Ullikummi of ancient near Eastern mythology is a towering creature of stone. It's born of the union of Underworld creator god Kumarbi and daughter of the Sea God, or a female cliff. Its half-brother Teshub (Teššub) the weather god is a bitter enemy of Kumarbi.
Kumarbi tries various ways of killing Teshub, due a prophecy this son will usurp him. For the same reason the later Titan Saturn of Rome devours his children. Teshub is responsible for banishing the Old Gods to the Hurrian Underworld, domain of Goddess Ereshkigal.
The 14th century BCE Song of Ullikummi exists only in fragments, originally in Hurrian. A later Hittite translation is more substantial. Here mythology crosses borders, for Hittites and Hurrians are often enemies.
However, in the 13th century BCE, the Hittite king-to-be weds a priestess, whose mother is Hurrian. She brings much of the Hurrian mythology into the Hittite corpus, organizing the translation of many religious and literary works.
The story of Ullikummi describes the creation of the Rock Monster and the conflict between Kumarbi and Teshub. It's part of a larger work of stories and songs centered around Kumarbi and his battles with his offspring.
A stone gargantuan made of volcanic diorite rock, Ullikummi is genderless, deaf and blind, yet sentient. Kumarbi hides the new-born Ullikummi in the Underworld.
Young Ullikummi needs a place to grow. The monster must stay out of sight of his father's enemies and allies of Teshub, such as Šimige (Shimige), the Hurrian Sun God, and the Great Goddess Shaushka.
The Irširra, servants of Kumarbi, place Ullikummi on the shoulder of the primordial giant Upelluri. A group of Goddess deities of nursing and midwives, the Irširra are similar to the Ugaritic Kotharat and the Šassūrātu of Babylon.
Deep in meditation, Upelluri doesn't notice the small rock monster upon his shoulder. As Ullikummi grows and becomes heavier, Upelluri feels vague discomfort, and soon staggers with the weight of his burden.
In this way he's been compared to Atlas of the Greeks. Ullikummi also reflects characteristics of the Aufhocker of later German myth, undead creatures who leap on a person's back and become slowly heavier.
Soon the rock monster is so big it reaches the firmament. When Teshub sees it growing up to the heavens, he thunders and rains on Ullikummi but has no effect. He enlists the help of his brother the Warrior God Tasmisu.
Their combined might cannot vanquish Ullikummi. In desperation Teshub abdicates the throne and goes to Ea (Sumerian Enki, primordial God of water, creation, knowledge and crafts) for help. Ea lives in the Apsu (Abzu), underground source of primal waters and life.
Ea procures the toothed cutting tool which cut heaven and earth apart soon after creation. As the gods cannot prevail, only this tool will disable Ullikummi.
Ea goes to visit the giant Upelluri, who by now is in some discomfort. Ea asks Upelluri if he notices the monster Ullikummi on his shoulders. Upelluri is taken by surprise. He thought it was just a bout of bad back pain.
With the cutting tool, Ea hacks into the stone monster. He cuts off the feet of Ullikummi and topples it with a tremendous crash causing tremors, tidal waves and earthquakes in the mortal realm. Ullikummi shatters into a rain of rocks and pebbles, and sinks back into the earth.
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