Old Anatolian Myths

137 Pages·2011·7.79 MB·English

Hittite Myths
Society of Biblical Literature
Writings from the Ancient World
Simon B. Parker, General Editor
Associate Editors
Harry A. Hoffner, Jr.
Anne D. Kilmer
Theodore J. Lewis
Peter Machinist
William J. Murnane
David I. Owen
Robert R. Ritner
Choon Leong Seow
Volume 2
Hittite Myths
SECOND EDITION
by Harry A. Hoffner, Jr.
Edited by Gary M. Beckman
Hittite Myths
SECOND EDITION
by
Harry Α. Hoffner, Jr.
edited by
Gary M. Beckman
Society of Biblical Literature
Writings from the Ancient World Series
Scholars Press
Atlanta, Georgia
HITTITE MYTHS
Copyright © 1990
Second Edition © 1998
Society of Biblical Literature
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by
means of any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly
permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for
permission should be addressed in writing to the Rights and Permissions Office,
Scholars Press, P.O. Box 15399, Atlanta, GA 30333-0399, USA.
The Society of Biblical Literature gratefully acknowledges a grant from the National
Endowment for the Humanities to underwrite certain editorial and research expenses
of the Writings from the Ancient World series. Published results and interpretations do
not necessarily represent the view of the Endowment.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Hittite Myths / Harry A. Hoffner, Jr. ; volume editor,
Gary M. Beckman. — 2nd ed.
p. cm. — (Writings from the ancient world : no. 2)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 0-7885-0488-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Mythology, Hittite. I. Hoffner, Harry A.
II. Beckman, Gary M. III. Series.
BL2370.H5H57 1998
299'.199—dc21 98-28011
CIP
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
04 05 06 07—10 9 8 7 6 5 4 32
Contents
Series Editor's Foreword vii
Abbreviations ίχ
Map of Anatolia x
Explanation of Signs χί
INTRODUCTION 1
History 2
Civilization 3
The Myths 4
On the Method of Translation 4
On the Transliteration and Pronunciation 5
TRANSLATIONS 7
OLD ANATOLIAN MYTHS 9
1. The Illuyanka Tales 10
Version 1 11
Version 2 12
2. The Disappearance of Telipinu 14
Version 1 15
Version 2 18
Version 3 20
3. The Disappearance of the Storm God 21
4. Sacrifice and Prayer to the Storm God of Nerik 22
5. Myths of Lost Storm Gods 24
6. Telipinu and the Daughter of the Sea God 26
7. The Disappearance of the Sun God 27
8. The Disappearance of Hannahanna 29
9. Myths of the Goddess Inara 30
10. Kamrusepa Myths 33
11. The Voyage of the Immortal Human Soul 33
12. When the Storm God Thunders Frightfully 34
13. Fragments of Myths about Lost and Found Deities 37
HURRIAN MYTHS 40
14. The Song of Kumarbi 42
15. The Song of the God LAMMA 46
16. The Song of Silver 48
17. The Song of Hedammu 50
18. The Song of Ullikummi 55
18a. The Song of Release 65
TALES INVOLVING DEITIES AND MORTALS 81
19. A Tale of Two Cities: Kanesh and Zalpa 81
20. Appu and His Two Sons 82
21. The Sun God, The Cow, and the Fisherman 85
22. The Hunter Kessi and His Beautiful Wife 87
A CANAANITE MYTH 90
23. Elkunirsa and Ashertu 90
Sources 93
Concordance 97
Bibliography 98
Glossary 109
Indexes 114
Series Editor's Foreword
Writings from the Ancient World is designed to provide up-to-date, read-
able, English translations of writings recovered from the ancient Near East.
The series is intended to serve the interests of general readers, students,
and educators who wish to explore the ancient Near Eastern roots of West-
ern civilization, or compare these earliest written expressions of human
thought and activity with writings from other parts of the world. It should
also be useful to scholars in the humanities or social sciences who need
clear, reliable translations of ancient Near Eastern materials for compara-
tive purposes. Specialists in particular areas of the ancient Near East who
need access to texts in the scripts and languages of other areas will also find
these translations helpful. Given the wide range of materials translated in
the series, different volumes will appeal to different interests. But these
translations make available to all readers of English the world's earliest tra-
ditions as well as valuable sources of information on daily life, history, reli-
gion, etc. in the preclassical world.
The translators of the various volumes in this series are specialists in the
particular languages and have based their work on the original sources and
the most recent research. In their translations they attempt to convey as
much as possible of the original texts in a fluent, current English. In the
introductions, notes, glossaries, maps, and chronological tables, they aim to
provide the essential information for an appreciation of these ancient docu-
ments.
Covering the period from the invention of writing (by 3000 B.C.E.) down
to the conquests of Alexander the Great (ca. 330 B.C.E.). the ancient Near
East comprised northeast Africa and southwest Asia. The cultures repre-
sented within these limits include especially Egyptian, Sumerian, Babylon-
ian, Assyrian, Hittite, Ugaritic, Aramean, Phoenician, and Israelite. It is
hoped that Writings from the Ancient World will eventually produce trans-
lations of most of the many different genres attested in these cultures:
letters—official and private, myths, diplomatic documents, hymns, law col-
lections, monumental inscriptions, tales, and administrative records, to
mention but a few.
The preparation of this volume was supported in part by a generous grant
from the Division of Research Programs of the National Endowment for
the Humanities. Significant funding has also been made available by the
Society of Biblical Literature. In addition, those involved in preparing this
volume have received financial and clerical assistance from their respective
institutions. Were it not for these expressions of confidence in our work, the
arduous tasks of preparation, translation, editing, and publication could not
have been accomplished or even undertaken. It is the hope of all who have
worked on these texts or supported this work that Writings from the
Ancient World will open up new horizons and deepen the humanity of all
who read these volumes.
Simon B. Parker
Boston University School of Theology
Abbreviations
ANET Ancient Near Eastern Texts relating to the Old Testament (ed.
J. B. Pritchard; 3d ed. with Suppl.; Princeton: Princeton
University Press, 1969)
CHD The Hittite Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University
of Chicago
CTH Catalogue des textes hittites (Laroche 1971)
KBo Keilschrifttexte aus Boghazköi
KUB Keilschrifturkunden aus Boghazköi
VS Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmäler (Berlin)