Английская Википедия:Hendursaga
Hendursaga (Шаблон:Cuneiform, Dḫendur-saŋ),[1] also spelled HendursangaШаблон:Sfn or Endursaga[2] (Шаблон:Cuneiform, Dḫendur-saŋ-ŋa2) was a Mesopotamian god. He was regarded as a divine night watchman. He was commonly associated with the goddess Nanshe. In a number of god lists, he was equated with the similar Akkadian god Ishum.
Character
The etymology of the name Hendursaga is uncertain, though it is possible it was related to his functions and can be translated from Sumerian as "torch (or staff) bearer who goes in front."Шаблон:Sfn The word ḫendur is otherwise unattested, but it is assumed that it is related to Akkadian ḫuṭāru, a type of staff.Шаблон:Sfn
Hendursaga was a divine watchman.Шаблон:Sfn He has been characterized as a "protective god with friendly face."Шаблон:Sfn Attested epithets attributed only to him include "chief herald," "watchman of the street," and "lamp of the people," applied only to him, as well as "chief herald," "high constable," "herald of the silent street," and "herald of the silent night," and "hero who goes about at night," shared with Ishum.Шаблон:Sfn The text Marduk's address to demons refers to him as "the god who wanders the thoroughfares."Шаблон:Sfn According to Andrew R. George, the word nimgir/nāgiru, present in many of these epithets, which is conventionally translated as "herald." in this context should be understood as "constable," "town cryer" or "night watchman."Шаблон:Sfn
Associations with other deities
Starting in the Old Babylonian period, Hendursaga came to be equated with Ishum in bilingual contexts, with the former appearing in Sumerian and the latter in Akkadian formulas.Шаблон:Sfn They were also equated with each other in the Weidner and Nippur god lists,Шаблон:Sfn and it is possible that such an equation is also attested in a copy of An = Anum, though due to state of preservation and possible scribal errors this is uncertain.Шаблон:Sfn Another god closely related to both of them was Engidudu, who was the divine guardian of the Tabira Gate in the city of Assur.Шаблон:Sfn In the Epic of Erra, Engidudu is used as an alternate name of Ishum.Шаблон:Sfn
Hendursaga was also closely associated with Nanshe.Шаблон:Sfn According to a hymn dedicated to him, she bestowed his functions, as well as his insignia, a staff (or perhaps a torch) upon him.Шаблон:Sfn Hendursaga was also believed to serve as her advisor and cooperate with her steward Enniglulu.Шаблон:Sfn
In a hymn to Nanshe, Hendursaga is called a son of Utu.Шаблон:Sfn
It is possible that in the third millennium BCE, his wife was Dumuziabzu, the tutelary goddess of Kinunir (Kinirsha), a city in the state of Lagash, though in that period family relations between deities were often particularly fluid or uncertain.Шаблон:Sfn In a later tradition his wife was Ninmug, a goddess of crafts and birth from Kisiga.Шаблон:Sfn This was a secondary development based on the equivalence between him and Ishum, whose spouse Ninmug usually was.Шаблон:Sfn
In a Sumerian hymn to Hendursaga, he is stated as being assisted by three groups of seven attendants.Шаблон:Sfn This first group of seven is described in detail in the hymn. They were known as "warriors", and it is theorized that this heptad is related to the Sebitti heptad which developed in later times.Шаблон:Sfn It is unclear if they are animal hybrids, or instead magical animals.Шаблон:Sfn Each is associated with one specific creature: A fox, dog, two birds (one described as pecking at insects, possibly a raven, the other huge vulture, devouring carrion), wolf, nin-imma bird (probably an owl) and a shark.Шаблон:Sfn
Worship
Hendursaga was one of the deities chiefly associated with the area controlled by the state of Lagash.Шаблон:Sfn
A chapel of Hendursaga might had existed in Ur, next to one possibly dedicated to Ninshubur.Шаблон:Sfn Identification of both of these sanctuaries is based on inscribed mace heads found during excavations.Шаблон:Sfn However, it has also been argued that these objects might have no cultic function.Шаблон:Sfn
According to a hymn dedicated to Hendursaga, it was believed that lighting a torch and invoking his name guaranteed safe passage through city streets at night.Шаблон:Sfn An incantation implores him for protection from demons, including galla, maškim, udug and "evil lamma."Шаблон:Sfn While the lamma was normally understood as a type of benevolent protective minor goddess,Шаблон:Sfn multiple references to "evil lamma" (dlama hul) are also known, though they are uncommon.Шаблон:Sfn An "evil lamma" is listed in a similar enumeration of demons in a text dedicated to the medicine goddess Ninisina.Шаблон:Sfn
References
Bibliography
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Cite journal
External links
- ↑ Шаблон:Cite web
- ↑ Michael Jordan, Encyclopedia of Gods, p. 75, Facts on File, 1993 Шаблон:ISBN
