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I recommend checking sources newer than 1901 every now and then. Lahmu is not Lammassu (whose name is related to lamma - minor servant goddesses - instead) nor is he a star god. Rewrote the article, added sources.
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{{short description|Mesopotamian apotropaic figure}}
{{Infobox deity|type=mesopotamian|image=Lahmu, Nineveh, 900-612 BCE.jpg|caption=Lahmu, the protective spirit from Nineveh, 900-612 BCE, Mesopotamia. [[British Museum]].|children=[[Anshar]] and [[Kishar]]|parents=[[Abzu]] and [[Tiamat]]|consort=sister [[Lahamu]]}}{{Mesopotamian myth|expanded=1}}
{{Infobox deity|type=mesopotamian|image=Lahmu, Nineveh, 900-612 BCE.jpg|caption=Lahmu, the protective spirit from Nineveh, 900-612 BCE, Mesopotamia. [[British Museum]].|children=[[Anshar]] and [[Kishar]] (Enuma Elish) or [[Alalu|Alala]] and Belili (Anu theogony)|parents=[[Abzu]] and [[Tiamat]] (Enuma Elish) or Anu's ancestors such as Dari and Duri (Anu theogony)|consort=his sister [[Lahamu]] (Enuma Elish)}}{{Mesopotamian myth|expanded=1}}


'''Laḫmu''' ("hairy one") is a class of [[apotropaic]] creatures from [[Mesopotamian mythology]]. While the name has its origin in a [[Semitic languages|Semitic]] language, Lahmu was present in [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] sources in pre-[[Sargon of Akkad|Sargonic]] times already.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 164-165</ref>
'''Laḫmu''' (also called '''Lakhmu''', '''Lache''', '''Lumasi''' or Assyro-Akkadian [[Lammasu]]) is a deity from [[Akkadian literature#Mythology|Akkadian mythology]] that represents the zodiac, parent stars, or constellations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hewitt|first1=J.F.|title=History and Chronology of the Myth-Making Age|page=85}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=W. King|first1=Leonard|title=Enuma Elish Vol 1 & 2: The Seven Tablets of Creation; The Babylonian and Assyrian Legends Concerning the Creation of the World and of Mankind|page=78}}</ref>


== Iconography and character ==
== Mythology ==
Laḫmu is depicted as a bearded man wearing a red garment (''tillû'')<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 54</ref> and usually with six curls on his head.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. xiii</ref> Some texts mention a [[spade]] as the attribute of Lahmu.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 49; 86</ref> The artistic representations are sometimes called "naked hero" in literature.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. xi</ref>


Lahmu were associated with water. They were generally believed to be servants of [[Enki]]/Ea (and later on of his son [[Marduk]] as well), and were described as the doorkeepers of his temple in [[Eridu]] and possibly as the "guardians of the sea" known from some versions of [[Atra-hasis]]. Some texts list as many as 50 Lahmu in such roles. It's possible they were originally river spirits believed to take care of animals, both domestic and wild.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 164-166</ref>
Lahmu, meaning parent star or constellation, is the name of a protective and beneficent deity, the first-born son of [[Abzu]] and [[Tiamat]]. He and his sister [[Lahamu|Laḫamu]] are the parents of [[Anshar]] and [[Kishar]], the [[sky father]] and [[earth mother]], who birthed the gods of the Mesopotamian Pantheon. Laḫmu is depicted as a bearded man with a red sash – usually with three strands – and four to six curls on his head and they are also depicted as monsters, which each encompasses a specific constellation. He is often associated with the [[Kusarikku]] or "Bull-Man". In Sumerian times Laḫmu may have meant "the muddy one". Lahmu guarded the gates of the [[Abzu]] temple of [[Enki]] at [[Eridu]]. He and his sister Laḫamu are primordial deities in the Babylonian Epic of Creation [[Enuma Elis]] and Lahmu may be related to or identical with "Lahamu", one of Tiamat's creatures in that epic.


Apotropaic creatures such as Lahmu weren't regarded as demonic, and in fact protected the household from demons, though myths may depict them as defeated and subsequently reformed enemies of the gods. At the same time, they weren't viewed as fully divine, as their names were rarely, if ever, preceded by the [[dingir]] sign ("divine determinative") and they do not wear horned tiaras (a symbol of divinity) in art.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 165</ref>
Some scholars, such as [[William F. Albright]],{{fact|date=April 2014}} have speculated that the name of [[Bethlehem]] ("house of ''lehem''") originally referred to a Canaanite fertility deity cognate with Laḫmu and [[Lahamu|Laḫamu]], rather than to the Canaanite word ''lehem'', "bread".<ref>[http://www.bethlehem.custodia.org/default.asp?id=434 "The name"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143841/http://www.bethlehem.custodia.org/default.asp?id=434 |date=2014-04-13 }}, ''Sanctuary Bethlehem'', © Gerusalemme San Salvatore Convento Francescano St. Saviour's Monastery. Retrieved 2014-04-09.</ref> See ''[[Bethlehem#Canaanite period|Bethlehem]]''.

