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Birtum

April 25, 2023

Birtum (𒀭𒁉𒅕𒌈, also spelled Birdu[1]) was a Mesopotamian god who was the husband of Nungal. He was regarded as a deity associated with the underworld.

Birtum
Deified fetters
Personal information
SiblingsŠarrabu
SpouseNungal

Character

Birtum's name means "fetter" or "shackle" in Akkadian, and he was likely a deification of such objects.[2] While the word is grammatically feminine, the deity was regarded as male.[2] A similar word, birdu ("pimple"), is etymologically unrelated to his name.[2]

In god lists he appears in the circle of Nergal as one of the gods associated with the underworld.[2]

Associations with other deities

Birtum was the husband of Nungal, the goddess of prisons.[2] It has been proposed that he was a son of Enlil, as his wife was on occasion addressed as the daughter in law of this god.[3]

His sukkal (attendant deity) was the god Eturammi (also spelled Eturame),[4] whose name means "do not slacken."[5] It is assumed that he was one of the sukkals who were simply personification of specific commands of their masters, similar to Id's sukkal Nēr-ē-tagmil ("kill, do not spare") or Nergal's sukkal Ugur ("destroy").[5]

Birtum could be regarded as a twin brother of the god Šarrab(u), though sometimes the latter is instead paired with Šâbu instead.[6] The former tradition is documented in the god list An = Anum.[6] The names of both Birtum and Šarrabu could be written logographically as dKAL.EDIN, which literally meant "youngster of the steppe" or "strong one of the steppe."[1] Šarrabu itself might mean "cheater" or "slanderer," though other possibilities have also been proposed, including a possible association with the Arabic word sārab, "Fata Morgana." [7] In a single source the names of the pair are explained as "Lugal-irra and Meslamta-ea of MAR.KI"[8]

Worship

Wilfred G. Lambert proposed that originally Birtum was worshiped alongside Nungal in a presently unknown city which declined in the third millennium BCE, which lead to transfer of its tutelary deities to Nippur.[9] A well known example of such a process is the case of Nisaba, whose cult was transferred from Eresh, which disappears from records after the Ur III period, to Nippur.[10]

Mythology

In a late version of the myth of Anzû, Enlil asks his assistant Nuska to summon Birtum.[11] While the fragment in which he explains to Birtum why he needs his help is missing, in the subsequent section of the text he congratulates Ninurta (who he addresses as his lord) on behalf of Enlil and urges him to return the Tablet of Destinies after his defeat of Anzû.[11] Ninurta rebukes him and states that he will keep this item for himself.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Krebernik 2011, p. 70.
  2. ^ a b c d e Cavigneaux & Krebernik 1998, p. 617.
  3. ^ Sjöberg 1973, p. 21.
  4. ^ Litke 1998, p. 187.
  5. ^ a b Wiggermann 1987, p. 22.
  6. ^ a b Krebernik 2016, p. 352.
  7. ^ Krebernik 2011, p. 71.
  8. ^ Krebernik 2011, pp. 70–71.
  9. ^ Lambert 1980, p. 63.
  10. ^ Michalowski 1998, p. 576.
  11. ^ a b Foster 1996, p. 478.
  12. ^ Foster 1996, p. 479.

Bibliography

  • Cavigneaux, Antoine; Krebernik, Manfred (1998), "Nungal", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German), retrieved 2022-02-22
  • Foster, Benjamin (1996). Before the muses: an anthology of Akkadian literature. Potomac, MD: CDL Press. ISBN 1-883053-23-4. OCLC 34149948.
  • Krebernik, Manfred (2011), "Šarrab(u)", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German), retrieved 2022-04-24
  • Krebernik, Manfred (2016), "Zwillingsgottheiten", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German), retrieved 2022-04-24
  • Lambert, Wilfred G. (1980). "The Theology of Death". Death in Mesopotamia. Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag. ISBN 87-500-1946-5. OCLC 7124686.
  • Litke, Richard L. (1998). A reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian god lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu šá Ameli (PDF). New Haven: Yale Babylonian Collection. ISBN 978-0-9667495-0-2. OCLC 470337605.
  • Michalowski, Piotr (1998), "Nisaba A. Philological", Reallexikon der Assyriologie, retrieved 2022-02-22
  • Sjöberg, Åke W. (1973). "Nungal in the Ekur". Archiv für Orientforschung. Archiv für Orientforschung (AfO)/Institut für Orientalistik. 24: 19–46. ISSN 0066-6440. JSTOR 41637722. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  • Wiggermann, Frans A. M. (1987). "The Staff of Ninšubura: Studies in Babylonian Demonology II". Ex Oriente Lux. Brill. 29.

