Kurunta

Kurunta was a Hittite king, a son of Muwatalli II born in the 13th century BC, and cousin of Tudhaliya IV. Kurunta is a Luwian name; he also bore the Hurrian name Ulmi-Tessup (often spelled Ulmi-Teshub").

Name

He was named after an Anatolian tutelary deity in the Late Bronze Age frequently associated with stags.

Life

The sources on Kurunta's life include two treaties between Hattusa and Tarhuntassa, mention in the so-called Tawagalawa Letter, numerous seals, and a rock inscription.

Muwatalli entrusted Kurunta to his brother Hattusili III to raise in his own household. Hattusili's son Tudhaliya, in his later treaty with Kurunta, claims that the two developed a deep bond of friendship.

A significant event in Muwatalli's reign, which probably influenced the later course of Kurunta's life, was his transfer of the Hittite court to Tarhuntassa in south-central Anatolia.

In the struggle for the throne between Mursili III and Hattusili, Kurunta gave his loyalty to Hattusili. His reward was rich: after seizing the throne, Hattusili granted him vassal kingship over Tarhuntassa, his father's former capital. In that treaty he bore the name Ulmi-Tessup. However, most of the territory under Tarhuntassa's nominal sway had fallen into the hands of Lukkan warriors acting with support from Ahhiyawa. Kurunta apparently spent all of Hattusili's reign slowly reconquering the lost territory.

Kurunta (god)

Kurunta is the Hittite god of wild animals and hunting. Similar tasks has the god Inar.

Kurunta's Insignia was the deer. He became king of gods after he had thrown Tarhun down from the sky. The god rebel forces humanity against the gods and even does not care about the powerful gods. Because of the wish of gods to get sacrifices furthermore without getting them Enki and Kumarbi unite against Kurunta. With help of Nara-Napsara, the brother of A'as from the underworld, thei force all animals and the mountain god Nasalma against Kurunta. After that Kurunta is killed by Tarhun and Ninurta so he accepts Tarhun's sovereignty. Kurunta takes part at the conference of gods after Telipinu's return. He is also the saving god of Carchemish.

Literature