Kharsag
Encyclopedia
Hursag is a Sumerian
term meaning "mountain" or "hill".
Mountains play a certain role in Mesopotamian mythology and Assyro-Babylonian religion, associated with deities such as Anu
, Enlil
, Enki
and Ninhursag
.
Sumerian ḪURSAG is written as a special ligature (PAxGÍN ), but sometimes also etymologized as ḪAR.SAG , written with the signs ḪAR "mountain" and SAG "head".
There is a clear association of Ziggurat
s with mountains.
E
-khar-sag-kurkura (É.ḪAR.SAG.KUR
.KUR-a "house of the mountain of all lands") was the name of several temples, besides Ekur
(É.KUR "the mountain house") at Nippur
, and others.
Morris Jastrow, Jr.
interprets Kharsag-Kurkura "the mountains of all lands" as originally referring to the Earth itself, placing the association of specific mountain peaks with the birthplace of the gods in a later period.
The word is used as part of such Sumerian phrases as e-hursag; "House of the Mountains" or a name of Ninhursag
's temple at Hi-za, Shulgi
's temple at Ur
, originally a secular building that was also known as e-nam-ti-la. Other phrases include e-hur-sag-an-ki-a; "House, Mountain of Heaven and Underworld", e-hur-sag-an-na; "House, Mountain of Heaven", e-hur-sag-ga; "House of the Mountains" - a temple listed in Kagal Bog, e-hur-sag-gal-kur-kur-ra; "House of the Great Mountain of the Lands" - a calla of Assur, e-hur-sag-galam-ma; "House, Skillfully-Built Mountain" - cella of Enlil on the ziggurrat at Nippur, usually found in offering lists where it is written hur-sag-ga-lam-ma, e-hur-sag-gu-la; "House, Big Mountain" - a sanctuary at Assur in E-sar-ra, e-hursag-kalam-ma; "House, Mountain of the land" (1) a temple of Ishtar
in Hur-sag-kalam-ma at Kish
(later known as e-kur-ni-zu) (2) a sanctuary of Enlil, likely e-hur-sag-galam-ma (3) a location on the bank of the Idkal, e-hur-sag-ku-ga; "House, Pure Mountain" - a temple of Gula
in Babylon
, e-hur-sag-kur-kur-a (and its expanded form e-hur-sag-gal-jur-kur-ra); "House, Mountain of the Lands" - a name for part of the temple at Assur, e-hur-sag-si-ga; "House, Silent Mountain" - seat of Meslamtaea, e-hur-sag-sikil-la; "House, Pure Mountain" - temple of Gula-Ninkarrak to the east of Babylon; e-hur-sag-ti-la; "House which Exterminates the Mountains", a temple of Ninurta
in Babylon also home of the Asakku
demon and used in some liturgical texts, rituals and the cultic calendar, etc.
Some scholars also identify hursag with an undefined mountain range or strip of raised land outside the plain of Mesopotamia
.
Sumerian language
Sumerian is the language of ancient Sumer, which was spoken in southern Mesopotamia since at least the 4th millennium BC. During the 3rd millennium BC, there developed a very intimate cultural symbiosis between the Sumerians and the Akkadians, which included widespread bilingualism...
term meaning "mountain" or "hill".
Mountains play a certain role in Mesopotamian mythology and Assyro-Babylonian religion, associated with deities such as Anu
Anu
In Sumerian mythology, Anu was a sky-god, the god of heaven, lord of constellations, king of gods, Consort of Antu, spirits and demons, and dwelt in the highest heavenly regions. It was believed that he had the power to judge those who had committed crimes, and that he had created the stars as...
, Enlil
Enlil
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. Her poetry was widely popular in both England and the United States during her lifetime. A collection of her last poems was published by her husband, Robert Browning, shortly after her death.-Early life:Members...
, Enki
Enki
Enki is a god in Sumerian mythology, later known as Ea in Akkadian and Babylonian mythology. He was originally patron god of the city of Eridu, but later the influence of his cult spread throughout Mesopotamia and to the Canaanites, Hittites and Hurrians...
and Ninhursag
Ninhursag
In Sumerian mythology, Ninhursag or Ninkharsag was the earth and mother goddess, one of the seven great deities of Sumer. She is principally a fertility goddess. Temple hymn sources identify her as the 'true and great lady of heaven' and kings of Sumer were 'nourished by Ninhursag's milk'...
.
Sumerian ḪURSAG is written as a special ligature (PAxGÍN ), but sometimes also etymologized as ḪAR.SAG , written with the signs ḪAR "mountain" and SAG "head".
There is a clear association of Ziggurat
Ziggurat
Ziggurats were massive structures built in the ancient Mesopotamian valley and western Iranian plateau, having the form of a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels.Notable ziggurats include the Great Ziggurat of Ur near Nasiriyah, Iraq; the Ziggurat of Aqar Quf near...
s with mountains.
