Nabu: Difference between revisions

Nabu
Nabu
God of wisdom and writing
	Statue of the Attendant God from the Temple of Nabu at Nimrud, Mesopotamia on display at the British Museum.
Abode	Borsippa
Symbol	Clay tablet and stylus
Parents	Marduk and Sarpanitum
Consort	Tashmetum and Nissaba

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 22:13, 22 November 2015

Lee Lawrie, *Nabu* (1939). Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C.

Nabu (in Biblical Hebrew Nebo נבו^[1]) is the Assyrian and Babylonian god of wisdom and writing, worshipped by Babylonians as Marduk and Sarpanitum's son and as Ea's grandson. Nabu's consorts were Tashmetum and Nissaba.

Etymology

Nabu's name is derived from the Semitic root nb´, meaning "to name/designate", "announcer/herald", and "the one who is named/designated".^[2]

History

Nabu was originally a West Semitic deity from Ebla whose cult was introduced to Mesopotamia by the Amorites after 2000 BCE.^[2]^[3] Nabu was assimilated into Marduk's cult, where he became known as Marduk's minister, Marduk's son with Sarpanitum, and co-regent of the Mesopotamian pantheon.^[2]

Nabu resided in his temple of Ezida in Borsippa and had several temples devoted to him throughout Assyria, while his cult spread to Egypt and Anatolia due to Aramaic settlers.^[2]^[4] Due to his role as Marduk's minister and scribe, Nabu became the god of wisdom and writing,^[5] taking over the role from the Sumerian goddess Nisaba.^[2] Nabu became one of the principal gods in Assyria as Assyrians addressed many prayers and inscriptions to Nabu and named children after him.^[3] He was also the keeper of the Tablets of Destiny, which recorded the fate of mankind.^[2] His symbols are the clay tablet and stylus.^[4]

Nabu's consorts were the Akkadian goddess Tashmetum and the Assyrian Nissaba.^[4] He wears a horned cap, and stands with his hands clasped, in the ancient gesture of priesthood.^{[citation needed]} He rides on a winged dragon known as Sirrush which originally belonged to his father Marduk.^{[citation needed]} During the Babylonian New Year Festival, the cult statue of Nabu was transported from Borsippa to Babylon in order to commune with his father Marduk.^{[citation needed]}

In Babylonian astrology, Nabu was identified with the planet Mercury.^[2]

Outside Mesopotamia

In the Bible, Nabu is mentioned as Nebo in Isaiah 46:1 and Jeremiah 48:1.^[6]^[7]

As the god of wisdom and writing, Nabu was identified by the Greeks with Hermes, by the Romans with Mercury, and by the Egyptians with Thoth.^{[citation needed]}

Depictions

A statue of Nabu from Calah, erected during the reign of the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III, is on display in the British Museum.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ Arie Uittenbogaard for Abarim Publications. "Nebo | The amazing name Nebo: meaning and etymology". Abarim-publications.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses – Nabu (god)". Oracc.museum.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
^ ^a ^b "Nabu – Myth Encyclopedia – mythology, god, ancient, children". Mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
^ ^a ^b ^c Editors, The. "Nabu | Babylonian deity". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ Editors, The (2015-06-25). "Calah | ancient city, Iraq". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2015-07-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ "Isaiah 46:1 NIV – Gods of Babylon – Bel bows down, Nebo". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
^ "Jeremiah 48:1 NIV - A Message About Moab - Concerning Moab". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2015-07-02.

External links

[1] Arie Uittenbogaard for Abarim Publications. "Nebo | The amazing name Nebo: meaning and etymology". Abarim-publications.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.

[oracc-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses – Nabu (god)". Oracc.museum.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-23.

[mythencyclopedia-3] "Nabu – Myth Encyclopedia – mythology, god, ancient, children". Mythencyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2010-12-24.

