Lelluri

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 primordial giant from the Kumarbi Cycle, and Impaluri, sukkal of the sea god, as well as a number of Hurrian 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), Hebat 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" ("die Herrin der Gebirge").[6]

She was closely linked with 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" (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. Haas 2015, p. 409.
  2. Pongratz-Leisten 2015, p. 71.
  3. Taracha 2009, pp. 119–120.
  4. Sazonov 2019, p. 68.
  5. Wilhelm 1992, p. 28.
  6. Haas 1982, p. 102.
  7. Haas 2015, p. 410.
  8. Haas 2015, p. 849.
  9. Haas 2015, p. 563.
  10. Taracha 2009, p. 138.
  11. Collins 1995, p. 323.
  12. Haas 2015, p. 664.

Bibliography
  • Collins, Billy Jean (1995). "Greek ὀλολύζω and Hittite palwai-: Exultation in the Ritual Slaughter of Animals". Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies. 36 (4): 319–325. ISSN 2159-3159. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  • Haas, Volkert (1982). Hethitische Berggötter und hurritische Steindämonen: Riten, Kulte und Mythen: eine Einführung in die altkleinasiatischen religiösen Vorstellungen. Kulturgeschichte der antiken Welt (in German). P. von Zabern. ISBN 978-3-8053-0542-6. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  • Haas, Volkert (2015). Geschichte der hethitischen Religion. Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 1: The Near and Middle East (in German). Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-29394-6. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  • Pongratz-Leisten, Beate (2015). Religion and Ideology in Assyria. Studies in Ancient Near Eastern Records (SANER). De Gruyter. ISBN 978-1-61451-426-8. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  • Sazonov, Vladimir (2019). "Some Notes on the Evolution of the Hittite Royal Annals". Literary change in Mesopotamia and beyond and Routes and travellers between East and West. Proceedings of the 2nd and 3rd Melammu Workshop. Münster: Zaphon. ISBN 3-96327-066-7. OCLC 1257072825.
  • Taracha, Piotr (2009). Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia. Harrassowitz. ISBN 978-3447058858.
  • Wilhelm, Gernot (1992). "Zum eblaitischen Gott Kura". Vicino Oriente (in German). 8 (2). Retrieved 2022-03-12.
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