Huwasi stone explained

In Hittite mythology, a huwasi (meaning "standing stone") is a ritual standing stone to a deity usually situated in a temple. Huwasi are sometimes identified as examples of baetyls.

Larger huwasi stones were placed in an open area surrounded by trees and other plants. The stones were treated as gods and were given food and water and anointed and washed.

At any cult centre, the deities that could not be given a temple were worshipped at huwasi stones. The term huwasi was used to describe the housing of the sacred stela, the huwasi stone.[1] [2]

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bryce, Trevor. Life and Society in the Hittite World. 2002. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-924170-5. 156.
  2. Book: Becchio. Bruno. Schadé. Johannes P.. Encyclopedia of World Religions. 2006. Foreign Media Group. 978-1-60136-000-7. 429.