Английская Википедия:Isimud
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox deity Isimud (also Isimu;Шаблон:Sfn Шаблон:Lang-akk; Шаблон:Lang-xhuШаблон:Sfn) was a Mesopotamian god regarded as the divine attendant (sukkal) of the god Enki (Ea). He was depicted with two faces. No references to temples dedicated to him are known, though ritual texts indicate he was worshiped in Uruk and Babylon. He was also incorporated into Hurrian religion and Hittite religion. In myths, he appears in his traditional role as a servant of Enki.
Name and character
Isimud (cuneiform: dPAP.SIG7.NUN(.ME), dPAP.SIG7.NUN.ME.EZEN✕KASKAL; glossed i-si-mu in An = Anum) was the sukkal (divine “attendant”) of the god Enki (Ea).Шаблон:Sfn He was also known under the Akkadian name Usmû.Шаблон:Sfn Wilfred G. Lambert has noted that the latter resembles the adjective usumia, “two-faced”, which was used in omen texts, and on this basis concluded that the theonym was understood similarly, presumably through a folk etymology.Шаблон:Sfn A Hurrian form of the name, Izzumi, is also attested.Шаблон:Sfn It was originally considered uncertain if the names Isimud and Ara (dŠA) were two separate deitiesШаблон:Sfn It has been argued that the latter was only his variant name.Шаблон:Sfn However, according to Julia Krul, based on Old Babylonian texts written in the Emesal dialect it can be now concluded that this name originally designated a female deity, who later came to be conflated with Isimud, possibly due to the influence of similar developments pertaining to Ninshubur.Шаблон:Sfn
As a sukkal, Isimud was believed to act as an advisor, messenger and doorkeeper of his master.Шаблон:Sfn However, as noted by Frans Wiggermann, similarly as the sukkals of other major city gods (for example Alammuš or Nuska) he most likely did not originate as a personification of a specific sphere of influence of his master, in contrast with deities such as Nimgir, deified lightning regarded as the sukkal of Ishkur.Шаблон:Sfn
In art, Isimud was depicted as a figure with two faces, either standing alone or in introduction scenes with his master.Шаблон:Sfn While most sukkals can only be identified in art because of their badge of office, a staff, Isimud on the account of his two faces is an exception, and it has been noted that he does not always hold this attribute.Шаблон:Sfn His appearance has been compared to Roman Janus.Шаблон:Sfn Depictions are known from between the Akkadian and Kassite periods.Шаблон:Sfn According to Шаблон:Ill, examples from the earliest period from which certain attestations are available are the most common.Шаблон:Sfn Examples are also known from outside Mesopotamia, from Syria and the Hittite Empire.Шаблон:Sfn
Worship
Attestations of Isimud are available from between the Early Dynastic and Late Assyrian periods.Шаблон:Sfn However, no temples dedicated to him are mentioned in known texts.Шаблон:Sfn
In the first millennium BCE, Isimud received offerings in building rituals.Шаблон:Sfn He was also one of the deities belonging to the local pantheon of Uruk in the Seleucid period.Шаблон:Sfn It is not certain if he was already worshiped in this city in the Neo-Babylonian period,Шаблон:Sfn though this possibility is accepted by Julia Krul.Шаблон:Sfn According to Paul-Alain Beaulieu, the attestations are limited to two possible references in ritual texts, but the reading of the theonym is uncertain.Шаблон:Sfn He speculates that since no references to a separate sanctuary dedicated to him have been identified, he might have been worshiped in the Eanna complex like many other minor deities.Шаблон:Sfn Later on, a cella dedicated to him existed in the Bīt Rēš,Шаблон:Sfn a newly built temple dedicated to Anu and Antu.Шаблон:Sfn It was likely located near the main gate, but as there is no agreement which of the entrances fulfilled this role, two separate rooms discovered during excavations have been identified as Isimud’s dwelling, 48 and 79b (the latter alternatively assumed to be the cella of Kusu).Шаблон:Sfn He might have been regarded as one of the divine guards of the temple complex, alongside Nuska, Papsukkal and Pisangunug.Шаблон:Sfn While absent from legal texts and theophoric names, he is attested in ritual texts.Шаблон:Sfn He is mentioned for example in descriptions of the akītu ceremony.Шаблон:Sfn In this context, he forms a trio with Nuska and Papsukkal.Шаблон:Sfn
Either in the Neo-Babylonian period or later, Isimud was also worshiped in Babylon, and appears in a ritual text in which priests follow him to various temples.Шаблон:Sfn He is mentioned in a text describing a procession taking place on the fourth day of the month Kislīmu, which involved a slave riding on the back of a bull.Шаблон:Sfn
Hurrian and Hittite reception
Isimud was incorporated into the Hurrian pantheon as well.Шаблон:Sfn According to Alfonso Archi, he was received by the Hurrians from Mesopotamia alongside Ea and his wife Damkina.Шаблон:Sfn He was also among the Hurrian deities who were introduced to Hattusa.Шаблон:Sfn Hittites similarly worshiped him alongside Ea.Шаблон:Sfn A single theophoric name invoking him has been identified among the names of princes and officials of the Hittite Empire, in which only four other Hurrian deities, Ḫebat, Šarruma, Šauška and Teššub are otherwise attested.Шаблон:Sfn During the Шаблон:Ill festival, he received offerings of meat and bread, as well as ritual libations.Шаблон:Sfn
Mythology
In myths, Isimud acts as an attendant of Enki (Ea).Шаблон:Sfn He appears in the composition Inanna and Enki, where he informs his master that he handed over the me to the eponymous goddess while he was intoxicated,Шаблон:Sfn and subsequently acts as a messenger, telling Inanna to return the mes to Enki or face the consequences.Шаблон:Snf He also appears in Enki and Ninhursag, where he navigates Enki's boat,Шаблон:Sfn acts as his messenger and emissary,Шаблон:Snf and later cuts the plants Enki subsequently eats.Шаблон:Sfn Further myths he plays a role in include Enki’s Journey to Nippur,Шаблон:Sfn Ninurta and the Turtle,Шаблон:Sfn Enūma Eliš, and Atraḫasīs, where he is tasked with informing the eponymous protagonist about the fate which will befall the world.Шаблон:Sfn He also appears as Enki’s servant in the text The Heron and the Turtle.Шаблон:Sfn While similar to the so-called "debate poems" such as Sheep and Grain, it is instead presumed to be a fable, though the full restoration of the plot is not impossible.Шаблон:Sfn In Hurrian context he appears in the Song of LAMMA, where Ea instructs him to visit the eponymous deity because despite his newfound status as the “King in Heaven” (king of the gods) he did not hold any meetings of the divine assembly.Шаблон:Sfn He also instructs him to go to the “Dark Earth” (the underworld) to bring a message to the deities Nara and Napšara.Шаблон:Sfn
References
Bibliography
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Citation
- Шаблон:Citation
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite journal
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Citation
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Citation
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite book
- Шаблон:Cite journal