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Shamash (Akkadian: šamaš) was the ancient Mesopotamian sun god, also known as Utu (Sumerian: d UTU 𒀭𒌓 "Sun"). He was believed to see everything that happened in the world every day, and was therefore responsible for justice and protection of travelers.
Shamash, as the solar deity, exercised the power of light over darkness and evil. In this capacity he became known as the god of justice and equity and was the judge of both gods and men. (According to legend, the Babylonian king Hammurabi received his code of laws from Shamash.)
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- God of Justice
- God of The Sun
- Utu/Shamash in Myth
As the sun sailing across the sky could obviously see everything that transpired on earth, Utu/Shamash was not only the bringer of light but the arbiter of justice. Scholar Jeremy Black notes how Utu/Shamash "represents the brilliant light of the sun which returns every day to illuminate the life of mankind, as well as giving beneficial warmth whic...
Every morning Utu/Shamash emerged from the doors of heaven in the east. Two lesser gods swung wide these doors for him as came forth and stepped into his chariot to ride across the sky toward the west, where two other gods opened their gates for him to enter. He then rested in the underworld until he was awakened by his wife at dawn and went again ...
Most of the myths featuring Utu/Shamash emphasize his kindness and generosity. In the Myth of Etana (which predates the reign of Sargon of Akkad, 2334-2279 BCE), the hero petitions Shamash for aid in helping his wife conceive at the same time that an eagle and a serpent are feuding over ownership of a poplar tree and are also asking for help. The g...
- Joshua J. Mark
Learn about Shamash, the Sumerian sun god who ruled the people of Sumer and dispensed justice and morality. Discover his family, roles, symbols, myths and influence on Hammurabi's Code.
In Mesopotamian religion Shamash was the Akkadian name of the sun god, corresponding to Sumerian Utu. In mythology , Shamash was the son of the moon god Sin (known as Nanna in Sumerian), and thus the brother of the goddess Ishtar (Sumerian: Inanna ), who represented the great "star" of Venus .
Learn about Shamash, the Babylonian sun god of justice and light, who was the son of Sin, the moon god. Discover his role in ancient Mesopotamian culture, his connections with other deities, and his depictions in art and iconography.
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May 14, 2018 · Shamash was the sun god in the mythology of Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria. He was associated with truth, justice, healing, and light, and was the son of the moon god Sin and the brother of Ishtar.
