In
Mandaeism
Mandaeism ( Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡍࡃࡀࡉࡉࡀ ; Arabic: المندائيّة ), sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnostic, monotheistic and ethnic religion. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Ab ...
, Shamish or Šamiš ( myz, ࡔࡀࡌࡉࡔ) is the Mandaic name for the
Sun.
[Müller-Kessler, Christa (2018). "Šamaš, Sîn (Sahra, Sira), Delibat (Ištar, al-‘Uzzā), und Kēwān (Kajjamānu) in den frühen mandäischen magischen Texten und bei ihren Nachbarn. Eine Bestandsaufnahme." ''ISIMU'' 20/21: 259–295.] Shamish is one of the
seven planets ( myz, ࡔࡅࡁࡀ, translit=šuba, lit=The Seven), who are part of the entourage of
Ruha in the
World of Darkness.
Shamish is associated with the
uthra
An uthra or ʿutra ( myz, ࡏࡅࡕࡓࡀ; plural: ʿutri) is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn J. Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'ut ...
s
Yawar-Ziwa (Dazzling Light) and
Simat-Hiia (Treasure of Life). He is also identified with the uthra
Yurba, who is described in detail in chapter 52 of the ''
Mandaean Book of John''.
In the ''
Right Ginza'', the
Yazuqaeans (i.e.,
Zoroastrians) are associated with Shamish, an allusion to
Mithra
Mithra ( ae, ''Miθra'', peo, 𐎷𐎰𐎼 ''Miça'') commonly known as Mehr, is the Iranian deity of covenant, light, oath, justice and the sun. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-se ...
.
Etymology
Shamish's name is derived from ''š-m-š'', the
Semitic root
The roots of verbs and most nouns in the Semitic languages are characterized as a sequence of consonants or "radicals" (hence the term consonantal root). Such abstract consonantal roots are used in the formation of actual words by adding the vowe ...
for 'sun'. Shamish is also cognate with the Akkadian
Šamaš.
References
Planets in Mandaeism
Sun in culture
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