Tarhung the warrior weather God

In the mosaic of ancient Near Eastern deities, Tarḫunz stands as a pivotal figure among the Luwians, a prominent Bronze Age civilization of Anatolia. His name, stemming from Tarḫunt-, encapsulates his dominion over the weather, a vital element in the agrarian and pastoral lifestyle of his followers.
Tarḫunz’s worship centered in the Taurus Mountains region, where he was revered not just as a weather god but also as the king of gods, mirroring his counterparts Tarḫunna of the Hittites and Teshub of the Hurrians. The importance of these gods stemmed from their control over rain and storms, crucial for the fertility of the land and the wellbeing of the people.

The cult of Tarḫunz was marked by monumental sanctuaries, often situated at high elevations, approaching the realm of the divine in the sky. These sanctuaries served both as places of worship and as centers of political power, where the divine mandate to rule was intertwined with the clerical activities dedicated to Tarḫunz.