The Hittite state religion evolved from a combination of the pre-Hittite Hattian culture and the worship of many local agricultural spirits. Mountains were objects of worship and animals symbolized specific deities.
The king was also the ruling priest and the principal servant of the gods. He toured the country and officiated at major religious festivals, in order to placate the gods and ensure their continuing support.
The principal state deity was the sun-goddess and her principal role was to lead the Hittites to victory in battle. Her importance is thought to be a relic of the pre-eminence of the mother goddess in pre-Hittite times.
The sun god was also important but the main male deity, and the husband of the sun-goddess, was the 'Weather-god of Hatti'.
In the later empire, these gods became the Hurrian deities, Teshub and Hepat, depicted here at Yazilikaya with their son, Sharumma, and their sacred animals.
