Illuian is a mythical monster, a dragon in Hittite mythology .
The legend of Illuyanka was set forth in the inscriptions of the main sanctuary of the Hittite god of the thunderstorm in Nerik and was dedicated to the celebration of the New Year. Two versions of the legend have survived.
According to the first version of Ilyuyanka, the dragon-like giant monster defeated the fierce battle of the storm god Ishkur (also known as Taru ). Then the mother of the gods Inara decided to help Ishkur. She prepared everything for a feast and filled large vessels with alcoholic drinks. To outwit Illuyanka, she still needed the help of a man. Therefore, the goddess turned to a certain Gupasiy. He agreed to help, but demanded that Inara first sleep with him. The goddess agreed and took the man with her to the feast, to which the dragon of Illuianka was also invited with her children. The dragon family drank plenty of vessels, got drunk and could no longer move or run normally. Gupasia tied the dragons so that the thunder god could kill them. Inara took the man with her to distant lands to live with him there. Her condition was that Gupasia never look out the window. The man lasted 20 days, but then curiosity got the better, and he looked out the window. Outside the window, in a great distance, Gupasius saw his earthly wife and the children left by him. Full of longing, he turned to the goddess with a request to allow him to leave. The end of the legend has not survived. Presumably, Inara killed Gupasius for his disobedience and violation of the vow.
According to the second version of the legend of Ilyuyanka, the role of man is more significant. And in this case, the dragon Ilyuyanka managed to defeat the storm god Ishkur, and like a trophy the dragon tore out his heart and eyes to the god. Completely defenseless, God married the daughter of one "poor man" who gave birth to Ishkur's son. When the son grew up, he embraced the daughter of Illuyanka and demanded his father's heart and eyes in the dowry. Dragon agreed. When the god of the storm received these organs of his own, he recovered, and again began to fight against Illoyanka. This time, he defeated and killed the dragon, and with it his own son, who became a member of the dragon family.
The legends of the Hittite dragon Iluyanka correspond to those of the Hurrian monster Hedammu .
Links
- Illuyanka // Mythological Dictionary / Ch. ed. E. M. Meletinsky . - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia , 1990 .-- 672 p.