Basic Information
Type/Species: Wurm
Origin: Hittite Mythology
About Illuyankas / Illujanka
In Hittite Mythology, the dragon Illuyankas, in other instances written as Illujanka, patronized the gods. Two different stories of Illuyankas as an antagonist. [1] Sometimes Illujanka is referred to as a snake demon instead of a dragon. [2]
In the first story, the weather god Taru battled the dragon and lost. The greedy Illuyankas then accepted an invitation from the goddess Inaras prepared a great feast to honor his victory. At the fast, he ate and ate and ate until he became bloated and drunk on the wine. In this state, the goddess and her lover Hupasiyas managed to bind the dragon. [1] Taru then entered the feast and slaughtered the bound dragon Illuyankas. He then took the dismembered beast and scattered him about the earth in victory. [1]
This story of the weather god destroying the dragon can also be seen in Canaanite mythology as the struggle between Baal and Leviathan, and it is believed to be the source the Greeks derived the story of Typhon and Zeus. [2]
The tale of Taru's battle against the dragon was traditionally recited at the New Year's Feast (purulli), as a new year started with slaying the dragon. [2]
In the second story, Illuyankas had encircled each of the gods in battled, and he held them all captive in his huge, vast coils. The dragon then swallowed their eyes and their hearts, leaving all the gods without the power to stop him. Nothing could be done. [1]
The son of the weather god Taru, in a striking moment of cunning, took Illuyankas's daughter as a lover. In time, he persuaded her to give him the eyes and hearts of the gods (in some stories, this is seen as a form of dowry). Once he received them, he returned them back to the gods, who took their revenged upon the dragon by killing him and cutting him into pieces. [1]
