Lilith Periodo de Isin Larsa y Babilonia

The rod-and-ring symbol is a symbol that is depicted on Mesopotamian

stela A stele ( ) or stela ( )The plural in English is sometimes stelai ( ) based on direct transliteration of the Greek, sometimes stelae or stelæ ( ) based on the inflection of Greek nouns in Latin, and sometimes anglicized to steles ( ) or stela ...

cylinder seal A cylinder seal is a small round cylinder, typically about one inch (2 to 3 cm) in width, engraved with written characters or figurative scenes or both, used in ancient times to roll an impression onto a two-dimensional surface, generally ...

s, and

relief Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...

s. It is held by a god or goddess and in most cases is being offered to a king who is standing, often making a sacrifice, or otherwise showing respect. The symbol dates from the

Third Dynasty of Ur The Third Dynasty of Ur or Ur III was a Sumerian dynasty based in the city of Ur in the 22nd and 21st centuries BC ( middle chronology). For a short period they were the preeminent power in Mesopotamia and their realm is sometimes referred to by ...

to the

Neo-Assyrian period The Neo-Assyrian Empire was the fourth and penultimate stage of ancient Assyrian history. Beginning with the accession of Adad-nirari II in 911 BC, the Neo-Assyrian Empire grew to dominate the ancient Near East and parts of South Caucasus, Nort ...

, and is commonly explained as a coil of measuring string and a

yardstick A metre-stick, metrestick (or meter-stick and meterstick as alternative spellings); or yardstick is either a straightedge or foldable ruler used to Measurement, measure length, and is especially common in the construction industry. They are of ...

.Jacobsen, 1987 Other theories are that they are a

shepherd's crook A shepherd's crook is a long and sturdy stick with a hook at one end, often with the point flared outwards, used by a shepherd to manage and sometimes catch sheep. In addition, the crook may aid in defending against attack by predators. Wh ...

and a nose rope, or that the ring is no rope at all. The best known example of the symbol is seen on the

Code of Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi is a Babylonian legal text composed during 1755–1750 BC. It is the longest, best-organized, and best-preserved legal text from the ancient Near East. It is written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian language, Akkadi ...

stela. The symbol is also illustrated in the "Investiture Scene" painted at the palace of Mari. The most elaborate depiction is found on the

Ur-Nammu Ur-Nammu (or Ur-Namma, Ur-Engur, Ur-Gur, Sumerian language, Sumerian: ; died 2094 BC) founded the Sumerian Third Dynasty of Ur, in southern Mesopotamia, following several centuries of Akkadian Empire, Akkadian and Gutian period, Gutian rule. Thou ...

-stela, where the winding of the cords has been detailed by the sculptor. This has also been described as a "staff and a chaplet of beads". There is discussion whether the Ur-Nammu-stela is showing the same thing.

Scepter, throne, and ring: Enuma Elish

The myth of

Inanna Inanna is the List of Mesopotamian deities, ancient Mesopotamian goddess of war, love, and fertility. She is also associated with political power, divine law, sensuality, and procreation. Originally worshipped in Sumer, she was known by the Akk ...

's descent to the nether world describes how the goddess dresses and prepares herself: "She held the lapis-lazuli measuring rod and measuring line in her hand." In tablet IV of the Enuma Elish, the rod and ring symbol is referenced as: :"They rejoiced, and they did homage unto him, saying, "

Marduk Marduk (; cuneiform: Dingir, ᵈAMAR.UTU; Sumerian language, Sumerian: "calf of the sun; solar calf"; ) is a god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of Babylon who eventually rose to prominence in the 1st millennium BC. In B ...

is King!"
They bestowed upon him the scepter, and the throne, and the ring.
They gave him an invincible weaponry which overwhelmeth the foe."

Symbols that appear similar

*The Egyptian

shen ring In ancient Egypt, a shen ring was a circle with a line tangent to it, represented in hieroglyphs as a stylised loop of a rope, bound to a stick. The tool used by builders and architects. Shen rings can most often be seen in the clutches of Horu ...

has a close resemblance. *The Greek goddess

Nike Nike often refers to: * Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment * Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory Nike may also refer to: People * Nike (name), a surname and feminine giv ...

uses a different type of

investiture Investiture (from the Latin preposition ''in'' and verb ''vestire'', "dress" from ''vestis'' "robe") is a formal installation or ceremony that a person undergoes, often related to membership in Christian religious institutes as well as Christian kn ...

symbol for the victor in the sporting races, a ''wreath of laurel'', or a wreath of olive branches, but she is depicted with a ring, a rigid circle. *The

Faravahar The Farāvahār (; ), also called the Foruhār () or the Fārre Kiyâni (), is one of the most prominent symbols of Zoroastrianism. There is no universal consensus on what it means or stands for, as a variety of interpretations exist. The mos ...

, the symbol of

Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism ( ), also called Mazdayasnā () or Beh-dīn (), is an Iranian religions, Iranian religion centred on the Avesta and the teachings of Zoroaster, Zarathushtra Spitama, who is more commonly referred to by the Greek translation, ...

, also holds a ring. *The Egyptian

Ankh The ankh or key of life is an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol used to represent the word for "life" and, by extension, as a symbol of life itself. The ankh has a T-shape topped by a droplet-shaped loop. It was used in writing as a tri ...

has a vaguely similar form and is also depicted in hands of gods.

Notes

References

*Black, Jeremy; Green, Anthony. ''Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia, an Illustrated Dictionary,'' by Jeremy Black and Anthony Green, c 1992, (3rd printing 1997), University of Texas Press, Austin, p 156 (softcover, ) *Jacobsen, Thorkild (1987) "Pictures and pictorial language (the Burney Relief)". In: M. Mindlin, M.J. Geller and J.E. Wansbrough, eds., ''Figurative Language in the Ancient Near East,'' 1-11. (1987) London: University of London School of Oriental and African Studies. {{ISBN, 0-7286-0141-9 * Arthur E. Whatham, ''The Meaning of the Ring and Rod in Babylonian-Assyrian Sculpture'', The Biblical World, Vol. 26, No. 2 (Aug., 1905), pp. 120–123. File:Codice di hammurabi 03.JPG, Scene detail of

monumental stela File:Hammurabi.jpg, Scene and

cuneiform Cuneiform is a Logogram, logo-Syllabary, syllabic writing system that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Near East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. Cuneiform script ...

inscriptions–(upper half of stela)

External links

Inana's descent to the nether world
at Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

Iconography Enūma Eliš Ancient Near East art and architecture Regalia