Sukkal

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Sukkal was a concept in Sumerian and Akkadian mythology. It was also adopted into Hurrian beliefs.[1]

Meaning and importance[]

The term itself can be translated as "vizier," and referred to human officials in addition to gods.[2] In religious context it refers to a class of servant deities, serving the major gods as viziers, messengers, doorkeepers and in other similar functions.[3] The role of a sukkal in the corresponding deity's household was seen as very prominent, and it seems only the more notable deities with extensive courts were assumed to have a sukkal.[4] In prayers sukkals were believed to intercede with the god they served on behalf of a human petitioner.[5][6] The symbol of a sukkal's office was a staff, presumably given to them by their master, and it's possible to identify deities of this class in art by this attribute.[7]

The title "sukkalmah" (used for example by an Elamite dynasty) shared its etymology with "sukkal" and can be translated as "great vizier." Sometimes sukkals of particularly prominent gods were referred to as sukkalmah. Known examples include Nusku,[8] Nanna's sukkal Alammuš,[9] Ninshubur,[10] Isimud[11] and one of Utu's sukkals listed in the An-Anum god list, Nin-Pirig.[12]

Ninshubur[]

Further information: Ninshubur

The most prominent sukkal was Ninshubur,[13] described both as sukkal of not only individual deities (Anu and Inanna) but also the entire divine assembly, and as a mistress of the lamma goddesses, another class of divine attendants.[14] Various texts attest that Ninshubur was viewed as very close to Inanna.[15]

List of Mesopotamian sukkals[]

Deity Corresponding sukkal (or another attendant deity) Notes
Anu Ninshubur; Ilabrat; Papsukkal; Kakka Anu's sukkal doubled as sukkal of the divine assembly. All of the listed figures were conflated or confused with each other.[16][17] In the Enuma Elish, Kakka is the sukkal of Anshar rather than Anu.[18]
Apsu Mummu[19] Part of the theogony described in Enuma Elish. His origin isn't explained in the text.[20]
Asalluhi Muduggasa'a Equated with Nabu much like Marduk was equated with Asalluhi.[21]
Bau Lammašaga[22] Her name means "Good Guardian Lamma."
Damkina Geštugani[23] The name means "her ear."
Enki (Ea) Usmu (Isimud)[24] Known in Hurro-Hittite sources as Izzumi.[25][26] Depicted with two faces.
Enlil Nusku[27] Equated with Girra and Gibil. Sometimes regarded as the son of Enlil's distant ancestors, sometimes as son of Nanna, Anu or Enlil.
Ereshkigal Namtar[28] Namtar is also occasionally attested as Nergal's sukkal. A single source calls Enlil his father and Ereshkigal his mother.
Gibil Nablum[29] Deified flame.
Gula Nin-girzida[30] The name means "lady of the right knife," presumably "scalpel" in this context
Inanna (Ishtar) Ninshubur[31] Ninshubur is also attested as the sukkal or wife of Nergal.[32]
Ishara Tašme-zikru Her name means "She heard my word." Listed in such a role in the god list An-Anum, but Tašme-zikrī is also listed in a text from Isin.[33]
Ishkur (Adad) Nim-gir[34][35] Deified lightning. In one text equated with Martu.[36]
Ishtaran Nirah[37] Confused with Irhan, a representation of a branch of Euphrates.
Lugalbanda Lugal-hegalla[38] His name means "Lord of abundance." Recorded as an epithet of Hadad rather than as a sukkal of Lugalbanda as well.[39]
Manzat Sililitum[40] Also the name of a month in the Elamite calendar and of a bird.
Marduk Nabu[41] Later regarded as Marduk's firstborn son rather than servant.
Nanaya Kanisurra and Gazbaba[42] Described as her hairdresers. Kanisurra was also known under the title bēlet kaššāpāti - "lady of sorceresses."
Nanna (Sin) Alammuš[43] Possibly a minor underworld god.
Nergal Ukur, later Ishum (Hendursanga)[44] Ukur's name is likely the imperative form of the verb "destroy" and some researchers view him as a deified sword.[45] Ishum was a son of Shamash in some texts.[46]
Ninazu Ipahum[47] The name means "viper."
Ninegal Dikkum[48][49] Minor judge deity.
Ningishzida Alla[50] Described as "a little known deity with underworld connections" by W. G. Lambert.[51]
Ninkilim Ušumgal[52] A type of Mesopotamian mythical snake or dragon; also an epithet of many gods (Marduk, Ninurta, Shamash etc.).[53]
Ninlil Bizila[54] Sometimes equated with Nanaya or otherwise linked to her. In one text Bizila was instead placed in the circle of Nungal.[55]
Ninurta Inimmanizi[56] His name means "His word is true." Originally a common Sumerian given name.
Nungal Nin-Dimgul[57][58] She's known from the An-Anum god list. Multiple servants of Nungal are listed in a hymn to Nungal. Gišgu and 6 other servants are known from texts in addition to the sukkal.[59][60]
Sarpanit "Daughters of Esagila" (Katunna and Silluš-tab[61]) Described as Sarpanit's hairdressers.[62]
Tishpak Bashmu[63][64] Tishpak was depicted as a monster-slaying god and it's possible his sukkal represented a beast he pacified.
Urash Ipte-bit(am)[65] His name means "he opened the temple." The attestations come from Dilbat and as such refer to the local farmer god Urash rather than to the earth goddess Urash.
Utu (Shamash) Bunene[66](charioteer); Nin-Pirig;[67] Nigzida and Nigsisa ("law" and "justice")[68] In the god list An-Anum all four are listed, with Nin-Pirig being the'sukkalmah, Nigzida and Ningisa "left sukkal" and "right sukkal," and Bunene a regular sukkal.[69]
Zababa Papsukkal[70] Later also a sukkal of Anu.

