In the expansive Hittite pantheon the Sun God of Heaven (Hittite: nepišaš Ištanu) is the second most worshipped deity of the Empire, after the Sun Goddess of Arinna. His equivalent in Hurrian lore is Shimige (Šimige) the Sun God.
See also:
Since the time of Tudḫaliya III in the middle of the 14th century BCE, the Sun God of Heaven is patron protector of the Hittite Empire and its Kings. On royal seals he appears as a golden disc with wings. He's associated with the Eagle, a bird of the sun.
Upon his name are sworn important oaths of the Kingdom. Influenced by Mesopotamian Sun god Shamash (Šamaš), the Sun God of Heaven also appropriates an esteemed role as God of Law, Legality, Judgment and Truth. Through his divine judgment he gives Kings the right to rule.
See also:
A royal Hittite oath proclaims:
"The gods, the Sun-God and the Storm-God, have entrusted to me, the king, the land and my household, so that I, the king, should protect my land and my household, for myself."
While the benevolent aspects of the Sun Goddess pertain to fertility, light and nurturing warmth, the character of the male Sun God is that of a warrior associated with Fire, and elemental qualities of intensity, conquest and power.
See also:
The chthonic aspect of the Sun God of Heaven is the Sun God of the Earth. His existence is through rare attestations. He may have taken a step back as the Underworld Goddesses Allani, Lelwani, Ereshkigal rise to power along with the beautiful and haughty Hittite Sun Goddess of the Earth.
See also: