Shamash, (Akkadian), Sumerian Utu, in Mesopotamian religion, the god of the sun, who, with the moon god, Sin (Sumerian: Nanna), and Ishtar (Sumerian: Inanna), the goddess of Venus, was part of an astral triad of divinities. Shamash was the son of Sin. … At night, Shamash became judge of the underworld.

What is Shamash role in the Epic of Gilgamesh?

Shamash. The sun god, brother of Ishtar, patron of Gilgamesh. Shamash is a wise judge and lawgiver.

Is Shamash an Apollo?

Shamash (Utu), his counterpart in Babylonian (Sumerian) culture, represents light, truth, and justice. Artemis (Diana) is the twin sister of Apollo and goddess of the moon. … Like Artemis, he is associated more with nature than with the city.

Is Shamash an Egyptian god?

Shamash was the sun god in the mythology of the ancient Near East. The son of the Sumerian moon god Sin, Shamash was the brother of the goddess Ishtar. … His wife Aya (youth) bore him four sons—Giru (fire), Kittum (truth), Mesharum (justice), and Nusku (light).

Who Worshipped Shamash?

Utu (Shamash)Hinduism equivalentSurya

What Shamash tells Enkidu?

Shamash tells Enkidu that when he dies, Gilgamesh will wander the earth, undone by grief. Enkidu finds comfort in Shamash’s words. He retracts his curse and supersedes it with a blessing for the prostitute: May her patrons be generous and rich.

Who was Shamash father?

Shamash, (Akkadian), Sumerian Utu, in Mesopotamian religion, the god of the sun, who, with the moon god, Sin (Sumerian: Nanna), and Ishtar (Sumerian: Inanna), the goddess of Venus, was part of an astral triad of divinities. Shamash was the son of Sin.

What was Shamash the god of?

Shamash, as the solar deity, exercised the power of light over darkness and evil. In this capacity he became known as the god of justice and equity and was the judge of both gods and men. (According to legend, the Babylonian king Hammurabi received his code of laws from Shamash.)

How old is Shamash?

The first literary hymns addressed to this god by the name Shamash (Samas) date from c. 2600 BCE, but he was referenced as Utu or Shamash regularly throughout Mesopotamian history from the advent of cuneiform writing (c. 3500 BCE) until its abandonment c. 100 BCE, well over three thousand years.

Who is Enki?

The god Ea (whose Sumerian equivalent was Enki) is one of the three most powerful gods in the Mesopotamian pantheon, along with Anu and Enlil. He resides in the ocean underneath the earth called the abzu (Akkadian apsû), which was an important place in Mesopotamian cosmic geography.

Article first time published on

What is Hammurabi's code?

The Hammurabi code of laws, a collection of 282 rules, established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. Hammurabi’s Code was carved onto a massive, finger-shaped black stone stele (pillar) that was looted by invaders and finally rediscovered in 1901.

What does the Tablet of Shamash say?

Inscription translation: (1) Sin, Shamash and Ishtar are set over against the heavenly ocean (2) within the divine judge. Inscription note: The label clearly refers to the position of the lunar disc, solar disc and eight-pointed star on the stone.

Who is the Mesopotamian god of the arts?

Nabu, the god of art, wisdom, and scribes, was also known as Nisaba in Sumerian mythology. He became famous in Babylon during the first millennium as he was the son of the god Marduk.

What does Shamash mean in Hebrew?

shammash, also spelled shamash or shammas (Hebrew: “servant”), plural shammashim, shamashim, or shammasim, salaried sexton in a Jewish synagogue whose duties now generally include secretarial work and assistance to the cantor, or hazan, who directs the public service.

How is the god Shamash similar to Apollo?

Shamash is depicted as overcoming darkness and death. In the Epic of Gilgamesh he assisted the hero’s victory over the monster Humbaba, guardian of the deep forests of Lebanon. Like the later Apollo, he made his daily journey through the heavens, either on horseback, in a chariot, or on a boat.

