Twin bulls who pull the chariot of the storm and weather god Teshub (Teššub), Šeri and Ḫurri are usually together. Šeri might act on his own as a mediator between mortals and Gods. Ḫurri and Šeri are Day and Night respectively. Animal vessels or rhytons are popular in the ancient near East.
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Rhytons, also known as zoomorphic or animal-shaped vessels, are used for ritual purposes, especially in Anatolia and Syria. Bull and deer rhytons are more popular in Anatolia, while lion vessels prevail in Syria.
The vessels are used for libations, where the animal species relates to the worshipped deity. Rhytons appear in cultures of Greece and Persia as well. The hole for drinking is sometimes at the bottom, and a person displays skill in drinking from one. Kings and other rulers also use them as a show of wealth.
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The Divine Bulls Ḫurri and Šeri have their own kaluti, or offering lists. They're worshipped together as twin deities. Throughout Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Greece and other cultures the bull has strong spiritual significance.
The Bull is associated with leadership, the Sun, strength, the male, the metal gold, virility, fertility of the earth, wealth, prosperity and divine light. Hurrian mythology has influence on the neighboring Hittites, who adapt Šeri and Ḫurri into their version of the Weather God mythology.
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Despite the name and weather analogy neither Ḫurri nor Hurrians are associated with hurricanes. The word hurricane comes from the Taino Indigenous Caribbean hurakán, or evil spirits of the wind.
The Divine Bulls gain influence among the other neighbors, the Hattians, who are absorbed into the Hittite Empire by the 18th century BCE. Cross-culturally and throughout history the Bull is a symbol of riches, power and divinity.
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Most of all the Bull represents male virility and fertility of the land. This makes him a popular animal of sacrifice especially to the major Gods who control storms, drought and disease. After the sacrifice the Bull is usually eaten, to represent the body and blood of the God.
A sacrifice might take place anytime to ask a favor, or on special occasions and feast days. Although twins and bulls are both associated with sacrifice in many ancient cultures, Ḫurri and Šeri don't take those roles.
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Šeri and Ḫurri have primary centers of worship in Nuzi, a town on the Tigris River; Šapinuwa, whence the successive Kings rule; and Assur, the capital of Assyria. They would receive offerings according to their rank, specified in the kaluti, honorific prayers and gifts.
As entities of worship in their own right, they have specialized priests, rituals and hymns or incantations dedicated to them. Both Bulls are seen as benevolent deities, like the Divine Twins of Proto-Indo-European mythology. Šeri could ask the Weather God for rain during a drought, or fair weather for raising crops and traveling.
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In this way he acts as a sukkal, or helper to the God. Sukkals in the near East can be any form of bird or animal, often hybrid creatures, another God or Goddess or an element such as a flame.
They are attendants, secretaries, helpers, intermediaries of the gods. Sukkal translates to vizier. The sukkal of a deity has its own temple and priests, and a place on the offerings list, which dictates what to give for whom and when.
People might visit the temple of the sukkal if the god isn't hearing their pleas, and ask the sukkal to speak to the deity; or as a regular ritual.
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Famous sukkals include the goddess Ninshubur, who serves as sukkal to Inanna (Ishtar) and the snake dragon Mušḫuššu who serves the god-hero Marduk of Babylon. An ancient creator god, Marduk relates to the gods Odin and Zeus.
The two bulls Šeri and Ḫurri have a recognized niche in religion. They are worshipped as Šerišu Bull twins, pairs or dyads have been known in Anatolia and Mesopotamia since the 3rd millennium BCE. In ancient myth twins can refer to a pair not necessarily a sibling. They are given the appellation šinurḫina, "the two righteous ones".
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The name of Šeri (also Šerišu) may belong to Hurrian šerše "throne". Ḫurri is placed to Urartian ḫurrišḫe "irrigator", reflecting two aspects of the weather god, as king of the gods and rain-giver. Gods or figures of contrasting attributes (such as creator/destroyer, dark/light, protector/threat) are common in early and later religions throughout the world.
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