Shamash (deity)
Shamash is the ancient Mesopotamian god of the sun and divine justice, known as Shamash or Samas in Akkadian and Babylonian cultures, and as Utu in Sumerian traditions. Revered as one of the primary deities across various Mesopotamian civilizations, Shamash is depicted as an old man with rays of light emanating from his shoulders, symbolizing his role as a bringer of warmth and illumination. He is associated with justice and is credited in mythology as the divine inspiration behind the Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest legal systems known to humanity.
Shamash's mythological narrative includes driving a fiery chariot across the sky each day, revealing the actions of both mortals and gods, thereby instilling fear in those who commit injustices. He played a significant role in the Epic of Gilgamesh, assisting the hero in his battles and providing guidance. Shamash was worshipped in prominent temples, such as the e-babbar in Sippar, and his legacy influenced later cultures, evolving into figures like the Canaanite goddess Shemesh and the Greek sun god Helios. His multifaceted role as a deity emphasizes themes of justice, light, and divine intervention throughout ancient Mesopotamian literature and religion.
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Subject Terms
Shamash (deity)
Symbol: Aged man, rays of light, chariot, winged solar disk, four-pointed sun
Culture: Mesopotamia
Mother: Ningal
Father: Sin (Nanna)
Siblings: Ishtar (Inanna); Adad (Ishkur); Ereshkigal
Children: Kittu; Misharu; Nusku
Shamash was the ancient Mesopotamian god of the sun and divine justice. He was known as Shamash or Samas to the Akkadians and Babylonians; the Sumerians referred to him as Utu. He was one of the primary deities of many Mesopotamian cultures. According to myth, Shamash drove his fiery chariot across the heavens, bringing light and justice to the world. The Babylonian king Hammurabi credited Shamash with inspiring his famous code of law. The god also appears in the Epic of Gilgamesh as a helpful force who aids the titular hero in a battle against a demon.
Overview
The Sumerian culture is one of the oldest human civilizations in history. The Sumerians inhabited the Mesopotamian region near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern-day Iraq and Kuwait about 5000 BCE. Sumerian writing first mentions the sun god Utu around 3500 BCE. He was said to be born of the moon god Nanna and the goddess Ningal.
The name Shamash was first used to refer to Utu about a thousand years later. This time period corresponds to the rise of the Akkadian culture. The Akkadians were Mesopotamia's first empire. They were based in the city of Akkad, which was believed to be located near the Euphrates River.
To the Akkadians, Nanna was known as Sin. Some Akkadian myths claim the sky god Anu, or the god of the air, Enlil, was the father of Shamash. Shamash was the twin brother of the goddess of war and fertility, Ishtar (Inanna to the Sumerians). Ishtar, Shamash, and Sin were three of the primary deities of many early Mesopotamian religions. Shamash was also the brother of the storm god, Adad (Sumerian Ishkur), and the goddess of the underworld, Ereshkigal. Shamash was married to Aya, goddess of the dawn. Among their children were Kittu, god of justice; Misharu, god of law; and Nusku, god of fire.
Shamash was most often depicted as an old bearded man with rays of light emanating from his shoulders. His symbol was that of a winged solar disk or a sun with four points representing the four directions. Shamash was said to be awoken at dawn each morning by Aya. He then mounted the fiery chariot of the sun and drove through the great gates of heaven in the east. In some myths, he was aided by his loyal coachman Bunene. From his vantage point in the heavens, Shamash not only brought warmth to the world, but also revealed all of the deeds of humans and gods. The light of Shamash was believed to bring fear to the hearts of the unjust. As his day's journey ended, he drove his chariot through the gates of the underworld in the west. At night, Shamash traveled through the underworld, passing judgment on the dead.
In many legends, Shamash is portrayed as a kind, helpful figure who was sought out to aid in disputes, cure illness and curses, and guard travelers and merchants. One myth tells of a hungry eagle that ate the children of a serpent. The serpent went to Shamash to ask for justice in gaining vengeance on the eagle. Shamash devised a plan for the serpent to hide in the body of a dead ox and strike the eagle when the bird came in to feed. The serpent did as Shamash instructed and was able to poison and kill the eagle.
Shamash also played a role in one of the oldest known works of literature, the Epic of Gilgamesh, which was believed written between 2150 and 1400 BCE. The mythical king Gilgamesh and his friend Enkidu set out to battle Humbaba, a fierce demon who lived in the Cedar Forest. Gilgamesh prayed to Shamash who appeared in several dreams promising to aid in the fight. During the battle, Shamash let loose storms from heaven to knock Humbaba off guard, allowing Gilgamesh and Enkidu to defeat him.
Humbaba's death angered the other gods who decided to punish Gilgamesh by killing Enkidu. Shamash argued on their behalf, but Enkidu eventually died. Shamash allowed the grieving Gilgamesh to speak to his friend one last time from the underworld.
Origin & Cults
As Utu, Shamash was worshipped by the Sumerians in the cities of Larsa and Eridu in southern Mesopotamia. The Akkadians built a great temple to Shamash in Sippar, an ancient city located near modern-day Baghdad, Iraq. The temple was called e-babbar, which meant "white house" or "shining house." As a result, Shamash was sometimes referred to by the name Babbar.
The Babylonian king Hammurabi, who ruled from about 1792 to 1750 BCE, claimed he was commanded by Shamash, the "great judge of heaven and earth," to create a code of law to govern his empire. The collection of almost three hundred laws is one of the oldest written legal codes in human history. Scholars believe Hammurabi chose to credit Shamash with inspiring the laws to give his legal code more credibility. Several future Babylonian and Assyrian kings also credited Shamash as the source of their justice.
In the religion of the Canaanites, a people who lived on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the late second millennium BCE, the figure of Shamash is believed to have evolved into Shemesh, a female sun goddess. In Greek mythology, the sun god was known as Helios. Like Shamash, Helios was also said to drive the chariot of the sun across the sky to light the earth. In later myths, the god Apollo is associated with the sun and assigned the duties of heavenly charioteer.
Bibliography
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