The mušḫuššu (𒈲𒍽; formerly also read as sirrušu or sirrush) or mushkhushshu (pronounced[muʃxuʃʃu] or [musxussu]) is a creature from ancient Mesopotamian mythology. A mythological hybrid, it is a scaly animal with hind legs resembling the talons of an eagle, lion-like forelimbs, a long neck and tail, two horns on its head, a snake-like tongue, and a crest. The mušḫuššu most famously appears on the Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylon, dating to the sixth century BCE.
The form mušḫuššu is the Akkadian nominative of Sumerian: 𒈲𒍽 MUŠ.ḪUŠ, 'reddish snake', sometimes also translated as 'fierce snake'.[2] One author,[3] possibly following others, translates it as 'splendour serpent' (𒈲 MUŠ is the Sumerian term for 'serpent'). The older reading sir-ruššu is due to a mistransliteration of the cuneiform in early Assyriology[4] and was often used as a placeholder before the actual reading was discovered.[5]
Mušḫuššu already appears in Sumerian religion and art, as in the "Libation vase of Gudea", dedicated to Ningishzida by the Sumerian ruler Gudea (21st century BCE short chronology).[1][6]
The mušḫuššu was the sacred animal of Marduk and his son Nabu during the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The dragon Mušḫuššu, whom Marduk once vanquished, became his symbolic animal and servant.[7] It was taken over by Marduk from Tishpak, the local god of Eshnunna.[8]
The constellation Hydra was known in Babylonian astronomical texts as Bašmu, 'the Serpent' (𒀯𒈲, MUL.dMUŠ). It was depicted as having the torso of a fish, the tail of a snake, the forepaws of a lion, the hind legs of an eagle, wings, and a head comparable to the mušḫuššu.[9][10]
9th century BCE depiction of the Statue of Marduk, with his servant dragon Mušḫuššu at his feet. This was Marduk's main cult image in Babylon.
Late Assyrian seal from the 8th century BCE showing a worshipper between Nabu and Marduk, standing on their servant dragon Mušḫuššu.
^"The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature". The ETCSL project, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2014-08-25.
^Costello, Peter (1974). In Search of Lake Monsters. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan. ISBN9780698106130 – via Internet Archive.
^Oppenheim, A. Leo; Reiner, Erica, eds. (1977). The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago(PDF). Vol. 10: M, Part II. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Oriental Institute. p. 270. ISBN0-918986-16-8.
^Ceram, C. W. (1967). Gods, Graves, and Scholars: The Story of Archaeology. Translated by Garside, E. B.; Wilkins, Sophie (2nd ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. p. 294.
^Wiggermann, F. A. M. (1992). Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts. Brill Publishers. p. 168. ISBN978-90-72371-52-2.
^Wiggermann, F. A. M. (1992). Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts. Brill Publishers. p. 157. ISBN978-90-72371-52-2.
^Bienkowski, Piotr; Millard, Alan Ralph (2000). Dictionary of the Ancient Near East. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 189. ISBN978-0-8122-3557-9.
^Wiggerman, F. A. M. (1 January 1997). "Transtigridian Snake Gods". In Finkel, I. L.; Geller, M. J. (eds.). Sumerian Gods and their Representations. Cuneiform Monographs. Vol. 7. Groningen, Netherlands: Styx Publications. pp. 34–35. ISBN978-90-56-93005-9.
^E. Weidner, Gestirn-Darstellungen auf Babylonischen Tontafeln (1967) Plates IX–X.
