The Forms of the Weather Deity and its Impact in Anatolia.

Research Abstract

Abstract: The assimilation of neighboring cultures in Anatolia had a profound impact on the plurality of deities and their temples. The people of Anatolia assigned great significance to their religion at political and economic levels. The geographic environment played a crucial role in shaping the perception of the weather deity, which was closely linked to the presence of water, whether through rainfall, storms, or underground sources. The depiction of the weather deity in Anatolia initially followed a Sumerian model in terms of titles and attributes. This created difficulties in identifying the name and nature of the weather deity in Anatolia, as well as the challenge of multiple attributes for the deity, leading to confusion as to whether these attributes represented specific traits of the weather deity or individual goddesses. Consequently, various distinct manifestations of the weather deity emerged in Anatolia, including Teshub, Taru, Nibass, Telpinu, Tarhunda, and others. These deities were portrayed in sculptures, engravings, and royal texts that underscored the importance of the weather deity in Anatolia.

Research Keywords

Keywords: Weather Deity, Storm Deity, Anatolia, R-eligionHittite,