Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which powers were attributed to the weather god of Hatti in the official Hittite pantheon?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
In the official Hittite pantheon, the weather god of Hatti—known as Tarhun (or Tarhund) in Hittite and Luwian, Taru in Hattian, and Teshub in Hurrian—was the supreme deity and the embodiment of the state in action. As a country heavily dependent on rain for its fertility, the Hittites elevated the weather god to the head of their pantheon, attributing to him several critical powers and roles:12
- Bestowal of Kingship: He was considered the source of royal authority.2
- Military Success: He was credited with bringing victory in war.2
- Diplomatic Representation: He represented the nation in its dealings with foreign powers, acting as a divine guarantor of international treaties.2
Beyond these state-level functions, he was a central figure in mythology and was often depicted as a powerful warrior brandishing weapons like a club or ax, or wielding a three-pronged thunderbolt. He was closely associated with the sacred bull, which served as his symbol and mount.12