Utu / Šamaš, the Sun-God of Justice
Nothing hides from the sun — so the god who sees all became the judge of all.
Because the sun looks down on everything, the sun-god Utu — Shamash in Akkadian — became the great god of justice. He sees what is hidden, exposes the liar, upholds the oath, and protects the traveller, the widow, and the orphan. Kings present their law collections as given under his authority; on the famous stele the Laws of Hammurabi are shown received from Shamash. He is also the god invoked in divination, since the one who sees all can answer the diviner's question about what is true and what will come.
Key passages(17)
Incantation: Formidable one, perfect one, son of Namraṣit! Light constantly renewing itself, bringing happiness to the people, discloser of light! Šamaš, bringer of order to the dead and the living, s
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Youthful Utu ……, …… from Uraš; brilliant light, great lion, ……, hero emerging from the holy interior of heaven, storm whose splendour covers the Land and is laden with great awesomeness; Utu, king of
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Say to Utu my lord, the exalted judge of heaven and earth, who cares for the Land, who renders verdicts; just god, who loves to keep man alive, who heeds entreaty, who extends mercy, who knows …… comp
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Incantation: Formidable one, perfect one, son of Namraṣit! Light constantly renewing itself, bringing happiness to the people, discloser of [... ]! Šamaš, bringer of order to the dead and the [... ],
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Emerging …… below and gazing upwards, Utu, great physician, father of the black-headed, wearing a lapis-lazuli beard in the E-babbar! Utu, great hero, focus of the assembly, king, bison running over t
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A praise poem of Išme-Dagan (Išme-Dagan A + V)
Enlil, by far …… He to whom the great gods pay attention; foundation deposit of the Anuna, living …… of the Enki deities; he whose great divine powers know no opponents, whose …… excel all others, who
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Who can compare with justice? It creates life. Whenever wickedness may cause trouble, Utu will not be idle! Let the standard that raises itself protect it like the heavens.
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Nanna = Sin Suen = ditto (Sin) Suen (written numerically) = ditto (Sin) Ŋešnugal = ditto (Sin) BUNIR = ditto (Sin) Abkar = ditto (Sin) Menšudu = ditto (Sin) Mendurahana = ditto (Sin) Menzalagbur = dit
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(The god) Aššur, the father of the gods, the one who [... ], the bridle that controls [... ]; the god Anu, the powerful, [... whose... ] cannot be alte [ red,... ]; the god Ea, the wise, the lord [...
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Ashurbanipal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), king of kings, ruler who has no rival, who by the command of the gods, his helpers,
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[... ]..., son of [... ]! Light constantly renewing itself, [... ] people [... ]... [... ]! Šamaš, the one who brings order [... ] and [... ]! The one who scrutinises everything [... ]. Šamaš, light o
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[ To the god ] Šamaš, his lord: [ Sa ] rgon (II), [ kin ] g of the world, presented (this object).
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To the god Šamaš, his lord: Sa [ rg ] on (II), [ king of the world, presented (this object) ].
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For Utu, his master, Ur-Namma, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of Sumer and Akkad, built his temple.
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For the god Nusku, supreme lord, e [ xalted ] judge, [ who oversees the nindabû - offerings for all (the Igīgū and) the Anunnakū gods, who administers the Ekur ], bright light that lights up the night
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[... ]... [... ] his father [... ] powerful [... ]... walks and [... ]... [... ]... their... [... ] to enemy country [... ] they.... You hold back [... ].... [... ]... [... ].... [... ] Šamaš [... ] s
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Apotropaic ritual for the evil (that may arise) in bringing to each other a man and woman (previously) far apart: In front of Šamaš, in a private place, you sweep the ground. You sprinkle pure water.
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