The Hurrians establish a kingdom at Urkesh, Mesopotamia, at the end of the Neolithic Era, c. 4000 BCE. It won't be their last. For almost three thousand years Hurrians and their deities dominate Near Eastern sites like Ebla, Ugarit and Kizziwatna.
At height of power the Hurrians range along the Mediterranean coast into the rich kingdoms of Anatolia (Turkey). The up and coming Hittites keep them in check. Eventually the empire focuses on a strong presence in Mitanni, northern Iraq, down through Syria and into Turkey.
Legends, myths, snips of history and new discoveries create a vital, adaptive cosmology incorporating deities of surrounding people and regions. Both Hittites and Hurrians build a strong and expansive presence not only through territorial dominance but also in religious and secular life.
Primordial gods and creatures appear in various forms and for different reasons. They could be the Old Gods, sent to the land of the Dead where goddess Allani rules; or elemental monsters churning the oceans of legend. Here are twelve of them and their stories.
Ammatina Enna - various
Ammatina Enna translates to "old gods", "former gods" or "primordial gods." They were a special class of Hurrian deities. Twelve of them are listed at a time. In some myths the Old Gods are banished to the Underworld when the younger gods seize power.
The standard group includes Nara, Napšara, Minki, Tuḫuši, Ammunki, Ammizzadu, Alalu, Anu, Antu, Apantu, Enlil and Ninlil. Other names are also attested. Many deities are from Mesopotamia (such Anu, Enlil and spouses). Others may originate in Syria.
Alalu - Mesopotamia
Alalu is a primordial deity of Mesopotamia. He's mentioned in the first part of the Kumarbi Cycle, a series of myths and stories centering around ancient god Kumarbi.
Originally king of the gods, Alalu is deposed by Anu, his cupbearer. He flees to the Underworld. Scholars suggest he's the father of Anu and grandfather of Kumarbi, except in the Hurrian pantheon.
Another myth portrays Kumarbi as his son. A Mesopotamian text equates him with another primordial deity, Enmesharra, associated with the Underworld.
Anu - Mesopotamia
Anu is one of the best known and widely worshipped primordial deities. He's attested in offering lists of Teššub (Teshub). In the Song of Kumarbi, Anu is one of three previous kings of gods.
He first appears as as Alalu's cupbearer. After nine years Anu dethrones Alalu. After another nine years, his own cupbearer Kumarbi dethrones him.
Kumarbi bites off the genitals of Anu and conceives Teššub, the weather god, who's born from Kumarbi's split skull. After that, Anu lives in the Heavens while Kumarbi dwells in the Underworld.
Silver - Hurrian
Silver is the son of Kumarbi and a mortal woman. Although a demi-god he's not regarded as a divinity and not worshipped as a god. In the Hurrian myth Song of Silver he temporarily becomes King of the Gods, and drags the Sun and the Moon down from heaven.
Ḫedammu - Hurrian et al
An enormous sea serpent dragon, Hedammu is the product of the union of Kumarbi and the Sea God's daughter Šertapšuruḫi. His hunger is endless. He's known as the Father of Snakes.
The attacking forces of Teshub and allies barely harm him. Shaushka (Inanna) in her sensual aspect seduces him, and gives birth to all the snakes in the world.
Šertapšuruḫi - Hurrian
She's the daughter of the sea god Kiaše, an ally of Kumarbi. In some tales she's a giantess. Šertapšuruḫi is the mother of Ḫedammu and possibly Ullikummi.
Ullikummi - Hurrian
Ullikummi is one of the monsters created by Kumarbi to destroy Teshub. It's the product of Kumarbi's liaison with either Šertapšuruḫi or a cliff. He's a huge and terrible creature of rock. Teshub is almost defeated, but at the last minute gets help from Ea and a saw.
Upelluri - Hurrian
A primordial giant, Upelluri is the unwitting host for the growth of Ullikummi. The goddesses Irširra place the rock monster on the right shoulder of Uperulli. There the monster grows, unbeknownst to his intended victims.
Uperulli doesn't notice at first because he's colossal. Later as the monster grows to a height reaching the heavens, he starts to get an ache in his shoulder.
Enlil - Mesopotamian
One of the most ancient of gods, Enlil comes into being c. 2400 BCE with the rise of Nippur. He's the head of the Mesopotamian pantheon. He's usually mentioned among the primordial beings. In Hurrian worship he's the father of Ishara.
Enlil and Kumarbi are sometimes equated as they're both fathers of the gods in their respective pantheons. They also appear separately.
Eltara - Ugaritic
Eltara is among the possible deities of the Ammatina Enna. As such he may be a dyad with the deity Ta(i)štara. His name is a combination of Ugaritic El and the suffix -tara. El, an ancient god, appears in Hurrian offering lists from Ugarit.
A partial myth describes a time when Eltara is king of the gods. It also mentions a conflict involving mountains. Mountains have strong spiritual significance as homes of divine beings.
Eni attanni - Hurrian / Ugaritic
The eni attanni, or "god father", evolves among Hurrians living in Ugarit. They present him as an equivalent to local deity Ilib. He functions as a generic ancestor of the gods.
Earth and Heaven - Hurrian
The deified Earth and Heaven is known to the Hurrians as eše hawurni. Recognition and worship of this concept appears in sources from all Hurrian areas, much like major Hurrian deities such as Teššub. Earth and Heaven are not personified deities themselves.
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