Tarḫunna was the preeminent deity and storm god of the Hittite and Luwian peoples in ancient Anatolia during the Bronze Age. He served as the head of the Hittite pantheon and was considered the supreme ruler of heaven and the guarantor of the earthly king's authority.
Etymology and Attributes
The name Tarḫunna is derived from the Anatolian root tarḫ-, meaning "to conquer," "to overcome," or "to be powerful." He was primarily associated with the weather, specifically storms, thunder, lightning, and rain. As a provider of rain, he was also a deity of fertility and agricultural prosperity. In Hittite iconography, Tarḫunna is typically depicted as a bearded figure wearing a horned cap and a short tunic, often wielding a mace, an axe, or a triple thunderbolt.
Role in the Pantheon
In the Hittite state cult, Tarḫunna was the "King of Heaven" and the "Lord of the Land of Hatti." He was traditionally paired with the Sun-goddess of Arinna, the supreme female deity. Following the Hurrianization of the Hittite pantheon in the 13th century BCE, Tarḫunna was frequently identified with the Hurrian storm god Teshub, and his consort was identified as Hebat. He was also regarded as the father of other deities, most notably the storm god of Nerik and the god Telipinu.
Mythology
Tarḫunna is a central figure in Anatolian mythology, most prominently in the "Illuyanka" myth cycle. In these narratives, Tarḫunna battles the giant serpent Illuyanka, who represents chaos. Although initially defeated or incapacitated by the serpent, Tarḫunna eventually triumphs with the assistance of other gods or mortals, thereby restoring cosmic and social order. These myths were often recited during the Purulli spring festival to ensure the renewal of the earth.
Historical and Political Significance
The Hittite king was viewed as the deputy of Tarḫunna on Earth. Royal inscriptions often emphasize that the king ruled by the will of the storm god, and victories in battle were attributed to Tarḫunna’s divine support. Numerous Anatolian cities had their own localized versions of the storm god (such as the Storm God of Aleppo or the Storm God of Zippalanda), but Tarḫunna of Heaven remained the overarching figure of the state religion. Following the collapse of the Hittite Empire around 1200 BCE, worship of the deity continued in the Syro-Hittite states under the Luwian name Tarhunz (or Tarhunzas).