Why did Kubaba become especially important in the East Luwian states?

Kubaba’s rise to prominence as the chief goddess of the East Luwian successor states was primarily driven by political factors rather than her earlier status in the Hittite empire.12

While she was a relatively minor deity during the Hittite period—appearing mainly in the context of Hurrian rituals—her importance grew significantly after the fall of the Hittite capital, Hattusa. Following the empire's collapse, the city of Carchemish emerged as the leading Hittite city in the region. Because Kubaba was the local goddess of Carchemish, her status was elevated alongside the city's political influence, leading to her adoption as the primary goddess across the neo-Hittite states stretching from Cilicia to the Halys River.12