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The Ekur (''E<sub>2</sub>-kur'') is an ancient Mesopotamian super-constellation consisting of the group of the Standing Gods of the Ekur (<sup>mul</sup>[[DINGIR.GUB.BA|DIĜIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup>]]) and the Sitting Gods of the Ekur (<sup>mul</sup>[[DINGIR.KU.A|DIĜIR.TUŠ.A]]<sup>meš</sup>), both mentioned in MUL.APIN.
The Ekur (''E<sub>2</sub>-kur''; 𒂍𒆳) is an ancient Mesopotamian super-constellation consisting of the group of the Standing Gods of the Ekur (<sup>mul</sup>[[DINGIR.GUB.BA|DIĜIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup>]]) and the Sitting Gods of the Ekur (<sup>mul</sup>[[DINGIR.KU.A|DIĜIR.TUŠ.A]]<sup>meš</sup>), both mentioned in MUL.APIN.


==Concordance, Etymology, History==
==Dictionary (Provenance of the term)==
=== Krebernik (2023) ===
=== Krebernik (2023) ===
see glossary of Hoffmann and Krebernik (2023):<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, S. M. and Krebernik, M. (2023). What do deities tell us about the celestial positioning system, in: R. Rollinger, I. Madreiter, M. Lang, C. Pappi (eds.). The Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East, Papers held at the 64th Rencontre Assyriologique International and 12th Melammu Symposium July 16-20 2018, Innsbruck. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 539-579</ref>
See glossary of Hoffmann and Krebernik (2023):<ref name=":0">Hoffmann, S. M. and Krebernik, M. (2023). What do deities tell us about the celestial positioning system, in: R. Rollinger, I. Madreiter, M. Lang, C. Pappi (eds.). The Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East, Papers held at the 64th Rencontre Assyriologique International and 12th Melammu Symposium July 16-20 2018, Innsbruck. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 539-579</ref>


<sup>mul</sup>DIĜIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup> & <sup>mul</sup>DIĜIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup>. The sumerograms are ambiguous, since the first sign can be read as DIĜIR “god” or AN “heaven”, and TUŠ can also be read DÚR (both meaning “to sit”) or KU. However, the addition of A makes the reading TUŠ virtually certain. In the same manner, BA confirms the reading of GUB.BA. The Sum. forms mean “seated, sitting” and “standing”, respectively.
<sup>mul</sup>DIĜIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup> & <sup>mul</sup>DIĜIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup>. The sumerograms are ambiguous, since the first sign can be read as DIĜIR “god” or AN “heaven”, and TUŠ can also be read DÚR (both meaning “to sit”) or KU. However, the addition of A makes the reading TUŠ virtually certain. In the same manner, BA confirms the reading of GUB.BA. The Sum. forms mean “seated, sitting” and “standing”, respectively.


The corresponding entries in the dictionaries are angubbû (AHw, CAD) and ''ankurû'' (CAD), ''antušû'' (AHw), respectively. The first sumerogram, which is much more common than the second, designates a type of priest and describes the function of certain (minor) deities in god lists. In the OB Ištar ritual from Mari, the DIĜIR<sup>meš</sup> DIĜIR-''gub-bu-ú'' are obviously (representations of) deities, who “sit down to the left of Ištar together with (the god) Latarak” (ii 1’-3’, see Ziegler 1997, 58). The usage in MUL.APIN, where the two expressions are connected with Enlil’s temple Ekur in Nippur (“The stars of the Standing/Sitting Gods of the Ekur”) seems to be comparable. In 5R 46: 15–16., the “Standing Gods of the Ekur” are interpreted as “Sîn and Nergal”, and the “Sitting Gods” as “Anu and Enlil”, which is not applicable to MUL.APIN. The same is true of [M]UL.DIĜIR.GUB].BA<sup>meš</sup> DIĜIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup> in Hg, where they are identified with Sîn and Šamaš (MSL 11, 41: 52). MUL.DIĜIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut'' É.KUR / MUL.DIĜIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut'' É.KUR (after EN 21).
The corresponding entries in the dictionaries are angubbû (AHw, CAD) and ''ankurû'' (CAD), ''antušû'' (AHw), respectively. The first sumerogram, which is much more common than the second, designates a type of priest and describes the function of certain (minor) deities in god lists. In the OB Ištar ritual from Mari, the DIĜIR<sup>meš</sup> DIĜIR-''gub-bu-ú'' are obviously (representations of) deities, who “sit down to the left of Ištar together with (the god) Latarak” (ii 1’-3’, see Ziegler 1997, 58). The usage in MUL.APIN, where the two expressions are connected with Enlil’s temple Ekur in Nippur (“The stars of the Standing/Sitting Gods of the Ekur”) seems to be comparable. In 5R 46: 15–16., the “Standing Gods of the Ekur” are interpreted as “Sîn and Nergal”, and the “Sitting Gods” as “Anu and Enlil”, which is not applicable to MUL.APIN. The same is true of [M]UL.DIĜIR.GUB].BA<sup>meš</sup> DIĜIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup> in Hg, where they are identified with Sîn and Šamaš (MSL 11, 41: 52). MUL.DIĜIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut'' É.KUR / MUL.DIĜIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut'' É.KUR (after EN 21).

=== Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim ===
{| class="wikitable"

! Sources !! Identifications
|-
| '''MUL.APIN.'''
*(1) The stars of Enlil (no. 21):
**<sup>mul</sup>DINGIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut E''<sub>2</sub>-''kur''
**"Standing Gods of the Ekur" (I i 23),
**for a parallel see. [Horowitz 1989-90, 116, BM 54817:10'].
| rowspan="2" | [[File:EkurGodsSchema on stellarium txt.jpg|thumb|The constellations of "The Ekur" in Stellarium and a schema overlay: The Sitting Gods are bluish, and the Standing Gods are darker gray. The two additional Non-Ekur divine "entities" with their entourage (Susanne M Hoffmann 2025).]]
|-
| '''MUL.APIN.'''
*The list of the stars of Enlil (no. 22): <sup>mul</sup>DINGIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut E''<sub>2</sub>''-kur'' "Sitting Gods of Ekur" (I i 23), see also [Horowitz 1989-90, 116, BM 54817:10'].
|}


==== Hoffmann and Krebernik Text Edition ====
==== Hoffmann and Krebernik Text Edition ====

The path of Enlil in MUL.APIN<ref name=":0" />
===== The path of Enlil in MUL.APIN<ref name=":0" /> =====
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!our numbering
!our numbering
Line 172: Line 189:
|<sup>STAR</sup>PĀŠITTU (Deleter)
|<sup>STAR</sup>PĀŠITTU (Deleter)
|-
|-
!
|
!
|
| colspan="2" |When the STAR<sup>s</sup> of <sup>GOD</sup>Enlil are completed:
! colspan="2" |When the STAR<sup>s</sup> of <sup>GOD</sup>Enlil are completed:
|}
|}

The Standing Gods and the Sitting Gods are rubric markers (like headlines in modern texts). Then, the rest of the list can be rendered as itemized lists in modern text layout.
===== Constellations of the Gods of the Ekur =====
The Standing Gods and the Sitting Gods are rubric markers (like headlines in modern texts). Then, the rest of the list can be rendered as itemized lists in modern text layout.<ref name=":1" />
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+
|+
!
!
!explanandum
(constellations)
!explanans
!explanans
(deities)
!explanandum
|-
|-
!Standing Gods of the Ekur
|
|
|
* Plough
* Plough
Line 195: Line 216:
** King
** King
** Date-Palm Spadix
** Date-Palm Spadix
* Shupa
* Dignity
*Abundant One
* Wagon
*Shupa
** Fox
** Ewe
* Hitched Yoke
* Wagon of Heaven
* Heir
|
|
* Enlil
* Enlil
Line 212: Line 229:
* Latarak
* Latarak
** .
** .
** Erua | Zarpanītum
** Zarpanitum
* Enlil
* Tišpak
* Ninlil
*the minister of Ninlil
*Enlil
|-
!Sitting Gods of the Ekur
|
*Wagon
** Fox
** Ewe
* Hitched Yoke
* Wagon of Heaven
* The Heir of the Emaḫ-temple (could be Enlil's or Anu's son)
|
*Ninlil
** Erra
** Erra
** Aya
** Aya
* Anu
* Anu
* Damkianna
* Damkianna
* Anu
* Anu
|}

=== Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim ===
{| class="wikitable"

