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The Hittite god Telepinu's purview was agriculture and vegetation, although he also could be capable of great anger and destruction, perhaps because of his filial link to the storm god, Teshub. One myth that deals with him is perhaps the most complete and well known Hittite myth of all. It showcases, in stark contrast, what occurs when there is imbalance in the world. This tale is part of the tradition of stories which accompanied some kind of ritual, which was thought to appease a wrathful Telepinu.
Telepinu: The Missing Deity
One fateful morning Telepinu woke in a foul mood, which was only further inflamed when he put both of his shoes on the wrong feet. He gave mighty roar, storming off into the distance until he reached a meadow, where he fell into a deep slumber.
Nonetheless, Telepinu's rage smoldered, even as he slept, and caused a great mist to descend. This haze fogged up windows, pushed into houses, smothered livestock in the fields and caused darkness to take hold. All livestock and plants ceased to be fertile and grasslands turned to deserts. Famine broke out everywhere. Gods and men feared that they might not be able to see the next day. The Sun god of Heaven held a great banquet for thousands of gods but even as drink and food passed before their lips, it didn't sate them. Henceforth, the greater and lesser gods set out to locate the missing deity, but none of them were successful in their quest.
Growing desperate, the Sun god of Heaven sent a swift eagle to find Telepinu but no trace of him could be found. This aerial scout reported back to the gods.
"I have cast my eyes over high mountains, deep valleys and everything betwixt but I have failed to see where the noble Telepinu has ventured."
The assembly of gods were gripped with despair when they heard those words. Who offended the god of agriculture so much that he disappeared, all of them thought.
Teshub was one who did not give up hope, though. He ventured to the abode of Ḫannaḫanna, the grandmother of goddesses, to call on her wisdom to solve this problem.
Ḫannaḫanna said, "Go out and look for your son, Storm God!"
Teshub ventured to the gate but he couldn't wait for it to open; he struck the lock with his hammer but his tool broke. Disheartened, he returned to the grandmother of goddesses, to seek her aid once again. Ḫannaḫanna produced a bee and sent it into the sky.
"Go and find Telepinu!" she said.
The other deities scratched their heads and gave each other quizzical looks. To send such a small insect to do a mighty task was surely madness.
The bee flew along winding rivers, down rolling hills and through verdant forests. Its wings started to feel heavy and so it moved into a grove, where it found the slumbering Telepinu. However it buzzed, it could not wake the god, and so stung him on his hands and feet. He yelped and became shot upright.
"Who woke me from my slumber?!" said the deity. "You will pay!"
Telepinu struck the earth. Water bubbled up from springs, rivers dams, overwhelming cities and rural areas alike. Everywhere this great flood went it bleached the land bare.
Kamrusepa, the goddess of healing, was summoned by the deities, and she set out at once to Telepinu. Kamrusepa initiated a ritual, which took all of the anger out of his stifled soul and made it whole again. Telepinu's negative emotions turned away from him, flowing into the ground, leaving his mind clear. He returned to his role and saw the destruction his absence had wrought; then the importance of his work dawned on him. Longevity and fertility returned to the land, whereupon abundance took the place of hunger.
Thank you for reading!
The Hittite god Telepinu's purview was agriculture and vegetation, although he also could be capable of great anger and destruction, perhaps because of his filial link to the storm god, Teshub. One myth that deals with him is perhaps the most complete and well known Hittite myth of all. It showcases, in stark contrast, what occurs when there is imbalance in the world. This tale is part of the tradition of stories which accompanied some kind of ritual, which was thought to appease a wrathful Telepinu.
Telepinu: The Missing Deity
One fateful morning Telepinu woke in a foul mood, which was only further inflamed when he put both of his shoes on the wrong feet. He gave mighty roar, storming off into the distance until he reached a meadow, where he fell into a deep slumber.
Nonetheless, Telepinu's rage smoldered, even as he slept, and caused a great mist to descend. This haze fogged up windows, pushed into houses, smothered livestock in the fields and caused darkness to take hold. All livestock and plants ceased to be fertile and grasslands turned to deserts. Famine broke out everywhere. Gods and men feared that they might not be able to see the next day. The Sun god of Heaven held a great banquet for thousands of gods but even as drink and food passed before their lips, it didn't sate them. Henceforth, the greater and lesser gods set out to locate the missing deity, but none of them were successful in their quest.
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| Hittite representation of a deity or priest-king, c. 1600 BCE. |
Growing desperate, the Sun god of Heaven sent a swift eagle to find Telepinu but no trace of him could be found. This aerial scout reported back to the gods.
"I have cast my eyes over high mountains, deep valleys and everything betwixt but I have failed to see where the noble Telepinu has ventured."
The assembly of gods were gripped with despair when they heard those words. Who offended the god of agriculture so much that he disappeared, all of them thought.
Teshub was one who did not give up hope, though. He ventured to the abode of Ḫannaḫanna, the grandmother of goddesses, to call on her wisdom to solve this problem.
Ḫannaḫanna said, "Go out and look for your son, Storm God!"
Teshub ventured to the gate but he couldn't wait for it to open; he struck the lock with his hammer but his tool broke. Disheartened, he returned to the grandmother of goddesses, to seek her aid once again. Ḫannaḫanna produced a bee and sent it into the sky.
"Go and find Telepinu!" she said.
The other deities scratched their heads and gave each other quizzical looks. To send such a small insect to do a mighty task was surely madness.
 |
| Bas-relief at Ivriz representing Teshub with a hammer and thunderbolt in hand. |
The bee flew along winding rivers, down rolling hills and through verdant forests. Its wings started to feel heavy and so it moved into a grove, where it found the slumbering Telepinu. However it buzzed, it could not wake the god, and so stung him on his hands and feet. He yelped and became shot upright.
"Who woke me from my slumber?!" said the deity. "You will pay!"
Telepinu struck the earth. Water bubbled up from springs, rivers dams, overwhelming cities and rural areas alike. Everywhere this great flood went it bleached the land bare.
 |
| The twelve gods of the underworld, from a relief at a sanctuary at Hattusa. |
Kamrusepa, the goddess of healing, was summoned by the deities, and she set out at once to Telepinu. Kamrusepa initiated a ritual, which took all of the anger out of his stifled soul and made it whole again. Telepinu's negative emotions turned away from him, flowing into the ground, leaving his mind clear. He returned to his role and saw the destruction his absence had wrought; then the importance of his work dawned on him. Longevity and fertility returned to the land, whereupon abundance took the place of hunger.
Thank you for reading!
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