, the Storm-god kills them both.
When his son, Telepinus, is missing he despairs and complains to the
Sun-god and then to Hannahannas, who tells him to search for him
himself. After searching Telepinus' city he gives up.
In other versions of this myth, it is the Storm-god who is missing.
One is almost exactly the same, and in another, he is journeys to the
Dark Earth in his anger, and is returned with the help of his mother -
here Wuruntemu/Ereshkigal/the Sun goddess of Arinna.
He sends Telipinu to recover the Sun-god who had been kidnapped by
the Sea-god. The Sea-god is so intimidated that he gives Telipinu his
daughter in marriage but demands a bride-price from the Storm-god.
After consulting with Hannahanna, he pays the price of a thousand sheep
and a thousand cattle.
He notices his daughter, Inara, is missing and sends a bee to
Hannahanna to have her search for her.
Seris (Serisu) - a bull sacred to the Storm-god. In preparation for
battle, the Storm-god has Tasmisus anoint his horns with oil and drive
him up Mount Imgarra with Tella and the battle wagon.
Tella (Hurris) - another bull sacred to the Storm-god. In
preparation for battle, the Storm-god has Tasmisus plate his tail with
gold and drive him up Mount Imgarra with Seris and the battle wagon.
Aranzahas - The Tigris river deified. A child of Anus and Kumarbis,
he was the brother of the Storm-god and Tasmisus, spat out of Kumarbis'
mouth onto Mount Kanzuras. Later he colludes with Anus and the Storm-
god to destroy Kumarbis.
Tasmisus - A child of Anus and Kumarbis, conceived along with the
Storm-god and Aranzahus. The brother of the Storm-god and Aranzahus, he
was spat out of Kumarbis upon Mount Kanzuras. Later he colludes with
Anus and the Storm-god to destroy Kumarbis. He serves as the Storm-
god's attendant.
He spies the Sun-god approaching and informs the Storm-god that this
visit bodes ill. At the Storm-god's command he has a meal set up for
their visitor. After the Sun-god's tale, he and the Storm-god depart
and are met by Ishtar, who takes them to Mt. Hazzi near Ugarit, where
they can see Ullikummis. The Storm-god has him take his bulls up Mt.
Imgarra and prepare them for battle. He is also ordered to bring forth
the storms, rains, winds, and lightning. After their defeat, he is
dispatched by the Storm-god to Hebat, to tell her that he must remain in
a 'lowly place' for a term. He returns and encourages the Storm-god to
seek Ea in the city Abzu/Apsu and ask for the 'tablets with the words of
fate' (Tablets of Destiny? 'me'?). After Ea cleaves off Ullukummis'
feet, he spurs Tasmisus and the Storm-god on to battle the crippled
giant.
Continue to:
My Books
