MIDDLE EASTERN
MYTHOLOGY
HITTITE MYTHOLOGY
Update HistoryThe Hittites were a non-Semitic people inhabiting Canaan before it was settled by the Israelites. They invaded and settled Asia Minor at the beginning of the thirm millenium B.C., establishing an empire which lasted until around 1225 B.C.
Alalus
Father of Anus.Anus
The sky-god. He ousted his father, Alalus, from the throne, and was in turn ousted by his own son, Kumarbis. He created the Storm-god, whilst feuding with his son.Hannahannas
The goddess who, after the other gods had failed in their search for Telepinus, sent out a bee to look for him. Upon locating him, the bee stung him in order to rouse him, as it was instructed to do. When he woke, Telepinus was even angrier than when he fell asleep.Hatusa
The Storm-god (see).Hebat
Wife of the Storm-god. She was driven out of her temple by the ever-growing Ullikummis, and spurred the gods into taking action against him.Hupasiyas
A mortal man who aided the goddess Inaras in capturing the dragon, Illuyankas. In return she agreed to sleep with him. Later, Inaras installed him in her house and warned him not to look out of the windows whilst she was away. On one occassion he did, and saw his wife and children. When Inaras returned, he begged her to set him free, instead she killed him for his disobedience.Illuyankas
A dragon who, on one occassion, defeated the Storm-god, but was later slain by him after falling into a trap laid by the goddess Inaras.Imbaluris
The messenger of Kumarbis, sent to seek the advice of the sea, in his master's quest to create a rival to his father's Storm-god.Inaras
The goddess who helped the Storm-god to defeat the dragon, Illuyankas. She did so with the help of a mortal man called Hupasiyas. She laid out a number of drinking vessels of wine and enticed the dragon to drink. When Illuyankas was drunk, Hupasiyas came from his hiding place and bound him. The Storm-god then came forth with the other gods, and slew the dragon.Irsirra, The
A number of deities inhabiting the underworld.Kamrusepas
The goddess of healing. She soothed Telepinus' rage after he was borne back to the gods on the wing of an eagle. The ills that afflicted the land in his absence were subsequently banished to the underworld.Kumarbis
Son of Anus. He feuded with his father, and strove to create a rival to the Storm-god.Mukisanus
Vizier to Kumarbis.Storm-god
The god created by Anus during the feud with his son, Kumarbis. Husband of Hebat, he battled with the dragon, Illuyankas. In one battle he was defeated by the dragon, but later he returned, and with the help of the other gods, and a trap laid by the goddess Inaras and the mortal Hupasiyas, managed to slay him. (I have come across two names for the Storm-god in Hittite mythology, which are Teshub and Hatusa. I am not certain whether these names refer to the same deity, or are two separate deities).Telepinus
Son of the Storm-god. Whilst in a rage, he wandered into the steppes where he got lost and fell into a deep sleep. During his absence a mist covered the land which caused logs not to burn in the fire-place, animals to neglect their young, and the gods not to be heard in their temples. Famine and drought took a hold of the land, causing both men and gods to perish from hunger. The gods mounted a search for Telepinus, and he was finally located and roused by a bee sent out by Hannahannas.Teshub
The Storm-god (see).Ubelluris
A god who sustains the world on his shoulders. Ullikummis was placed upon his right shoulder to grow without his knowledge. Compare with the Greek Atlas.Ullikummis
Son of Kumarbis by the Earth-goddess. He was taken by the Irsirra and placed upon the right shoulder of Ubelluris. He grew into a gigantic pillar of diorite 9,000 leagues high and 9,000 leagues wide. Because of his size he began to wreak havoc upon the Earth, destroying the temple of Hebat. He was crippled by Ea (the Mesopotamian god?), who cut off his feet with a copper knife, and then vanquished by the Storm-god, who rode out in his chariot to do battle with him.