The mythology of storm and weather god Teshub (Teššub) goes back to the Hurrian Empire in ancient Mesopotamia and area. Beginning in the fertile Khabur valley of the Euphrates River, Hurrian civilization is a major power from c. 1600 BCE to c. 1260 BCE.
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The Hurrian empire Mitanni is well known as one of the most significant in the Bronze Age. The antagonistic forces of the Hittites and Hurrians develop their civilizations at roughly the same time.
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Hurrian Storm God Teshub holds authority over Gods and mortals and plays a leadership role in the Hurrian pantheon. He rules both the sky and fresh water. He can bring forth mountain streams. He makes decisions on weighty matters.
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He has no authority over the sea (Kiashe) or the Underworld (Kumarbi, Allani). He and his siblings often clash with Kiashe and Kumarbi. Kumarbi is especially obsessed with trying to kill Teshub, his son. He creates monsters such as Ullikummi to crush him.
Hurrians have a strong effect on the mythology and culture of the Hittite Empire. Hittites adopt Hurrian gods and those of other ancient world powers. In the cross-cultural cosmologies the Hurrian Teshub equates with Hittite Storm God Tarhunna.
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Often pictured with a beard and handful of lightning bolts, Teshub is equated with the Babylonian weather god Adad. Adad is associated with both life-giving and destructive qualities of rain, water and floods.
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Two of Teshub's companions are mountain gods, as mountains are associated with wild weather in the Bronze Age and today. From the mountains he creates live-giving rivers and springs.
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Weather Gods are among the earliest elemental deities. Storm Gods may arise from Perkʷunos of Proto-Indo-European roots to Thor and Odin of the Norse pantheon and Zeus (Rom. Jupiter) of the Greeks. Worship of a Sun Goddess, Dawn Goddess, Sun God or the divine Sun itself, is also common to most ancient cultures.
In the ancient Hurrian world, Teshub rules storms, winds, lightning, thunder and rain, tornados, as well as floods, mudslides and other water induced disasters. As a nature entity of dual or contrasting characteristics, he also helps plants grow with gentle rains.
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Divine Twin bulls, Šeri and Ḫurri, pull his chariot. The bulls also manifest as human figures as separate Gods who are always together.
In this way Šeri and Ḫurri resemble the primordial Divine Horse Twins, who pull the chariot of the Sun and help humankind. Divine Twins are common throughout ancient mythology in both sacrificial and creation contexts.
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The "mother" of Teshub is Kumarbi, Father of the Gods. The father of Teshub is Sky God Anu. Kumarbi and Anu battle for kingship. Kumarbi bites off Anu's genitals and becomes impregnated with Teshub. Kumarbi's head must be split open so Teshub can be born.
It's reminiscent of the Greek Titan Saturn, who cut off his father's testicles with a sickle to become King of the Gods. This in turn could come from ancient fertility beliefs, in which the sperm is released onto the land. Saturn is also a God of agriculture.
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The Cult of the Bull values both sperm and blood as the essence of life and fertility. In some early beliefs the sperm of the Bull runs through his bones.
The Bulls Šeri and Ḫurri who draw Teshub's cart or chariot go back to the early Bronze Age in mythology, first mentioned in Syria. Šeri also functions as an intermediary between the god and mortals.
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A Hurrian hymn of the 15th century BCE recognizes Anu as the father of Teshub (Teššop) and Kumarbi as his mother:
"You are the strong one, which I (praise), the bull calf of Anu! You are the strong one, which I (praise), your father Anu begot you, your mother Kumarbi brought you to life. For the city of Aleppo I summon him, Teššop, for the pure throne."
Hurrian offering lists or kaluti hold records of entities to whom offerings can be made. They mention the sequences of deities associated with Teshub. About twenty-five in all, they include Šimige the Hurrian Sun God; and Ḫešui the Hurrian war god, later incorporated into the pantheon of the Hittites.
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The goddess wife of Teshub is Ḫepat, whose worship initially takes place in northern Syria. Her major center of worship is Aleppo, Syria. She has her own entourage and circle of deities on the god lists.
Her Hittite equivalent is the Sun Goddess of Arinna or a more local Goddess, Pidray of Ugarit. For strategic reasons Hepat marries several Weather Gods in the course of history.
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