Kittum, also known as Niĝgina, was a Mesopotamian goddess who was regarded as the embodiment of truth. She belonged to the circle of the sun god Utu and was associated with law and justice.
Kittum's name means "truth" in Akkadian and she regarded as a divine hypostasis of this concept.[1] Kittum's Sumerian counterpart, Niĝgina, is not attested before the Old Babylonian period, and it possible that the Akkadian name was older, which would make Niĝgina an artificial translation.[1] A possible forerunner to the idea of a goddess embodying truth are proverbs or dialogues copied in scribal schools in which truth was personified.[1] Names with the element niĝgina are already attested in sources from the Ur III period, one example being Niĝginaidug ("truth is good"), but there is no indication that they were necessarily theophoric, and the word is written without the dingir sign which preceded divine names.[1] Kittum could alternatively be equated with another of Utu's courtiers, Nigzida, but the meaning of the latter name was not identical, and terms like "fidelity" or "righteousness" are considered more accurate translations.[1]
Kittum was one of the deities associated with law and justice.[2] She could be invoked in legal texts as a divine witness.[3]
Associations with other deities
There are differences regarding the position of Kittum in Utu's court in known copies of An = Anum.[1] She usually appears as the first of his daughters, but some copies instead refer to her as his sukkal (divine vizier), and one lists Kittum and Niĝgina as two separate deities, with the former referred to as a son and the later as a daughter of Utu.[1] Jacob Klein argues that Kittum was regarded as the sun god's "primary" daughter.[1] One text refers to her as the "beloved daughter of Utu" (dumu kiag dUtu).[1] The deities Mamu and Sisig were regarded as her siblings.[1]
Iqbi-damiq functioned as Kittum's sukkal.[4] Instances of a sukkal having a sukkal of their own, while known, should be regarded as an anomaly according to Richard L. Litke.[5] Iqbi-damiq's name means "she said 'it is fine!'"[6]Wilfred G. Lambert's earlier translation, "he spoke, it is pleasant," presumed Iqbi-damiq was male.[7] However, a text referring to her as a "daughter" is now known.[6] She is also attested in the god list An = Anum and in Šurpu.[7] An illness called "hand of Iqbi-damiq" is mentioned in one medical text alongside "hand of Nanaya" and "hand of Kanisurra."[8]
Worship
Sources from the Old Babylonian period attest the existence of two temples of Kittum, one in Bad-tibira and another in Raḫabu,[9] a settlement located near Larsa.[10] Their ceremonial names are presently unknown,[9] and available documents simply refer to both as ÉdKi-it-tim.[3]
In offering lists from Sippar, Kittum commonly appears alongside Mīšaru, a deity from the circle of Adad who was also associated with justice.[11] In the Neo-Babylonian period both of them were additionally grouped with Ūmu and Dajjānu.[3] It is possible that she was among the deities worshiped in Ebabbar, the temple of Shamash located in this city.[3] Outside Sippar, the pair Kittum and Misharu is also attested in the Takultu ritual from Assur.[3] References to this pair as the "attendants of Ekur" (mazzāz Ekur) are also known from Neo-Assyrian sources.[3]
Theophoric names invoking Kittum are known from Larsa and Ur, two examples being Kittum-lizziz and Apil-Kittum.[3] She is also attested in women's theophoric names from Old Babylonian Mari.[12] She is one of the seven goddesses appearing in names with the element -šimhī, the other six being Annu, Admu, Ishtar, Ishara, Aya and Tabubu.[12] The name Kittum-šimhī can be translated as "Kittum is my joy."[13] She is also one of the Mesopotamian deities who appear in Akkadian theophoric names from Susa from the same period.[14]
George, Andrew R. (1993). House most high: the temples of ancient Mesopotamia. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns. ISBN0-931464-80-3. OCLC 27813103.
