Divine name
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A Divine name is an official title for any divine being. In Egypt, divine names were indicated with a god's inscription (nṯr, which can be Anglicised as netjer.)[1] In Sumerian cuneiform, the Dingir sign (𒀭) was used.[2]
A divine being's name is distinct from an epithet. A divine epithet expresses specific traits, aspects, or domains of a god, or applies a common noun to them.[3] Rahmouni says a locative name is ʔil yṯb bʕṯtrt in KTU 1.108, 2 meaning "The god who sits (enthroned) in ʕAṯtartu.[4]
A name is sometimes double-barreled, like in Shagar-we-Ishtar or Kothar-wa-Hasis.
ʔṯrt w rḥmy Asherah-wa-Rachmai takes this ("binomial") form but is of slightly unclear categorization.[5] In this case and that of the Lady of Byblos, it is not clear if the appellation is a personal name.
Binomial names can be found in "bound forms" like Bethel's Anat-Bethel, Ashim-Bethel, "and Herem-Bethel from the archives of Elephantine."[6]
In one Egyptian story, the sun god Ra's true name was cunningly uncovered by Isis. Using a secret scheme, Isis gained complete dominion over Ra. This enabled her to elevate her son Horus to the throne, showing the power that a name had over the gods. [7]
Appendages[edit]
The maiden goddesses of Canaan and Phoenicia were sometimes called the "name of the lord" (Ba'al) or the "face of the lord." In their less-virginal incarnations as the consort Anat-Bethel or as a mother goddess ʕtr [ʕ-t-r-m = ʕtr-(ʕ)m(y) "ʕtr my mother"] these and "hand of" the deity are added. This might mean hypostasis or intercession.[8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Frajzyngier, Zygmunt; Shay, Erin (2012-05-31). The Afroasiatic Languages. Cambridge New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-86533-3.
- ^ Smith, Mark S. (2003-11-06). The Origins of Biblical Monotheism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516768-6.
- ^ Rahmouni, Aicha (2007-11-27). Divine Epithets in the Ugaritic Alphabetic Texts. Brill. ISBN 9789047423003. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
- ^ Locative epithet 10 in Rahmouni, p 33. Tell Ashtara or Ashteroth karnaim. Parallel with "The god who judges / rules in Hidra`yu.
- ^ Rahmoui Pg xxvi
- ^ "A New Analysis of YHWH's asherah". Religion and Literature of Ancient Palestine. 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
- ^ Harris, Geraldine (1981). Gods & Pharaohs from Egyptian Mythology. London, England: Eurobook Limited. pp. 24–25. ISBN 0-87226-907-8
- ^ Steiner, Richard C. (2001). "The Scorpion Spell from Wadi Hammamat: Another Aramaic Text in Demotic Script". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 60 (4): 259–268. doi:10.1086/468948. ISSN 0022-2968.