In apotropaic rituals Lahmu was associated with other monsters, for example [[Mushussu]], [[Bashmu]] (a type of mythical snake), [[Kusarikku]] (bison-men associated with [[Shamash]]) or [[Ugallu]].<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 143-145</ref>

== As a cosmological being ==
In god lists a singular Lahmu sometimes appears among the ancestors of [[Anu (god)|Anu]], alongside a feminine counterpart ([[Lahamu]]), following the primordial pair Duri and Dari (eternity) and other such figures and preceding [[Alalu|Alala]] and Belili.<ref>[[W. G. Lambert]], ''Babylonian Creation Myths'', 2013, p. 424</ref> Assyriolgist Frans Wiggermann, who specializes in the study of origins and development of Mesopotamian apotropaic creatures and demons, assumes that this tradition had its origin in northern Mesopotamia.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 154-155</ref> Lahmu and Lahamu aren't necessarily siblings in this context. Long lists of divine ancestors of [[Enlil]] or Anu from some god lists were at least sometimes meant to indicate that the gods worshiped by the Mesopotamians weren't the product of incestous relationships.<ref>[[W. G. Lambert]], ''[https://ancientstudies.harvard.edu/files/ancientstudies/files/theogony_of_dunnu_edition_lambert_mc_16_01.pdf Theogony of Dunnu]'' [in:] ''Babylonian Creation Myths'', 2013, p. 389: "The history of these two [theogonies] shows that steps were sometimes taken quite specifically to avoid the implication of incest, which was socially taboo."</ref>

In [[Enuma Elish]], compiled at a later date and relying on the aforementioned tradition, Lahmu is the first-born son of [[Abzu]] and [[Tiamat]]. He and his sister [[Lahamu|Laḫamu]] are the parents of [[Anshar]] and [[Kishar]], parents of Anu and thus ancestors of Ea and Marduk according to this specific theogony.<ref>[[W. G. Lambert]], ''Babylonian Creation Myths'', 2013, p. 417</ref> Both of them bestow 3 names upon Marduk after his victory.<ref>[[W. G. Lambert]], ''Babylonian Creation Myths'', 2013, p. 119</ref> However, Lahmu - presumably of the same variety as the apotropaic rather than cosmological one - also appears among Tiamat's monsters.<ref>F. Wiggermann, [https://www.academia.edu/2393340/Mesopotamian_Protective_Spirits_The_Ritual_Texts ''Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts''], 1992, p. 145-150</ref>

A fragmentary Assyrian rewrite of Enuma Elish replaced Marduk with [[Ashur (god)|Ashur]], equated with [[Anshar]], with Lahmu and Lahamu replacing Ea/Enki and [[Damkina]]. [[Wilfred G. Lambert]] described the result as "completely superficial in that it leaves the plot in chaos by attributing
Marduk's part to his great-grandfather, without making any attempt to iron out the resulting confusion."<ref>[[W. G. Lambert]], ''Babylonian Creation Myths'', 2013, p. 4-5</ref>

== Disproven theories ==
19th and early 20th century authors asserted that Lahmu represents the zodiac, parent stars, or constellations.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hewitt|first1=J.F.|title=History and Chronology of the Myth-Making Age|page=85}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=W. King|first1=Leonard|title=Enuma Elish Vol 1 & 2: The Seven Tablets of Creation; The Babylonian and Assyrian Legends Concerning the Creation of the World and of Mankind|page=78}}</ref>

Some biblical scholars, such as [[William F. Albright]],{{fact|date=April 2014}} have speculated that the name of [[Bethlehem]] ("house of ''lehem''") originally referred to a Canaanite fertility deity cognate with Laḫmu and [[Lahamu|Laḫamu]], rather than to the Canaanite word ''lehem'', "bread".<ref>[http://www.bethlehem.custodia.org/default.asp?id=434 "The name"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143841/http://www.bethlehem.custodia.org/default.asp?id=434 |date=2014-04-13 }}, ''Sanctuary Bethlehem'', © Gerusalemme San Salvatore Convento Francescano St. Saviour's Monastery. Retrieved 2014-04-09.</ref> As described above, Lahmu was neither fully a deity nor connected to fertility.