George, Andrew R. (2000). "Four Temple Rituals from Babylon". Wisdom, Gods and Literature: Studies in Assyriology in Honour of W. G. Lambert. Eisenbrauns. ISBN978-1-57506-004-0. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
Klein, Jacob (1998), "Niĝgina/Kittum", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German), retrieved 2022-06-12
Krebernik, Manfred (2008), "Richtergott(heiten)", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German), retrieved 2022-06-13
Krebernik, Manfred (2011), "Sonnengott A. I. In Mesopotamien. Philologisch", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German), retrieved 2022-06-13
Lambert, Wilfred G. (1980), "Iqbi-damiq", Reallexikon der Assyriologie, retrieved 2022-06-13
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. ISBN978-0-9667495-0-2. OCLC 470337605.
Nakata, Ichiro (1995). "A Study of Women's Theophoric Personal Names in Old Babylonian Texts from Mari". Orient. The Society for Near Eastern Studies in Japan. 30 and 31: 234–253. doi:10.5356/orient1960.30and31.234. ISSN 1884-1392.
Schwemer, Daniel (2001). Die Wettergottgestalten Mesopotamiens und Nordsyriens im Zeitalter der Keilschriftkulturen: Materialien und Studien nach den schriftlichen Quellen (in German). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN978-3-447-04456-1. OCLC 48145544.
Stol, Marten (1998), "Nanaja", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German), retrieved 2022-06-13
Zadok, Ran (2018). "The Peoples of Elam". The Elamite world. Abingdon, Oxon. ISBN978-1-315-65803-2. OCLC 1022561448.
February 24, 2023
kittum, also, known, niĝgina, mesopotamian, goddess, regarded, embodiment, truth, belonged, circle, associated, with, justice, divine, embodiment, truthother, namesniĝgina, major, cult, centersippar, tibira, raḫabupersonal, informationparentsutu, shamash, ayas. Kittum also known as Niĝgina was a Mesopotamian goddess who was regarded as the embodiment of truth She belonged to the circle of the sun god Utu and was associated with law and justice KittumDivine embodiment of truthOther namesNiĝgina 1 Major cult centerSippar Bad tibira RaḫabuPersonal informationParentsUtu Shamash and AyaSiblingsMamu Sisig Contents 1 Character 2 Associations with other deities 3 Worship 4 References 4 1 BibliographyCharacter EditKittum s name means truth in Akkadian and she regarded as a divine hypostasis of this concept 1 Kittum s Sumerian counterpart Niĝgina is not attested before the Old Babylonian period and it possible that the Akkadian name was older which would make Niĝgina an artificial translation 1 A possible forerunner to the idea of a goddess embodying truth are proverbs or dialogues copied in scribal schools in which truth was personified 1 Names with the element niĝgina are already attested in sources from the Ur III period one example being Niĝginaidug truth is good but there is no indication that they were necessarily theophoric and the word is written without the dingir sign which preceded divine names 1 Kittum could alternatively be equated with another of Utu s courtiers Nigzida but the meaning of the latter name was not identical and terms like fidelity or righteousness are considered more accurate translations 1 Kittum was one of the deities associated with law and justice 2 She could be invoked in legal texts as a divine witness 3 Associations with other deities EditThere are differences regarding the position of Kittum in Utu s court in known copies of An Anum 1 She usually appears as the first of his daughters but some copies instead refer to her as his sukkal divine vizier and one lists Kittum and Niĝgina as two separate deities with the former referred to as a son and the later as a daughter of Utu 1 Jacob Klein argues that Kittum was regarded as the sun god s primary daughter 1 One text refers to her as the beloved daughter of Utu dumu kiag dUtu 1 The deities Mamu and Sisig were regarded as her siblings 1 Iqbi damiq