In the history of the ancient near East, godly pantheons play a vital role in society and culture. In the Bronze Age (c. 3300 - 1200 BCE), individual cities and regions pay homage to one or more local gods.
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They include river, valley or field gods, the sun deity, protector gods, house spirits or even demons. Most habitations worship a particular patron of the town and the consorts or sukkals associated with that God/dess.
A duality of worship occurs in the mid-Bronze age, with people and cultures mingling together in Anatolia, Mesopotamia and other near East regions. Some Goddesses such as Inanna (Ishtar) and Shaushka (Šauška) are worshipped cross-culturally and often identified with each other. Other god/desses are specific to certain towns.
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The center of worship for the Weather God of Zippalanda is the Hittite city of Zippalanda, notable for its status as a sacred city. Only a few settlements can claim that title, including Hattusa, the capital city of the Hittite Empire in the mid Bronze Age.
The Weather god of Zippalanda is originally a Hattic deity, worshipped by the Hattians who live in the area when the Hittites move in. As they often do, the Hittites adopt deities from the local culture.
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The Weather God has several names including Ziplantil, Wašezzili, Wašezzil and Wašezzašu. At Zippalanda, he's presented as son of Tarḫunna, the Weather God of Heaven, and Alanni, Sun Goddess of the Earth. In other origin myths he's a son of Tarhunna and the Sun Goddess of Arinna. Both Goddesses are linked with the Underworld.
Although the Hittites have a powerful Weather God in Tarḫunna, they prefer integration over force. The Weather God of Zippalanda becomes an important figure in the Hittite multi-pantheon as the son of Tarhunna, and a Sun Goddess with netherworld associations.
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Nerik is another town with a localized Weather God, also a son of Tarhunna. The people of Nerik move him to a different city when Nerik is conquered by the Kaskians and the population flees.
The Weather God is common to many religions as one of the most powerful deities. He's linked to vegetation growth, fair weather, natural disasters such as floods and storms. Agriculture, animal migrations and herd movements depend on the favor of the God. The neighboring Hurrian Weather God is Teshub.
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In the ancient near East, the dominant philosophy saw human beings as attendants to the Gods. As a race the humans were created by the Gods to serve them. Thus divine temples are kept immaculate, feast days observed, proper rituals performed and sacrifices made. In exchange, the Gods protect and care for humans.
It's not uncommon for warlike groups to invade a town and carry off the icon or statue of the town's sacred patron God/dess. The divinities lived inside sacred objects, and the theft of an object is a depletion in the protective power of the deity.
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Thus, counter-raids are staged to steal back the god, and run off with the enemy's primary god figures. If recovered the God/dess may be angry at having sacred images stolen or defiled, and withhold favor from their patron towns. Fear of bad luck can could further open the town to outside attack.
Worshippers can be fickle. If their patron God/dess doesn't protect them, despite rites observed, offerings made and holy days kept, inhabitants of a town are prompted to switch gods.
For instance when Nippur is sacked in 1230 BCE, the residents turn their backs on established god Enlil. They change allegiance and worship the Babylonian hero-god Marduk instead.
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The Weather god of Zippalanda is also revered as sender of rain and a fertility deity. He's called a lion among the gods, therefore cast as a divine hero. His palace temple in Zippalanda drew throngs of devotees. Today, its location is an archaeological mystery, although recent discoveries suggest it's the town of Uşaklı Höyük in central Turkey.
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