[britannica-4] Editors, The. "Nabu | Babylonian deity". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)

[5] Editors, The (2015-06-25). "Calah | ancient city, Iraq". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2015-07-09. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)

[6] "Isaiah 46:1 NIV – Gods of Babylon – Bel bows down, Nebo". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2015-06-23.

[7] "Jeremiah 48:1 NIV - A Message About Moab - Concerning Moab". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2015-07-02.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Etymology==
-Nabu's name is derived from the Semitic [[triliteral|root]] ''nb´'', meaning "to name/designate", "announcer/herald", "the one who is named/designated", "to call", and "to proclaim".<ref name="oracc">{{cite web|url=http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/nabu/ |title=Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses – Nabu (god) |publisher=Oracc.museum.upenn.edu |date= |accessdate=2015-06-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Jeffers|first1=Ann|title=Magic and Divination in Ancient Palestine and Syria|date=1996|publisher=Brill|location=Leiden|isbn=9789004105133|page=82|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=QaT1tVK0uZIC&pg=PA82&dq=nabu&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MjSTVarHBMH3UsagmfgI&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=nabu&f=false|accessdate=1 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="dictionary">{{cite book|last1=Leick|first1=Gwendolyn|title=A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology|date=1998|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=0415198119|pages=123-124|edition=[1. pbk. ed.].|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=_pqEAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=nabu+babylonian+god&source=bl&ots=82M3e2HZ1e&sig=LX7Ws81pg1x4dWm9TvmfU3VYVNo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RVSdVcoNgYBRxL66qAs&ved=0CDIQ6AEwBTge#v=onepage&q=nabu%20babylonian%20god&f=false|accessdate=8 July 2015}}</ref>
+Nabu's name is derived from the Semitic [[triliteral|root]] ''nb´'', meaning "to name/designate", "announcer/herald", and "the one who is named/designated".<ref name="oracc">{{cite web|url=http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/nabu/ |title=Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses – Nabu (god) |publisher=Oracc.museum.upenn.edu |date= |accessdate=2015-06-23}}</ref>
 ==History==
-Nabu was originally a West Semitic [[deity]] from [[Ebla]] whose cult was introduced to [[Mesopotamia]] by the [[Amorites]] after 2000 BCE.<ref name="oracc"/><ref name="dictionary"/><ref name="mythencyclopedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Nabu.html |title=Nabu – Myth Encyclopedia – mythology, god, ancient, children |publisher=Mythencyclopedia.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-24}}</ref> Nabu was assimilated into Marduk's cult, where he became known as Marduk's minister, Marduk's son with Sarpanitum, and co-regent of the Mesopotamian pantheon.<ref name="oracc"/><ref name="dictionary"/>
+Nabu was originally a West Semitic [[deity]] from [[Ebla]] whose cult was introduced to [[Mesopotamia]] by the [[Amorites]] after 2000 BCE.<ref name="oracc"/><ref name="mythencyclopedia">{{cite web|url=http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Mi-Ni/Nabu.html |title=Nabu – Myth Encyclopedia – mythology, god, ancient, children |publisher=Mythencyclopedia.com |date= |accessdate=2010-12-24}}</ref> Nabu was assimilated into Marduk's cult, where he became known as Marduk's minister, Marduk's son with Sarpanitum, and co-regent of the Mesopotamian pantheon.<ref name="oracc"/>
-Nabu resided in his temple of Ezida in [[Borsippa]] and had several temples devoted to him throughout Assyria, while his cult spread to [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] and [[Anatolia]] due to [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] settlers.<ref name="oracc"/><ref name="dictionary"/><ref name="britannica">{{cite web|last=Editors |first=The |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/401331/Nabu |title=Nabu &#124; Babylonian deity |publisher=Britannica.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-23}}</ref> Due to his role as Marduk's minister and scribe, Nabu became the god of wisdom and writing,<ref name="ancientworld">{{cite book|last1=Rostovtzeff|first1=M.