Tiwaz was the reflex of the male sky god of the
Indo-European religion,
Dyeus, who was superseded among the Hittites by the
Hattian Sun goddess of Arinna. In Bronze Age texts, Tiwaz is often referred to as "Father" (cuneiform Luwian:
tatis Tiwaz) and once as "Great Tiwaz" (cuneiform Luwian:
urazza- dUTU
-az), and invoked along with the "Father gods" (cuneiform Luwian:
tatinzi maššaninzi). His Bronze Age epithet, "Tiwaz of the Oath" (cuneiform Luwian:
ḫirutalla- dUTU
-az), indicates that he was an oath-god. In this role he received sacrifices of sheep, red meat and bread. The Luwian verb
tiwadani- ("to curse") is derived from Tiwaz's name. According to Hittite sources, Tiwaz and
Kamrušepa were the parents of the tutelary god of . Like Kamrušepa, Tiwaz is closely associated with sheep. The god
Hapantali, who worked with Kamrušepa in purification rituals, looked after his sheep in the myth of
Telipinu. His followers include the , who generally appear in bad situations.
Sun god of the Earth In the
Hittite and
Hurrian religions the
Sun goddess of the Earth played an important role in the death cult and was understood to be the ruler of the world of the dead. For the Luwians there is a Bronze Age source which refers to the "Sun god of the Earth" (cuneiform Luwian:
tiyamašši- dU
-za): "If he is alive, may Tiwaz release him, if he is dead, may the Sun god of the Earth release him" (Boğazköy cuneiform inscription, 35.48 ii 19.23). == Depiction ==