Hittite/Hurrian Mythology FAQ

What is Hittite/Hurrian mythology?

Hittite/Hurrian mythology is the body of myths and legends that were told by the Hittites and Hurrians, two ancient civilizations that lived in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) from the 2nd to the 1st millennium BCE. The Hittites were an Indo-European people, while the Hurrians were a non-Indo-European people, but their mythologies were closely intertwined.

What are some of the key features of Hittite/Hurrian mythology?

Hittite/Hurrian mythology is characterized by its rich and diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses, its epic tales of heroes and monsters, and its complex and nuanced understanding of the relationship between the human and divine worlds.

Some of the most important gods and goddesses in Hittite/Hurrian mythology include:

Kumarbi: The eldest god and father of the Hittite gods and goddesses
Anu: The sky god and king of the gods
Antas: The sun god
Inanna: The goddess of love, fertility, and war
El: The Hurrian storm god
Teshub: The Hittite storm god
Hepat: The Hittite sun goddess

Some of the most famous myths in Hittite/Hurrian mythology include:

The Kumarbi Cycle: A series of myths that tell the story of Kumarbi's overthrow of his father Anu and his subsequent defeat by Teshub
The Song of Kumarbi: A poetic account of the Kumarbi Cycle
The Tale of Illuyanka: A myth about the battle between Teshub and the serpent Illuyanka
The Myth of Telepinu: A myth about the disappearance of the fertility god Telepinu and the efforts to bring him back
The Hurrian Creation Myth: A myth about the creation of the world and the gods

How has Hittite/Hurrian mythology influenced other cultures?

Hittite/Hurrian mythology has had a significant influence on other cultures, including Greek, Mesopotamian, and biblical mythology. For example, the Greek god Zeus is thought to be based on the Hittite god Teshub, and the Greek goddess Hera is thought to be based on the Hittite goddess Hepat.

Where can I learn more about Hittite/Hurrian mythology?

There are a number of books and articles available on Hittite/Hurrian mythology. Some good starting points include:

Myths of the Hittites and Hurrians by Gary Beckman (2000)
Hittite Myths by H.G. Güterbock (1997)
Hurrian Mythology by Enrique Quintana López (2010)
The Hittite Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses by Volkert Haas (2008)
The Hurrian Pantheon by Piotr Taracha (2010)

You can also find information about Hittite/Hurrian mythology on a number of websites, including:

The Hittite HomePage
The Hurrian Pantheon
Hittite Texts Online
The Chicago Hittite Dictionary Project
HATTI-English Database