Šimige

Šimige (in Ugaritic: ṯmg) was the Hurrian sun god. From the 14th century BC he was also worshiped by the Hittites as the Sun god of Heaven. In the Hittite cliff sanctuary at Yazılıkaya, he is depicted as one of the chief deities.

Šimige with the winged Sun above his head and a sceptre in his hand. In front of him is the moon god, Kušuḫ.

Šimige was closely connected to the Mesopotamian sun god, Šamaš, from whom he took his consort the goddess Aya Ikaltu, whose epithet Ikaltu or Nikaltu derived from the Akkadian word kallātu ('bride'). Two of his servants were also borrowed in this way: Bunene and Mišaru; a third servant was named Lipparu.

Šimige drove a chariot pulled by four horses. On either side, he was accompanied by Bunene and Mišaru, as well as the personifications of "Respect" and "Awe".

Children were ascribed to Šimige. A Hurrian oath from Mari mentions the seven daughters of Šimige and a fragmentary text lists his sons, who performed evil deeds. The Hittite Ilaliyanteš may also be among his followers.

See also

Bibliography
  • Volkert Haas: Geschichte der hethitischen Religion (= Handbuch der Orientalistik. Sect. 1Der Nahe und der Mittlere Osten. Bd. 15). Brill, Leiden u. a. 1994, ISBN 978-9-004-09799-5.
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