Mesopotamian Mythology · deity
Utu (Shamash)
Utu
also: Shamash (Akkadian) · Utu (Sumerian)
deitythe sunjusticethe 'light' that reveals the truththe 'day'attested
The sun god, the god of justice and the 'light' that reveals the truth; in Akkadian he is called Shamash. The sun-god travels through the underworld by night (the 'journey of the sun through the Duat' equivalent).
The account
Who they are
'Utu' (Sumerian; 'Shamash' in Akkadian) is the sun god, the god of justice and the 'light' that reveals the truth [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗[S6]S6 · Met Museum Mesopotamian collection (open access)museummuseumOpen source ↗. The sun-god travels across the sky by day and through the underworld by night (the 'journey of the sun') [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗. Utu is the god of justice: he 'sees' all, and his light reveals the truth [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗. In the 'Utnapishtim' flood-story and other texts, Utu is a 'judge' who sees the wickedness of humanity [S2]S2 · Epic of Gilgamesh (Standard Babylonian version)c. 1200 BCEtextOpen source ↗. Utu is the brother of Inanna (Ishtar) [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗. Utu's 'justice' role makes him the patron of the oaths and the courts [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗.
Worth knowing
- The sun god, the god of justice [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗.
- Travels through the underworld by night (the 'journey of the sun') [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗.
- The 'light' that reveals the truth [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗.
- The brother of Inanna (Ishtar) [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗.
Uncertainties & variants
- Utu's 'justice' role is central; his 'sun-journey' (through the underworld by night) is a distinct mythic cycle [S5]S5 · etcl.mca.edu — Electronic Text Corpus of cuneiform (transliterations + translations)corpus (Sumerian/Akkadian texts)corpusOpen source ↗.
Relationships (3)
Connections
Family & kinship
PARENT_OFNanna (Sin) — Nanna (with Ningal) is the parent of Utu (the sun god).[S5]
PARENT_OFNingal — Ningal (with Nanna) is the parent of Utu.[S5]
SIBLING_OFInanna (Ishtar) — Utu and Inanna are siblings (both children of Nanna).[S5]
Local graph
Their corner of the divine world
Viewhierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side
Overlays
FocusUtu (Shamash)Mesopotamian
- parentage
- marriage ♥
far = primordials · medium = all · close = detail — scroll/pan, click a deity to focus
1 story
The Flood (Atrahasis / Gilgamesh)
In the Atrahasis and the Gilgamesh flood-story, the gods (led by Enlil) decide to destroy humanity with a flood (because humanity's noise/disturbance is too great). Enki (Ea) saves the flood-hero (Atrahasis in the Atrahasis; Utnapishtim in the Gilgamesh) by whispering to him to build a boat. The flood destroys all life, but the flood-hero (and his family) survive. The flood-hero is later made immortal (in the Gilgamesh) [S2]S2 · Epic of Gilgamesh (Standard Babylonian version)c. 1200 BCEtextOpen source ↗[S3]S3 · AtrahasisOld Babylonian c. 17th c. BCEtextOpen source ↗.
Depictions