How did Hittite rituals try to bring back an absent god?

In Anatolian religion, the Hittites believed that gods could withdraw in anger, causing life on Earth to wither and cease. To address this, they employed a characteristic ritual known as an invocation, which aimed to induce the absent deity to return and resume their duties.1

These rituals relied on a combination of prayer and magic. The process was often supported by mythological narratives—frequently embedded within the ritual texts themselves—that described how a god had disappeared, was sought out, and was eventually found to restore vigor to the world.12

For example, in myths concerning the disappearance of deities like the weather god or Telipinu, the search was conducted by other gods, such as the sun god or Hannahanna. In these accounts, the missing god was typically located by a bee sent forth by Hannahanna. By performing these invocations, the Hittites sought to appease the divine spirit and ensure the continued well-being of their society through the god's return.21