Sius was the Hittite sun god and was sometimes additionally listed as king of the gods. He was a god of justice and an ally of Teshub, the storm god.
It was Sius who first noticed the giant Ullikummi in the sea and warned Teshub, refusing to eat until he had finished delivering his message.
In another myth, Teshub’s son, Telepinu, disappeared, which caused a famine. Sius arranged a feast, but his efforts could not alleviate the people’s hunger. At Teshub’s request, Sius dispatched an eagle to search for Telepinu, but the bird was unsuccessful. Finally, a bee discovered Telepinu. Sius had the people perform a ritual, presumably one of thanksgiving and magical significance.
In another version of this missing-god myth, Sius was missing. He was kidnapped by the sea god, who caught him in a net as he sank below the horizon. During Sius’s absence, Hahhimas (frost) took hold. Sius was rescued by Telepinu.
Written by
Ira Spar
Sources
- Gurney, O.R. The Hittites. Rev. ed. New York: Penguin, 1990.
- Hoffner, Harry A. Hittite Myths. 2nd ed. Atlanta: Scholars, 1991.
- Hooke, S.H. Middle Eastern Mythology. Mineola, NY: Dover, 2004
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Storytelling: an encyclopedia of mythology and folklore – Edited by : Josepha Sherman – © 2008 by M.E. Sharpe, Inc.