What God is Ishtar?

Ishtar, (Akkadian), Sumerian Inanna, in Mesopotamian religion, goddess of war and sexual love. Ishtar is the Akkadian counterpart of the West Semitic goddess Astarte.

Why can Shamash cross the sea?

He asks her how to find Utnapishtim. Siduri tells Gilgamesh that Shamash the sun god crosses the sea every day, but from the beginning of time, no mortal has ever been able to follow him, because the sea is too stormy and treacherous. … She instructs Gilgamesh to return to her if Urshanabi refuses.

Where is Tiamat from?

In music, Tiamat is a Swedish Gothic metal band that formed in Stockholm in 1987.

How was Hammurabi's code written?

It is written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian, purportedly by Hammurabi, sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon. The primary copy of the text is inscribed on a basalt or diorite stele 2.25 m (7 ft 41⁄2 in) tall.

What is Gilgamesh's flaw?

The tragic flaw of Gilgamesh was arrogance. A. He thought he could do anything he want.

What did Shamash do in Enkidus dream?

He also makes a mysterious prediction. Shamash says that once Enkidu is dead Gilgamesh’s grief will make him “don the skin of a lion and roam the wilderness” (7.136-137). Enkidu is so convinced by Shamash’s words that he starts blessing Shamhat instead of cursing her.

Who is Suduri?

Siduri is the tavern keeper who at first bars her door to Gilgamesh and then shares her sensuous, worldly wisdom with him, advising him to cherish the pleasures of this world. … Gilgamesh’s mother Ninsun adopts Enkidu as her son, not only endorsing his friendship to Gilgamesh but also making him Gilgamesh’s brother.

Who is ninhursag?

Ninhursag, also spelled Ninhursaga, (Sumerian) Akkadian Belit-ili, in Mesopotamian religion, city goddess of Adab and of Kish in the northern herding regions; she was the goddess of the stony, rocky ground, the hursag. In particular, she had the power in the foothills and desert to produce wildlife.

Who is the first known god?

Inanna is among the oldest deities whose names are recorded in ancient Sumer. She is listed among the earliest seven divine powers: Anu, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna.

What religion were Sumerians?

The Sumerians were polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods. Each city-state has one god as its protector, however, the Sumerians believed in and respected all the gods. They believed their gods had enormous powers.

Who is the Sumerian god?

Anu, (Akkadian), Sumerian An, Mesopotamian sky god and a member of the triad of deities completed by Enlil and Ea (Enki). Like most sky gods, Anu, although theoretically the highest god, played only a small role in the mythology, hymns, and cults of Mesopotamia.

What are 3 of Hammurabi's code?

3. If a man bears false witness in a case, or does not establish the testimony that he has given, if that case is case involving life, that man shall be put to death. … If a man has stolen goods from a temple, or house, he shall be put to death; and he that has received the stolen property from him shall be put to death.

Why is Hammurabi important?

Hammurabi ruled Babylon from about 1792 to 1750 BCE. He is noted for his surviving set of laws, which were inscribed on a stela in Babylon’s temple of Marduk. Hammurabi’s Code was once considered the oldest promulgation of laws in human history, though older, shorter law collections have since been found.

What are 2 laws from Hammurabi's code?

1. If any one ensnare another, putting a ban upon him, but he can not prove it, then he that ensnared him shall be put to death. 2. If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house.

Who is Marduk god?

Marduk, in Mesopotamian religion, the chief god of the city of Babylon and the national god of Babylonia; as such, he was eventually called simply Bel, or Lord. … Originally, he seems to have been a god of thunderstorms.

What is a sun god tablet?

The Sun God tablet was excavated by Hormuzd Rassam in the late 19th century CE. The upper part of the tablet has a carved panel. … Within the shrine (Ebabbara), the Sun God, wearing a horned headdress, sits on a stool and holds a ringed rod in his right hand.