Nabu

For other uses, see Nabu (disambiguation).
Lee Lawrie, Nabu (1939). Library of Congress John Adams Building, Washington, D.C.
Nabū
God of wisdom and writing

Statue of the Attendant God from the Temple of Nabu at Nimrud, Mesopotamia on display at the British Museum.
Abode Borsippa
Symbol Clay tablet and stylus
Consort Tashmet
Parents Marduk and Sarpanitum

Nabu (Syriac: ܢܒܘ‎) is the patron god of scribes, wisdom and literature, being worshipped by the Assyrian and Babylonian people. He was identified as the son of the great god Marduk by the Babylonians and by default as the son of Ashur by the Assyrians.[1]

Etymology

Nabu's name itself means "to call" in Akkadian language, while later cognates in Aramaic language and Hebrew language have a sense of one who has been called, or one who can prophesy.

History

Nabu was known as Nisaba in the Sumerian pantheon, gaining prominence among the Assyrians and Babylonians in the first millennium BC following his association with Marduk.[1] Nabu was worshipped in Babylon's sister city Borsippa, where his statue was moved to Babylon each New Year so that he could pay his respects to his father.[1] Nabu's symbol was a stylus resting on a tablet.[1] His wife was the Akkadian goddess Tashmet.[1]

His cult later spread to Egypt and Anatolia due to Aramaic settlers. Nabu was also the keeper of the Tablets of Destiny, which recorded the fate of mankind.

He wore a horned cap, and stood with his hands clasped, in the ancient gesture of priesthood. He rode on a winged dragon known as Sirrush that originally belonged to his father Marduk.

In Babylonian astrology, Nabu was identified with the planet Mercury.

Outside Mesopotamia

In the Bible, Nabu is mentioned as Nebo in Isaiah 46:1 and Jeremiah 48:1.[2][3] In Hellenistic times, Nabu was identified with the Greek god Apollo.[1]

As the god of wisdom and writing, Nabu was linked by the Romans with Mercury, and by the Egyptians with Thoth.

Depictions

A statue of Nabu from Calah, erected during the reign of the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III, is on display in the British Museum.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bertman, Stephen (2005). Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia (Paperback ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 122. ISBN 9780195183641. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "Isaiah 46:1 NIV – Gods of Babylon – Bel bows down, Nebo". BibleGateway.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  3. ↑ "Jeremiah 48:1 NIV - A Message About Moab - Concerning Moab". BibleGateway.com. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
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