|title=A History of the Ancient World|date=1926|publisher=Biblo Moser|location=[Cheshire, CT]|isbn=0819621625|page=16|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3de6tnudv3sC&pg=PA165&dq=Nabu+%22god+of+knowledge%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y9CaVdOyM4rU7AaGhaDYBA&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Nabu%20%22god%20of%20knowledge%22&f=false|accessdate=6 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Editors |first=The |url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Calah |title=Calah &#124; ancient city, Iraq |publisher=Britannica.com |date=2015-06-25 |accessdate=2015-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/nimrud/ancientkalhu/thecity/nabustemple/index.html |title=Nimrud: Materialities of Assyrian Knowledge Production - Ezida, the god Nabu's temple of scholarship |publisher=Oracc.museum.upenn.edu |date= |accessdate=2015-07-09}}</ref> (including all works of science, religion and [[magic and religion|magic]]) taking over the role from the [[Ancient Mesopotamian religion|Sumerian]] goddess [[Nisaba]].<ref name="dictionary"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/articles/s/scribes_in_ancient_mesopotamia.aspx |title=Scribes in ancient Mesopotamia |publisher=British Museum |date= |accessdate=2015-07-06}}</ref> Nabu became one of the principal gods in Assyria as Assyrians addressed many prayers and inscriptions to Nabu and named children after him.<ref name="mythencyclopedia"/>
+Nabu resided in his temple of Ezida in [[Borsippa]] and had several temples devoted to him throughout Assyria, while his cult spread to [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] and [[Anatolia]] due to [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] settlers.<ref name="oracc"/><ref name="britannica">{{cite web|last=Editors |first=The |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/401331/Nabu |title=Nabu &#124; Babylonian deity |publisher=Britannica.com |date= |accessdate=2015-06-23}}</ref> Due to his role as Marduk's minister and scribe, Nabu became the god of wisdom and writing,<ref>{{cite web|last=Editors |first=The |url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Calah |title=Calah &#124; ancient city, Iraq |publisher=Britannica.com |date=2015-06-25 |accessdate=2015-07-09}}</ref> taking over the role from the [[Ancient Mesopotamian religion|Sumerian]] goddess [[Nisaba]].<ref name="oracc"/> Nabu became one of the principal gods in Assyria as Assyrians addressed many prayers and inscriptions to Nabu and named children after him.<ref name="mythencyclopedia"/> He was also the keeper of the Tablets of Destiny, which recorded the [[Destiny|fate]] of mankind.<ref name="oracc"/> His symbols are the clay tablet and stylus.<ref name="britannica"/>
-Nabu was also worshipped as a god of fertility, a god of water, and a god of vegetation.<ref name="mythencyclopedia"/><ref name="britannica"/> He was also the keeper of the Tablets of Destiny, which recorded the [[Destiny|fate]] of mankind<ref name="oracc"/> and allowed him to increase or diminish the length of human [[life]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}} His symbols are the clay tablet and stylus.<ref name="britannica"/>
 Nabu's consorts were the Akkadian goddess Tashmetum and the Assyrian Nissaba.<ref name="britannica"/> He wears a horned cap, and stands with his hands clasped, in the ancient gesture of priesthood.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}} He rides on a winged [[dragon]] known as Sirrush which originally belonged to his father Marduk.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}} During the Babylonian New Year Festival, the cult statue of Nabu was transported from Borsippa to Babylon in order to commune with his father Marduk.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}}
@@ Line 56: / Line 54: @@
 {{Authority control}}
-[[Category:Agricultural gods]]
 [[Category:Creators of writing systems]]
 [[Category:Deities in the Hebrew Bible]]
-[[Category:Fertility gods]]
 [[Category:Knowledge gods]]
 [[Category:Magic gods]]
 [[Category:Mesopotamian gods]]
-[[Category:Messenger gods]]
 [[Category:Time and fate gods]]
-[[Category:Water gods]]
 [[Category:Wisdom gods]]
 [[Category:Scribes|*|NNN]]

Authority control databases
International	VIAF 2
National	France BnF data Germany United States
Other	IdRef