Hebat

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The mother goddess of the Hurrians. Hebat also Kheba or Khepat, known as "the mother of all living", was the consort of Teshub and the mother of Sarruma. She was the daughter of a mortal, named Arm.

The name can be transliterated in different versions; Khebat with the ending -t is primarily the Syrian, and Ugaritic, version. The name written in cuneiform script allows the name to be pronounced with either /b/ or /p/, though in the Hurrian language Hepa is the most likely pronunciation. The sound /h/ in cuneiform is in the modern literature sometimes transliterred as kh.

According to the excellent research of Christopher Siren, amongst the Hurrians Hebat was the matronly wife of the Storm-god, Teshub. Like Ishtar and other female divinities she is sometimes depicted standing on her sacred animal, the lion. After the Storm-god and Astabis' failed attacks on Ullikummis, the diorite giant son of Kumarbi and rock, forced her out of her temple, causing her to lose communication with the gods. She frets that Ullikummis may have defeated her husband and expresses her concern to her servant Takitis, charging him to convene the assembly of the gods and bring back word of her husband. Presumably she is brought word of his defeat. Tasmisus visits her in the high watchtower, telling her that the Storm-god is consigned to a 'lowly place' for a length of time. She is the mother of Sharruma, 'the calf of Teshub'. He was symbolized by a pair of human legs, or a human head on a bull's body (similar to those found in Nineveh). He is later identified with the Weather-god of Nerik and Zippalanda.

Later assimilated with Hebat was Wurusemu, (Wuruntemu?), 'Sun Goddess of Arinna', 'mistress of the Hatti lands, the queen of heaven and earth', 'mistress of the kings and queens of Hatti, directing the government of the King and Queen of Hatti'. She made the cedar land (Lebanon) and is the primary goddess in Arrina, the Hittite Heaven, with Taru as her consort. She was also a goddess of battle and is associated with Hittite military victory. Like Hebat she was the mother of the Storm-god, this time of Nerik, and thereby possibly associated with Ereshkigal in Sumerian Mythology. She aids in returning the storm god from the underworld. Mezzullas was the daughter of the Storm-god and the Sun-goddess of Arinna, and in a number of stories is mentioned as influencing the counsel of parents. Zintuhis was the granddaughter of the Storm-god and the Sun-goddess of Arinna.

Khebat was venerated all over the ancient Near East. Her name appears in many personal names. A king of Jerusalem mentioned in the Amarna letters was named Abdi-Kheba or Abd-Hebat, possibly meaning "Servant of Hebat".

The mother goddess is likely to have had a later counterpart in the Phrygian goddess Cybele.

It has been suggested that the phonetic shift of B -> V, Heba became the Hebrew Chavvah, who appears in Genesis as Eve.

References

Christopher Siren [1]