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:Mesopotamian gods]]
[[Category:Mesopotamian gods]]
[[Category:Offspring of Tiamat]]
[[Category:Offspring of Tiamat]]
[[Category:Stellar gods]]
[[Category:Characters in the Enūma Eliš]]
[[Category:Characters in the Enūma Eliš]]

{{MEast-myth-stub}}

Revision as of 10:34, 2 July 2021

Lahmu
Lahmu, the protective spirit from Nineveh, 900-612 BCE, Mesopotamia. British Museum.
Genealogy
ParentsAbzu and Tiamat (Enuma Elish) or Anu's ancestors such as Dari and Duri (Anu theogony)
Consorthis sister Lahamu (Enuma Elish)
ChildrenAnshar and Kishar (Enuma Elish) or Alala and Belili (Anu theogony)

Laḫmu ("hairy one") is a class of apotropaic creatures from Mesopotamian mythology. While the name has its origin in a Semitic language, Lahmu was present in Sumerian sources in pre-Sargonic times already.[1]

Iconography and character

Laḫmu is depicted as a bearded man wearing a red garment (tillû)[2] and usually with six curls on his head.[3] Some texts mention a spade as the attribute of Lahmu.[4] The artistic representations are sometimes called "naked hero" in literature.[5]

Lahmu were associated with water. They were generally believed to be servants of Enki/Ea (and later on of his son Marduk as well), and were described as the doorkeepers of his temple in Eridu and possibly as the "guardians of the sea" known from some versions of Atra-hasis. Some texts list as many as 50 Lahmu in such roles. It's possible they were originally river spirits believed to take care of animals, both domestic and wild.[6]

Apotropaic creatures such as Lahmu weren't regarded as demonic, and in fact protected the household from demons, though myths may depict them as defeated and subsequently reformed enemies of the gods. At the same time, they weren't viewed as fully divine, as their names were rarely, if ever, preceded by the dingir sign ("divine determinative") and they do not wear horned tiaras (a symbol of divinity) in art.[7]

In apotropaic rituals Lahmu was associated with other monsters, for example Mushussu, Bashmu (a type of mythical snake), Kusarikku (bison-men associated with Shamash) or Ugallu.[8]

As a cosmological being

In god lists a singular Lahmu sometimes appears among the ancestors of Anu, alongside a feminine counterpart (Lahamu), following the primordial pair Duri and Dari (eternity) and other such figures and preceding Alala and Belili.[9] Assyriolgist Frans Wiggermann, who specializes in the study of origins and development of Mesopotamian apotropaic creatures and demons, assumes that this tradition had its origin in northern Mesopotamia.[10] Lahmu and Lahamu aren't necessarily siblings in this context. Long lists of divine ancestors of Enlil or Anu from some god lists were at least sometimes meant to indicate that the gods worshiped by the Mesopotamians weren't the product of incestous relationships.[11]

In Enuma Elish, compiled at a later date and relying on the aforementioned tradition, Lahmu is the first-born son of Abzu and Tiamat. He and his sister Laḫamu are the parents of Anshar and Kishar, parents of Anu and thus ancestors of Ea and Marduk according to this specific theogony.[12] Both of them bestow 3 names upon Marduk after his victory.[13] However, Lahmu - presumably of the same variety as the apotropaic rather than cosmological one - also appears among Tiamat's monsters.[14]

A fragmentary Assyrian rewrite of Enuma Elish replaced Marduk with Ashur, equated with Anshar, with Lahmu and Lahamu replacing Ea/Enki and Damkina. Wilfred G. Lambert described the result as "completely superficial in that it leaves the plot in chaos by attributing Marduk's part to his great-grandfather, without making any attempt to iron out the resulting confusion."[15]

Disproven theories

19th and early 20th century authors asserted that Lahmu represents the zodiac, parent stars, or constellations.[16][17]

Some biblical scholars, such as William F. Albright,[citation needed] have speculated that the name of Bethlehem ("house of lehem") originally referred to a Canaanite fertility deity cognate with Laḫmu and Laḫamu, rather than to the Canaanite word lehem, "bread".[18] As described above, Lahmu was neither fully a deity nor connected to fertility.

References

  1. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 164-165
  2. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 54
  3. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. xiii
  4. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 49; 86
  5. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. xi
  6. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 164-166
  7. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 165
  8. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 143-145
  9. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 424
  10. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 154-155
  11. ^ W. G. Lambert, Theogony of Dunnu [in:] Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 389: "The history of these two [theogonies] shows that steps were sometimes taken quite specifically to avoid the implication of incest, which was socially taboo."
  12. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 417
  13. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 119
  14. ^ F. Wiggermann, Mesopotamian Protective Spirits: The Ritual Texts, 1992, p. 145-150
  15. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 4-5
  16. ^ Hewitt, J.F. History and Chronology of the Myth-Making Age. p. 85.
  17. ^ W. King, Leonard. Enuma Elish Vol 1 & 2: The Seven Tablets of Creation; The Babylonian and Assyrian Legends Concerning the Creation of the World and of Mankind. p. 78.
  18. ^ "The name" Archived 2014-04-13 at the Wayback Machine, Sanctuary Bethlehem, © Gerusalemme San Salvatore Convento Francescano St. Saviour's Monastery. Retrieved 2014-04-09.

Sources

  • Michael Jordan, Encyclopedia of Gods, Kyle Cathie Limited, 2002
  • Black, Jeremy and Green, Anthony, Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia, University of Texas Press, Austin, 2003.