Zippalanda
Zippalanda was a Hattic administrative and religious center of the Hittite Old Kingdom. Although its name was known from inscriptions, it was not until the latter 20th century that scholars placed it in Sorgun District of Yozgat Province, Turkey, near Kerkenes Dağ (Kerkenes Mountain often identified with Mount Daha (Mount Taha)), about one day's journey north of Ankuwa (present-day Alışar Höyük). History Zippalanda was one of the ancient Hattic religious centers (šiunan URU "city of the gods") that retained privileges in the Old Kingdom. These also included Arinna and Nerik; early on, Hattusa was added to these as well. Also toward the end of the Hittite Empire, after Muwatalli II moved the Hittite capital from Hattusa to Tarhuntassa, this also became a sacred city. The Hittite king participated in official religious ceremonies such as the purulli-festival, spring and autumn Imperial festivals, the festival of the month, and possibly the hunting festival (the Ki-Lam). The Weather god of Zippalanda, originally Hattic, was an important deity for the Hittites. At Zippalanda, he was considered to be the son of Tarḫunna, the 'Weather god of Heaven', and the Sun goddess of the Earth (known as Allani in the Hurrian-Hittite "Song of the Ransom").