List of Hurro-Hittite sukkals[]

God Corresponding sukkal Notes
Allani (Sun goddess of the Earth) A vizier is mentioned in the text CTH 371[71] Piotr Taracha doesn't list the name of the vizier in his discussion of her court.
Aruna Impaluri[72][73] Ally of Kumarbi in myths.
Hebat Takiti,[74] Tiyabenti Takiti was tasked with finding out if Teshub is alive in the Ullikummi myth by her mistress. According to Gary Beckman whether Tiyabenti is male or female uncertain.[75]
Ḫešui Ḫupuštukar[76] Ḫešui was a Hurro-Hittite war god,[77] similar to Zababa.
Kumarbi Mukišānu[78] Named after Mukish.[79]
Pirengir Ilabrat/Ninshubur[80] Likely via syncretism with Inanna.
Šauška Ninatta and Kulitta;[81][82] Undurumma Ninatta and Kulitta were later incorporated into the entourage of Ishtar in her temple the city of Ashur under the Akkadian names dNi-ni-tum and dKu-li-it-tum. Undurumma is explicitly identified as a sukkal in one text.[83]
Šimige Lipparuma[84][85] Equated with Bunene.[86]
Tarhunna Wasezzili and "storm god of the countryside"[87] Wasezzili was described as "hero of the gods" in Hittite texts.
Teshub Tashmishu (Šuwaliyat)[88] Teshub's older brother according to the Kumarbi cycle. Sometimes quated with Ninurta in Anatolia.[89] In a trilingual Ugaritic version of An-Anum god list and in a document from Emar possibly identified with Papsukkal instead; instances of conflation with Aštabi are known as well.[90]

Notes[]

