Monday, October 3, 2016

Dragon Spotlight 12: Illuyankas

Our story this week revolves around the ongoing fight between Teshub, the storm god, and Illuyankas, the dragon of chaos.
In Hittite mythology, Teshub fought Illuyankas constantly.  In one of their fights, Illuyankas came close to defeating Teshub, and even though the god survived, he called upon his daughter the goddess Inara, to help defeat the dragon and protect mankind.  Inara then called upon a human man named Hupasiya to join on their quest.  Taking advantage of the dragon’s greed, Inara threw a great feast and lay enchantments on the food and wine so that it would never run out.  Illuyankas and all his serpent children ate and drank until they passed out along the tables.  Then Hupasiya, who had been hiding in the dining hall, bound them with ropes and had Teshub scatter them across the land.  But this only kept the dragons’ chaos at bay for another year.
There are many stories of battles between Teshub and Illuyankas, since their fight was to be everlasting.  Each year when the Hittite new year was celebrated, it was said that Teshub clashed with Illuyankas.


Rachel’s drawing shows the dangers of draconic drinking, with Illuyankas having partied just a little too hard at the feast.
Below is a carving depicting Teshub killing Illuyankas from 850-800 BC.  An outlined version of the picture shows the shape of the dragon more clearly.



Come back again next week for more Middle Eastern dragons!  

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