April 25, 2023
birtum, 𒀭𒁉𒅕𒌈, also, spelled, birdu, mesopotamian, husband, nungal, regarded, deity, associated, with, underworld, deified, fetterspersonal, informationsiblingsŠarrabuspousenungal, contents, character, associations, with, other, deities, worship, mythology, ref. Birtum 𒀭𒁉𒅕𒌈 also spelled Birdu 1 was a Mesopotamian god who was the husband of Nungal He was regarded as a deity associated with the underworld BirtumDeified fettersPersonal informationSiblingsSarrabuSpouseNungal Contents 1 Character 2 Associations with other deities 3 Worship 4 Mythology 5 References 5 1 BibliographyCharacter EditBirtum s name means fetter or shackle in Akkadian and he was likely a deification of such objects 2 While the word is grammatically feminine the deity was regarded as male 2 A similar word birdu pimple is etymologically unrelated to his name 2 In god lists he appears in the circle of Nergal as one of the gods associated with the underworld 2 Associations with other deities EditBirtum was the husband of Nungal the goddess of prisons 2 It has been proposed that he was a son of Enlil as his wife was on occasion addressed as the daughter in law of this god 3 His sukkal attendant deity was the god Eturammi also spelled Eturame 4 whose name means do not slacken 5 It is assumed that he was one of the sukkals who were simply personification of specific commands of their masters similar to Id s sukkal Ner e tagmil kill do not spare or Nergal s sukkal Ugur destroy 5 Birtum could be regarded as a twin brother of the god Sarrab u though sometimes the latter is instead paired with Sabu instead 6 The former tradition is documented in the god list An Anum 6 The names of both Birtum and Sarrabu could be written logographically as dKAL EDIN which literally meant youngster of the steppe or strong one of the steppe 1 Sarrabu itself might mean cheater or slanderer though other possibilities have also been proposed including a possible association with the Arabic word sarab Fata Morgana 7 In a single source the names of the pair are explained as Lugal irra and Meslamta ea of MAR KI 8 Worship EditWilfred G Lambert proposed that originally Birtum was worshiped alongside Nungal in a presently unknown city which declined in the third millennium BCE which lead to transfer of its tutelary deities to Nippur 9 A well known example of such a process is the case of Nisaba whose cult was transferred from Eresh which disappears from records after the Ur III period to Nippur 10 Mythology EditIn a late version of the myth of Anzu Enlil asks his assistant Nuska to summon Birtum 11 While the fragment in which he explains to Birtum why he needs his help is missing in the subsequent section of the text he congratulates Ninurta who he addresses as his lord on behalf of Enlil and urges him to return the Tablet of Destinies after his defeat of Anzu 11 Ninurta rebukes him and states that he will keep this item for himself 12 References Edit a b Krebernik 2011 p 70 a b c d e Cavigneaux amp Krebernik 1998 p 617 Sjoberg 1973 p 21 Litke 1998 p 187 a b Wiggermann 1987 p 22 a b Krebernik 2016 p 352 Krebernik 2011 p 71 Krebernik 2011 pp 70 71 Lambert 1980 p 63 Michalowski 1998 p 576 a b Foster 1996 p 478 Foster 1996 p 479 Bibliography Edit Cavigneaux Antoine Krebernik Manfred 1998 Nungal Reallexikon der Assyriologie in German retrieved 2022 02 22 Foster Benjamin 1996 Before the muses an anthology of Akkadian literature Potomac MD CDL Press ISBN 1 883053 23 4 OCLC 34149948 Krebernik Manfred 2011 Sarrab u Reallexikon der Assyriologie in German retrieved 2022 04 24 Krebernik Manfred 2016 Zwillingsgottheiten Reallexikon der Assyriologie in German retrieved 2022 04 24 Lambert Wilfred G 1980 The Theology of Death Death in Mesopotamia Copenhagen Akademisk Forlag ISBN 87 500 1946 5 OCLC 7124686 Litke Richard L 1998 A reconstruction of the Assyro Babylonian god lists AN dA nu um and AN Anu sa Ameli PDF New Haven Yale Babylonian Collection ISBN 978 0 9667495 0 2 OCLC 470337605 Michalowski Piotr 1998 Nisaba A Philological Reallexikon der Assyriologie retrieved 2022 02 22 Sjoberg Ake W 1973 Nungal in the Ekur Archiv fur Orientforschung Archiv fur Orientforschung AfO Institut fur Orientalistik 24 19 46 ISSN 0066 6440 JSTOR 41637722 Retrieved 2022 02 23 Wiggermann Frans A M 1987 The Staff of Ninsubura Studies in Babylonian Demonology II Ex Oriente Lux Brill 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Birtum amp oldid 1124731026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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