Shamash: Mesopotamian God Of Sun, Truth, Justice And Healing
Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Shamash was the Sun god in the mythology of the ancient Near East. He was associated with truth, justice, and healing and was one of the most active gods in the pantheons of ancient Sumer, Babylonia, and Assyria. In Sumer, he was worshipped as the god Utu.
Lapis lazuli cylinder seal. A suppliant goddess (left, with necklace counterweight) stands behind the robed king (center), who pours libation before the ascending sun god, who holds the rod and ring of justice and rests his foot on a rectangular chequered-board mountain. Bur-Dagan, son of Kurub-Adad, inscribed on the seal, is probably the owner's name. From a tomb in Ur, dated c. 1900 BC. BM 121418. Image credit: Zunkir - CC BY-SA 4.0
Shamash was the judge of gods and men.
As a powerful solar deity, Shamash, whose consort was the goddess Aya, 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. At night, Shamash became the judge of the underworld.
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See also:
Mesopotamian God Nabu Inscribed The Human Fates Determined By The Gods
Adapa – Why Did The Wise Apkallu Refuse The Gift Of Immortality?
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