E
É (temple)
É is the Sumerian word or symbol for house or temple, written ideographically with the cuneiform sign .The Sumerian term É.GAL denoted a city's main building....
-khar-sag-kurkura (É.ḪAR.SAG.KUR
Kur
In Babylonian mythology, Irkalla is the hell-like underworld from which there is no return. It is also called Arali, Kigal, Gizal, and the lower world...
.KUR-a "house of the mountain of all lands") was the name of several temples, besides Ekur
Ekur
Ekur is a Sumerian term meaning "mountain house". It is the assembly of the gods in the Garden of the gods, parallel in Greek mythology to Mount Olympus and was the most revered and sacred building of ancient Sumer.-Origin and meaning:...
(É.KUR "the mountain house") at Nippur
Nippur
Nippur was one of the most ancient of all the Sumerian cities. It was the special seat of the worship of the Sumerian god Enlil, the "Lord Wind," ruler of the cosmos subject to An alone...
, and others.
Morris Jastrow, Jr.
Morris Jastrow, Jr.
Morris Jastrow, Jr., Ph. D. was an American orientalist, the son of Marcus Jastrow.-Biography:He was born in Warsaw, came to Philadelphia in 1866 when his father, Marcus Jastrow, accepted a position as Rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Shalom. He graduated at Penn in 1881...
interprets Kharsag-Kurkura "the mountains of all lands" as originally referring to the Earth itself, placing the association of specific mountain peaks with the birthplace of the gods in a later period.
The word is used as part of such Sumerian phrases as e-hursag; "House of the Mountains" or a name of Ninhursag
Ninhursag
In Sumerian mythology, Ninhursag or Ninkharsag was the earth and mother goddess, one of the seven great deities of Sumer. She is principally a fertility goddess. Temple hymn sources identify her as the 'true and great lady of heaven' and kings of Sumer were 'nourished by Ninhursag's milk'...
's temple at Hi-za, Shulgi
Shulgi
Shulgi of Urim was the second king of the "Sumerian Renaissance". He reigned for 48 years, dated to 2029 BCE–1982 BCE...
's temple at Ur
Ur
Ur was an important city-state in ancient Sumer located at the site of modern Tell el-Muqayyar in Iraq's Dhi Qar Governorate...
, originally a secular building that was also known as e-nam-ti-la. Other phrases include e-hur-sag-an-ki-a; "House, Mountain of Heaven and Underworld", e-hur-sag-an-na; "House, Mountain of Heaven", e-hur-sag-ga; "House of the Mountains" - a temple listed in Kagal Bog, e-hur-sag-gal-kur-kur-ra; "House of the Great Mountain of the Lands" - a calla of Assur, e-hur-sag-galam-ma; "House, Skillfully-Built Mountain" - cella of Enlil on the ziggurrat at Nippur, usually found in offering lists where it is written hur-sag-ga-lam-ma, e-hur-sag-gu-la; "House, Big Mountain" - a sanctuary at Assur in E-sar-ra, e-hursag-kalam-ma; "House, Mountain of the land" (1) a temple of Ishtar
Ishtar
Ishtar is the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. She is the counterpart to the Sumerian Inanna and to the cognate north-west Semitic goddess Astarte.-Characteristics:...
in Hur-sag-kalam-ma at Kish
Kish
-Geography:*Kish Island, an Iranian island and a city in the Persian Gulf*Kish, Iran, a city on Kish Island*Kish District, an administrative subdivision of Iran*Kish Rural District, an administrative subdivision of Iran...
(later known as e-kur-ni-zu) (2) a sanctuary of Enlil, likely e-hur-sag-galam-ma (3) a location on the bank of the Idkal, e-hur-sag-ku-ga; "House, Pure Mountain" - a temple of Gula
Gula
Nintinugga was a Babylonian goddess of healing, the consort of Ninurta. She is identical with another goddess, known as Bau, though it would seem that the two were originally independent....
in Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
, e-hur-sag-kur-kur-a (and its expanded form e-hur-sag-gal-jur-kur-ra); "House, Mountain of the Lands" - a name for part of the temple at Assur, e-hur-sag-si-ga; "House, Silent Mountain" - seat of Meslamtaea, e-hur-sag-sikil-la; "House, Pure Mountain" - temple of Gula-Ninkarrak to the east of Babylon; e-hur-sag-ti-la; "House which Exterminates the Mountains", a temple of Ninurta
Ninurta
Ninurta in Sumerian and Akkadian mythology was the god of Lagash, identified with Ningirsu with whom he may always have been identical...
in Babylon also home of the Asakku
Asakku
In Babylonian mythology, the Asakku were one type of Mesopotamian evil spirits and monsters, classed with good spirits as Utukku. Asakku demons attack and kill human beings, especially by means of head fevers. They are mentioned in poetical enumerations of diseases and are named for Asag, a...
demon and used in some liturgical texts, rituals and the cultic calendar, etc.
Some scholars also identify hursag with an undefined mountain range or strip of raised land outside the plain of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
.