Illuyanka
Also called Illuyankas.
In Hittite mythology, Illuyanka is the dragon-serpent defeated by the storm-god Tarhunt in the combat myth recited at the Hittite New Year (Purulli) festival.
At a glance
- Tradition
- Hittite mythology
- Region
- Hattusa (place of origin)
- Trait family
- The Great-Thewed
- Symbols
- Dragon
Near this figure
Symbols
Judged against the description by a model. Meanings are our own paraphrase.
- Dragon is image-domain The dragon denotes chaotic instinctual power, guardian of hoarded treasure and fertility, destructive in the West and, in China, the beneficent waterlike way of things.
why
In Hittite mythology, Illuyanka is the dragon-serpent defeated by the storm-god Tarhunt in the combat myth recited at the Hittite New Year (Purulli) festival.
Traits
Read from the figure's description, which a model wrote. Open "why" for the sentence a trait came from.
Form
- Serpentine elongated body
why
Illuyanka is the dragon-serpent antagonist of the Hittite storm-god
- Stout bulbous serpentine body
why
until it is too bloated to fit back inside
Behaviour
- Lured out by feast
why
she prepares a great feast and lures the dragon out of its lair with food and drink until it is too bloated to fit back inside, allowing a mortal ally, Hupasiyas, to bind it with a rope so that the storm-god can kill it.
- Steals body part as trophy
why
In the second telling, Illuyanka defeats the storm-god in their initial clash and takes his heart and eyes as trophies.
Offensive powers
- Superhuman strength
why
In the second telling, Illuyanka defeats the storm-god in their initial clash and takes his heart and eyes as trophies.
Roles
Judged from the works' own entries, not from the description. Carries: the figure holds the role. Meets: the role is in its stories, held by something it meets.
- Serpent carries
2 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Illuyanka."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Illuyanka."
- Father meets
2 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Illuyanka."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Illuyanka."
- Hero meets
2 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Illuyanka."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Illuyanka."
- Trickster meets
2 citations
- Carol Rose, Giants, Monsters, and Dragons, s.v. "Illuyanka."
- Theresa Bane, Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore, s.v. "Illuyanka."