mušḫuššu, mušḫuššu, 𒈲𒍽, formerly, also, read, sirrušu, sirrush, mushkhushshu, pronounced, muʃxuʃʃu, musxussu, creature, from, ancient, mesopotamian, mythology, mythological, hybrid, scaly, animal, with, hind, legs, resembling, talons, eagle, lion, like, foreli. The musḫussu 𒈲𒍽 formerly also read as sirrusu or sirrush or mushkhushshu pronounced muʃxuʃʃu or musxussu is a creature from ancient Mesopotamian mythology A mythological hybrid it is a scaly animal with hind legs resembling the talons of an eagle lion like forelimbs a long neck and tail two horns on its head a snake like tongue and a crest The musḫussu most famously appears on the Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylon dating to the sixth century BCE Musḫussu𒈲𒍽Musḫussu holding a gate post on a vase of Gudea c 2100 BCE Louvre Museum 1 GroupingMythological hybridFolkloreBabylonian mythologyOther name s SirrushRegionMesopotamia Musḫussu bas relief in the Pergamon Museum The form musḫussu is the Akkadian nominative of Sumerian 𒈲𒍽 MUS ḪUS reddish snake sometimes also translated as fierce snake 2 One author 3 possibly following others translates it as splendour serpent 𒈲 MUS is the Sumerian term for serpent The older reading sir russu is due to a mistransliteration of the cuneiform in early Assyriology 4 and was often used as a placeholder before the actual reading was discovered 5 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Notes 5 External linksHistory editMusḫussu already appears in Sumerian religion and art as in the Libation vase of Gudea dedicated to Ningishzida by the Sumerian ruler Gudea 21st century BCE short chronology 1 6 The musḫussu was the sacred animal of Marduk and his son Nabu during the Neo Babylonian Empire The dragon Musḫussu whom Marduk once vanquished became his symbolic animal and servant 7 It was taken over by Marduk from Tishpak the local god of Eshnunna 8 The constellation Hydra was known in Babylonian astronomical texts as Basmu the Serpent 𒀯𒈲 MUL dMUS It was depicted as having the torso of a fish the tail of a snake the forepaws of a lion the hind legs of an eagle wings and a head comparable to the musḫussu 9 10 nbsp 9th century BCE depiction of the Statue of Marduk with his servant dragon Musḫussu at his feet This was Marduk s main cult image in Babylon nbsp Late Assyrian seal from the 8th century BCE showing a worshipper between Nabu and Marduk standing on their servant dragon Musḫussu nbsp Head of dragon dating from the Neo Babylonian Empire 626 BCE 539 BCE from the Louvre Museum s collectionSee also edit nbsp Asia portal Ningishzida Set animalReferences edit a b Wiggermann F A M 1992 Mesopotamian Protective Spirits The Ritual Texts Brill Publishers p 156 ISBN 978 90 72371 52 2 The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature The ETCSL project Faculty of Oriental Studies University of Oxford 2006 12 19 Retrieved 2014 08 25 Costello Peter 1974 In Search of Lake Monsters Coward McCann amp Geoghegan ISBN 9780698106130 via Internet Archive Oppenheim A Leo Reiner Erica eds 1977 The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago PDF Vol 10 M Part II Chicago IL University of Chicago Oriental Institute p 270 ISBN 0 918986 16 8 Ceram C W 1967 Gods Graves and Scholars The Story of Archaeology Translated by Garside E B Wilkins Sophie 2nd ed New York Alfred A Knopf p 294 Wiggermann F A M 1992 Mesopotamian Protective Spirits The Ritual Texts Brill Publishers p 168 ISBN 978 90 72371 52 2 Wiggermann F A M 1992 Mesopotamian Protective Spirits The Ritual Texts Brill Publishers p 157 ISBN 978 90 72371 52 2 Bienkowski Piotr Millard Alan Ralph 2000 Dictionary of the Ancient Near East University of Pennsylvania Press p 189 ISBN 978 0 8122 3557 9 Wiggerman F A M 1 January 1997 Transtigridian Snake Gods In Finkel I L Geller M J eds Sumerian Gods and their Representations Cuneiform Monographs Vol 7 Groningen Netherlands Styx Publications pp 34 35 ISBN 978 90 56 93005 9 E Weidner Gestirn Darstellungen auf Babylonischen Tontafeln 1967 Plates IX X Notes edit1 Similar to the Set animal in Egyptian mythology and the Qilin in Chinese mythology External links editThe Excavations at Babylon nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mushussu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Musḫussu amp oldid 1213823902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