  1. ^ A. Archi, The West Hurrian Pantheon and Its Background [in:] B. J. Collins, P. Michalowski, Beyond Hatti. A tribute to Gary Beckman, 2013, p. 6
  2. ^ F. Wiggermann, The Staff of Ninsubura, JEOL 29, p. 8; 15
  3. ^ F. Wiggermann, The Staff of Ninsubura, JEOL 29, p. 18
  4. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 7
  5. ^ F. Wiggerman, Nin-subur [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 496-498
  6. ^ F. Wiggermann, The Staff of Ninsubura, JEOL 29, p. 19-20
  7. ^ F. Wiggermann, The Staff of Ninsubura, JEOL 29, p. 8-13
  8. ^ M. P. Streck, Nusku [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 630-631
  9. ^ F. Simons, The God Alammuš dLÀL / d.mùšLÀL, NABU 1, 2016, p. 9
  10. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 41
  11. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 102
  12. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 132
  13. ^ F. Wiggerman, Nin-subur [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 497
  14. ^ J. Peterson, UET 6/1, 74, the Hymnic Introduction of a Sumerian Letter-Prayer to Ninšubur, Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie vol. 106, 2016, p. 38
  15. ^ F. Wiggerman, An Unrecognized Synonym of Sumerian sukkal, "vizier," Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie vol. 78, 1988, p. 228-229
  16. ^ J. M. Asher-Greve, J. G. Westenholz, Goddesses in Context: On Divine Powers, Roles, Relationships and Gender in Mesopotamian Textual and Visual Sources, 2013, p. 132
  17. ^ F. Wiggerman, Nin-subur [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 491
  18. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 25
  19. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 447
  20. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 452: "The impression that the theogony with which the Epic begins explains the origins of all the gods is soon dispelled. Mummu, Apsu's vizier, turns up from nowhere in I 30."
  21. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 254
  22. ^ J. M. Asher-Greve, J. G. Westenholz, Goddesses in Context: On Divine Powers, Roles, Relationships and Gender in Mesopotamian Textual and Visual Sources, 2013, p. 53-54; 77
  23. ^ D. O. Edzard, Geštugani [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 3, 1971, p. 301
  24. ^ W. G. Lambert, Isimu A. Philologisch · Isimu A. Philological [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 5, 1980, p. 179
  25. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 126
  26. ^ A. Archi, The West Hurrian Pantheon and Its Background [in:] B. J. Collins, P. Michalowski, Beyond Hatti. A tribute to Gary Beckman, 2013, p. 10
  27. ^ M. P. Streck, Nusku [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 630-631
  28. ^ J. Klein, Namtar [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 143
  29. ^ F. Wiggermann, The Staff of Ninsubura, JEOL 29, p. 22
  30. ^ A. Cavigneaux, M. Krebernik, Nin-ĝirzida [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 367
  31. ^ F. Wiggerman, Nin-subur [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 490
  32. ^ F. Wiggerman, Nergal A. philologisch [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 220
  33. ^ M. Krebernik, Tašme-zikrī/u [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 13, 2011, p. 474
  34. ^ M. Krebernik, Nim-ĝir [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 319
  35. ^ F. Wiggermann, The Staff of Ninsubura, JEOL 29, p. 22
  36. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 143
  37. ^ F. Wiggermann, Niraḫ, Irḫan [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 572
  38. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 169
  39. ^ W. G. Lambert, Lugal-ḫegalla [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 7, 1987, p. 141
  40. ^ W. G. Lambert, Manziʾat/Mazziʾat/Mazzât/Mazzêt [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 7, 1987, p. 345
  41. ^ F. Pomponio, Nabû A. Philologisch · Nabû A. Philological [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 17
  42. ^ D. O. Edzard, Kanisurra [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 5, 1980, p. 389
  43. ^ F. Simons, The God Alammuš dLÀL / d.mùšLÀL, NABU 1, 2016, p. 9
  44. ^ F. Wiggerman, Nergal A. philologisch [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 220
  45. ^ M. Krebernik, dU.GUR [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 14, 2014, p. 297
  46. ^ A. R. George, The Gods Išum and Ḫendursanga: Night Watchmen and Street-lighting in Babylonia, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 1(74), 2015, p. 7
  47. ^ F. Wiggerman, Nin-azu [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 332
  48. ^ E. Ebeling, Diqum [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 2, 1938, p. 228
  49. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 155; spelling given as "Dikkum"
  50. ^ F. Wiggermann, The Staff of Ninsubura, JEOL 29, p. 8
