Lelluri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lelluri (alternatively Lilluri, Liluri) was a Hurrian goddess worshiped in southeastern Anatolia and northern Syria.

History[]

She most likely originated in the Nur Mountains, and her name ends with the Hurrian suffix -luri, known also from the names Upelluri (a giant from the Kumarbi cycle) and Impaluri (sukkal of the sea god), and a few mountain and stone names.[1] Historian Beate Pongratz-Leisten regards her as a deity "associated with Hurrian identity."[2]

Like the so-called "Syrian substrate" deities (Ishara, Kubaba, Aštabi, Adamma) and Šarruma she was later incorporated into Hittite religion.[3] King Ḫattušili I mentions her (alongside Allatum, the storm god of Aleppo, and the mountain gods Adalur and Amaruk) among the deities whose statues he brought to Hatti as war booty.[4] However, the exact location of the town Haššuwa from which she was brought remains unknown.[5]

Functions and relation to other deities[]

Volkert Haas describes Lelluri as "lady of the mountains."[6]

She was closely linked to Manuzzi, a weather god.[7] She was likely his partner, and that they shared a temple in Kummani.[8]

A text from Emar equates her with the Mesopotamian goddess Ninmena.[9]

Worship[]

In Kizzuwatna she was celebrated during the hišuwa festival, whose purpose was to guarantee the wellbeing of the king and his family. Among the other deities present in texts pertaining to it are "Teshub Manuzi" (eg. weather god of [Mt.] Manuzi) Ishara, Allani, Maliya and two hyposthases of Nupatik.[10] During the festival, the formula "Lelluri has achieved her heart's desire" had to be recited aloud after pouring an offering for her into a rhyton.[11]

A so-called ambašši offering to her consisted out of a lamb, a goose, a sheep and a loaf of bread.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ V. Haas, Geschichte der hethitischen Religion, 2015, p. 409
  2. ^ B. Pongratz-Leisten, Religion and Ideology in Assyria, 2015, p. 71
  3. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 119-120
  4. ^ V. Sazonov, Some Notes on the Evolution of the Hittite Royal Annals [in:] R. Da Riva, M. Lang, S. Fink (eds.), Literary Change in Mesopotamia and Beyond and Routes and Travellers between East and West. Proceedings of the 2nd and 3rd Melammu Workshops, 2019, p. 68
  5. ^ G. Wilhelm, Zum eblaitischen Gott Kura, Vicino Oriente 8, 1992, p. 28
  6. ^ V. Haas, Hethitische Berggötter und hurritische Steindämonen: Riten, Kulte und Mythen: eine Einführung in die altkleinasiatischen religiösen Vorstellungen, 1982, p. 102: "die Herrin der Gebirge"
  7. ^ V. Haas, Geschichte der hethitischen Religion, 2015, p. 410
  8. ^ V. Haas, Geschichte der hethitischen Religion, 2015, p. 849
  9. ^ V. Haas, Geschichte der hethitischen Religion, 2015, p. 563
  10. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 138
  11. ^ B. J. Collins, Greek ὀλολύζω and Hittite palwai- : Exultation in the Ritual Slaughter of Animals, Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 36, 1995, p. 323
  12. ^ V. Haas, Geschichte der hethitischen Religion, 2015, p. 664
Retrieved from ""