functioned as Kittum s sukkal 4 Instances of a sukkal having a sukkal of their own while known should be regarded as an anomaly according to Richard L Litke 5 Iqbi damiq s name means she said it is fine 6 Wilfred G Lambert s earlier translation he spoke it is pleasant presumed Iqbi damiq was male 7 However a text referring to her as a daughter is now known 6 She is also attested in the god list An Anum and in Surpu 7 An illness called hand of Iqbi damiq is mentioned in one medical text alongside hand of Nanaya and hand of Kanisurra 8 Worship EditSources from the Old Babylonian period attest the existence of two temples of Kittum one in Bad tibira and another in Raḫabu 9 a settlement located near Larsa 10 Their ceremonial names are presently unknown 9 and available documents simply refer to both as E dKi it tim 3 In offering lists from Sippar Kittum commonly appears alongside Misaru a deity from the circle of Adad who was also associated with justice 11 In the Neo Babylonian period both of them were additionally grouped with umu and Dajjanu 3 It is possible that she was among the deities worshiped in Ebabbar the temple of Shamash located in this city 3 Outside Sippar the pair Kittum and Misharu is also attested in the Takultu ritual from Assur 3 References to this pair as the attendants of Ekur mazzaz Ekur are also known from Neo Assyrian sources 3 Theophoric names invoking Kittum are known from Larsa and Ur two examples being Kittum lizziz and Apil Kittum 3 She is also attested in women s theophoric names from Old Babylonian Mari 12 She is one of the seven goddesses appearing in names with the element simhi the other six being Annu Admu Ishtar Ishara Aya and Tabubu 12 The name Kittum simhi can be translated as Kittum is my joy 13 She is also one of the Mesopotamian deities who appear in Akkadian theophoric names from Susa from the same period 14 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Klein 1998 p 311 Krebernik 2008 p 354 a b c d e f g Klein 1998 p 312 Krebernik 2011 p 602 Litke 1998 p 133 a b George 2000 p 298 a b Lambert 1980 p 151 Stol 1998 p 147 a b George 1993 p 168 Horowitz 1998 p 84 Schwemer 2001 p 67 a b Nakata 1995 p 248 Nakata 1995 p 240 Zadok 2018 p 155 Bibliography Edit George Andrew R 1993 House most high the temples of ancient Mesopotamia Winona Lake Eisenbrauns ISBN 0 931464 80 3 OCLC 27813103 George Andrew R 2000 Four Temple Rituals from Babylon Wisdom Gods and Literature Studies in Assyriology in Honour of W G Lambert Eisenbrauns ISBN 978 1 57506 004 0 Retrieved 2022 06 13 Horowitz Wayne 1998 Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography Atlantic Studies Eisenbrauns ISBN 978 0 931464 99 7 Retrieved 2022 06 12 Klein Jacob 1998 Niĝgina Kittum Reallexikon der Assyriologie in German retrieved 2022 06 12 Krebernik Manfred 2008 Richtergott heiten Reallexikon der Assyriologie in German retrieved 2022 06 13 Krebernik Manfred 2011 Sonnengott A I In Mesopotamien Philologisch Reallexikon der Assyriologie in German retrieved 2022 06 13 Lambert Wilfred G 1980 Iqbi damiq Reallexikon der Assyriologie retrieved 2022 06 13 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 Nakata Ichiro 1995 A Study of Women s Theophoric Personal Names in Old Babylonian Texts from Mari Orient The Society for Near Eastern Studies in Japan 30 and 31 234 253 doi 10 5356 orient1960 30and31 234 ISSN 1884 1392 Schwemer Daniel 2001 Die Wettergottgestalten Mesopotamiens und Nordsyriens im Zeitalter der Keilschriftkulturen Materialien und Studien nach den schriftlichen Quellen in German Wiesbaden Harrassowitz ISBN 978 3 447 04456 1 OCLC 48145544 Stol Marten 1998 Nanaja Reallexikon der Assyriologie in German retrieved 2022 06 13 Zadok Ran 2018 The Peoples of Elam The Elamite world Abingdon Oxon ISBN 978 1 315 65803 2 OCLC 1022561448 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kittum amp oldid 1118148462, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