  51. ^ W. G. Lambert, Babylonian Creation Myths, 2013, p. 223
  52. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 172
  53. ^ M. Krebernik, Ušumgal [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 14, 2014, p. 509-510
  54. ^ J. M. Asher-Greve, J. G. Westenholz, Goddesses in Context: On Divine Powers, Roles, Relationships and Gender in Mesopotamian Textual and Visual Sources, 2013, p. 112
  55. ^ A. Cavigneaux, M. Krebernik, Nungal [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 617
  56. ^ W. G. Lambert, Inimmanizi [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 5, 1980, p. 104
  57. ^ A. Cavigneaux, M. Krebernik, d(NIN-)Dimgul(MÁ.MUG) [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 339; translation given as "Frau Haltepflock(?)"
  58. ^ A. Cavigneaux, M. Krebernik, Nungal [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 617
  59. ^ D. O. Edzard, Gišgu [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 3, 1971, p. 403
  60. ^ A. Cavigneaux, M. Krebernik, Nungal [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 617
  61. ^ W. G. Lambert, Katunna [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 5, 1980, p. 488
  62. ^ J. M. Asher-Greve, J. G. Westenholz, Goddesses in Context: On Divine Powers, Roles, Relationships and Gender in Mesopotamian Textual and Visual Sources, 2013, p. 113
  63. ^ M. Stol, Tišpak [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 14, 2014, p. 66
  64. ^ F. Wiggermann, Transtigridian Snake Gods [in:] I. L. Finkel, M. J. Geller (eds.), Sumerian Gods and their Representations, 1997, p. 39
  65. ^ W. G. Lambert, Ipte-bīt(am) [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 5, 1980, p. 151
  66. ^ J. M. Asher-Greve, J. G. Westenholz, Goddesses in Context: On Divine Powers, Roles, Relationships and Gender in Mesopotamian Textual and Visual Sources, 2013, p. 265
  67. ^ A. Cavigneaux, M. Krebernik, dNin-PIRIG/PÌRIG [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 9, 1998, p. 481
  68. ^ A. Cavigneaux, M. Krebernik,, Niĝzida und Niĝsisa · Niĝzida and Niĝsisa [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 9, 1998, p. 313
  69. ^ R. L. Litke, A Reconstruction of the Assyro-Babylonian God-lists, AN:dA-nu-um and AN:Anu Ŝá Amēli, 1998, p. 132
  70. ^ J. M. Asher-Greve, J. G. Westenholz, Goddesses in Context: On Divine Powers, Roles, Relationships and Gender in Mesopotamian Textual and Visual Sources, 2013, p. 93-94
  71. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 109
  72. ^ G. Frantz-Szabó, Impaluri [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 5, 1980, p. 74
  73. ^ H. A. Hoffner, Hittite myths (2nd ed.), 1998, p. 41
  74. ^ G. Wilhelm, Takitu [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 13, 2011, p. 417
  75. ^ G. Beckman, The Goddess Pirinkir and Her Ritual from Hattusa (CTH 644), KTEMA 24, 1999, p. 37
  76. ^ V. Haas, Ḫupuštukar [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 4, 1975, p. 501
  77. ^ A. Kammenhauber, Ḫešui, Ḫišue [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 4, 1975, p. 369-370
  78. ^ G. Wilhelm, Mukišānu [in] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 8, 1993, p. 412-413
  79. ^ A. Archi, The West Hurrian Pantheon and Its Background [in:] B. J. Collins, P. Michalowski, Beyond Hatti. A tribute to Gary Beckman, 2013, p. 12
  80. ^ P. Taracha, Pirengir [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 10, 2005, p. 571
  81. ^ G. Frantz-Szabó, Kulitta, Ninatta und [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 6, 1983, p. 303-304
  82. ^ G. Wilhelm, The Hurrians, 1989, p. 52
  83. ^ M. C. Trémouille, Šauška, Šawuška A. Philologisch · Šauška, Šawuška A. Philological [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol. 12, 2011, p. 102
  84. ^ G. Frantz-Szabó, Lipparuma [in:] Reallexikon der Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie vol 7, 1990, p. 30
  85. ^ A. Archi, The West Hurrian Pantheon and Its Background [in:] B. J. Collins, P. Michalowski, Beyond Hatti. A tribute to Gary Beckman, 2013, p. 11
  86. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 127
  87. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 55
  88. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 55
  89. ^ P. Taracha, Religions of Second Millennium Anatolia, 2009, p. 55
  90. ^ M. Dijkstra, Ishtar seduces the Sea-serpent. A New Join in the Epic of Hedammu (KUB 36, 56+95) and its meaning for the battle between Baal and Yam in Ugaritic Tradition, Ugarit-Forschungen 43, 2011, p. 78: "Hurrian war god Astabi, who in turn is often assimilated with Teššup’s brother and vizier Tašmišu/Šuwaliya in the Hittite Anatolian world" - also footnote 74: "Perhaps he is also mentioned in the Ugaritic trilingual list An-Anum § 42 as dPAP.SUKKAL [ta-aš]-mi-iš [da-aš-]mi-šu as also in Emar (Laroche, Glossaire, 259) PAP.SUKKAL = dTa-aš-mi-šu-un"
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