Alalu

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Alalu or Alalus was a god in Hurrian mythology, also known from Hittite sources, regarded as one of the chthonic "former gods" inhabiting the underworld.[1]

Etymology[]

The name "Alalu" was most likely borrowed from Mesopotamian mythology.[2] A figure named Alala is attested as one of Anu's many ancestors in the god list An=Anum,[3] occupying the 18th line of the 1st tablet. Richard L. Litke, who reconstructed said god list, assumes Alala is the same god as Alalu from Hurrian tradion.[4]

The -u at the end of the word is an inflectional ending; thus, Alalu may also occur as Alali or Alala depending on the position of the word in the sentence.

Myth[]

Alalu was a primeval king of the gods in Hurrian mythology. After nine years of reign, Alalu was defeated by his cupbearer Anu and fled to the "dark earth" (underworld). Later Alalu's son Kumarbi served as Anu's cupbearer, before attacking him to seize the kingship for himself. During the fight Kumarbi bites off and swallows Anu's genitals, hence becoming pregnant with Teshub (and his two siblings) who eventually defeated him, after a prolonged struggle against various challengers, such as Kumarbi's monstrous son Ullikummi.[5][6][7] According to , the motif of a cupbearer rising to the position of a ruler is likely Mesopotamian in origin, and appears in a legend about the historical Sargon's struggle against the king Ur-Zababa as well.[8]

After being dethroned and fleeing, Alalu plays no role in other Hurrian myths forming the cycle of Kumarbi and Teshub.[9]

Scholars have pointed out the similarities between the Hurrian myth and the Greek myth of Uranus, Cronus, and Zeus;[10] an Alalu equivalent is however notably missing from it. A similar theogony was also described by Philo of Byblos: the first ruler of the gods was Elyon, later replaced by his son Epigeius (identified as the Hellenic Uranus), who in turn was deposed by his own son Elus (Cronos); Elus was then defeated by "Zeus-Demarous" (Hadad).[11] Philo states that Elyon was also known as Hypsistos (Ὕψιστος, "most high"; a divine epithet in Hellenic times[12]), and that he was killed by wild animals during a hunt.[13]

Family tree of Alalu[]

Family tree of Alalu

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ G. Wilhelm, Unterwelt, Unterweltsgottheiten. C. Anatolien, [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie Und Vorderasiatischen Archaologie vol. 14, 2014, p. 346
  2. ^ C. Metcalf, Tales of Kings and Cup-Bearers in History and Myth [in:] A. Kelly, C. Metcalf (eds.), Gods and Mortals in Early Greek and Near Eastern Mythology, 2021, p. 156
  3. ^ H. G. Güterbock, Kumarbi [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie, vol. 6, 1983 p. 328
  4. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 22-23
  5. ^ D. Schwemer, Wettergott(heiten). A. Philologisch [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie, vol. 15, 2016, p. 83
  6. ^ G. Wilhelm, Hurrians, 1989, p. 58-61
  7. ^ H. G. Güterbock, The Hittite Version of the Hurrian Kumarbi Myths: Oriental Forerunners of Hesiod [in:] H. G. Güterbock, H. A. Hoffner (ed.), Perspectives on Hittite Civilization: Selected Writings of Hans G. Güterbock, 1997, p. 39-40
  8. ^ C. Metcalf, Tales of Kings and Cup-Bearers in History and Myth [in:] A. Kelly, C. Metcalf (eds.), Gods and Mortals in Early Greek and Near Eastern Mythology, 2021, p. 154-157
  9. ^ C. Metcalf, Tales of Kings and Cup-Bearers in History and Myth [in:] A. Kelly, C. Metcalf (eds.), Gods and Mortals in Early Greek and Near Eastern Mythology, 2021, p. 155; 168
  10. ^ M.L. West, Hesiod Theogony (1966:18-31; G.S. Kirk, Myth: Its Meaning and Function in Ancient and Other Cultures (Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1970:214-20.
  11. ^ M. H. Pope, El in the Ugaritic texts, 1955, p. 56
  12. ^ N. Belayche, Hypsistos. A Way of Exalting the Gods in Graeco–Roman Polytheism [in] J.A. North, S.R.F. Price (ed.), The Religious History of the Roman Empire. Pagans, Jews and Christians, 2011, p. 139-174
  13. ^ M. H. Pope, El in the Ugaritic texts, 1955, p. 57
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