! Sources !! Identifications
|-
|-
!Outside the Ekur
| '''MUL.APIN.'''
|
*(1) The stars of Enlil (no. 21):
* She-Goat
**<sup>mul</sup>DINGIR.GUB.BA<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut E''<sub>2</sub>-''kur''
** Dog
**"Standing Gods of the Ekur" (I i 23),
** Lamassatu
**for a parallel see. [Horowitz 1989-90, 116, BM 54817:10'].
** two stars
| rowspan="2" | [[File:EkurGodsSchema on stellarium txt.jpg|thumb|The constellations of "The Ekur" in Stellarium and a schema overlay: The Sitting Gods are bluish, and the Standing Gods are darker gray. The two additional Non-Ekur divine "entities" with their entourage (Susanne M Hoffmann 2025).]]
* UD.KA.DU<sub>8</sub>.A
|-
** Pig
| '''MUL.APIN.'''
** Horse
*The list of the stars of Enlil (no. 22): <sup>mul</sup>DINGIR.TUŠ.A<sup>meš</sup> ''šu-ut E''<sub>2</sub>''-kur'' "Sitting Gods of Ekur" (I i 23), see also [Horowitz 1989-90, 116, BM 54817:10'].
** Stag
*** Field Mouse
*** Deleter
|
* Gula
** .
** Lamassatu
** Ninsar and Erragal
* UD.KA.DU<sub>8</sub>.A
** Damu
** .
** .
*** Manzat (Rainbow)
*** Pashittu
|}
|}


=== additional ===

==== Deities of the Ekur ====

# Standing Gods
## Enlil
## Enmešarra
## Lugalirra and Meslamtaʾea
## Alammuš and Ningublaga
## Anu
## Latarak
## Erua | Zarpanītum
## Enlil
# Sitting Gods
## Tišpak
## Ninlil and her vizier
## Erra
## Aya
## Anu
## Damkianna
## The Heir of the Emaḫ-temple (could be Enlil's or Anu's son)


== Historical Dictionaries ==
== Historical Dictionaries ==
The historical dictionaries by Kurtik (2007) and Gössmann (1950) both don't include this term, as the discovery of the astronomical unit of The Ekur only happened in a series of papers later (Hoffmann and Krebernik 2023,<ref name=":0" /> Hoffmann and Horowitz 2023,<ref>Hoffmann and Horowitz (2023). The Standing and Sitting Asterisms of Ekur, N.A.B.U., n°3 (sept.), 141-143</ref> and Hoffmann 2024<ref>Hoffmann, S.M. (2024): Standing and Sitting Gods of MUL.APIN, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 27(2), 261-272</ref>)
The historical dictionaries by Kurtik (2007) and Gössmann (1950) both don't include this term, as the discovery of the astronomical unit of The Ekur only happened in a series of papers later (Hoffmann and Krebernik 2023,<ref name=":0" /> Hoffmann and Horowitz 2023,<ref>Hoffmann and Horowitz (2023). The Standing and Sitting Asterisms of Ekur, N.A.B.U., n°3 (sept.), 141-143</ref> and Hoffmann 2024<ref name=":1">Hoffmann, S.M. (2024): Standing and Sitting Gods of MUL.APIN, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 27(2), 261-272</ref>)


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 18:34, 16 August 2025

The Ekur (E2-kur; 𒂍𒆳) is an ancient Mesopotamian super-constellation consisting of the group of the Standing Gods of the Ekur (mulDIĜIR.GUB.BAmeš) and the Sitting Gods of the Ekur (mulDIĜIR.TUŠ.Ameš), both mentioned in MUL.APIN.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Krebernik (2023)

See glossary of Hoffmann and Krebernik (2023):[1]

mulDIĜIR.GUB.BAmeš & mulDIĜIR.TUŠ.Ameš. The sumerograms are ambiguous, since the first sign can be read as DIĜIR “god” or AN “heaven”, and TUŠ can also be read DÚR (both meaning “to sit”) or KU. However, the addition of A makes the reading TUŠ virtually certain. In the same manner, BA confirms the reading of GUB.BA. The Sum. forms mean “seated, sitting” and “standing”, respectively.

The corresponding entries in the dictionaries are angubbû (AHw, CAD) and ankurû (CAD), antušû (AHw), respectively. The first sumerogram, which is much more common than the second, designates a type of priest and describes the function of certain (minor) deities in god lists. In the OB Ištar ritual from Mari, the DIĜIRmeš DIĜIR-gub-bu-ú are obviously (representations of) deities, who “sit down to the left of Ištar together with (the god) Latarak” (ii 1’-3’, see Ziegler 1997, 58). The usage in MUL.APIN, where the two expressions are connected with Enlil’s temple Ekur in Nippur (“The stars of the Standing/Sitting Gods of the Ekur”) seems to be comparable. In 5R 46: 15–16., the “Standing Gods of the Ekur” are interpreted as “Sîn and Nergal”, and the “Sitting Gods” as “Anu and Enlil”, which is not applicable to MUL.APIN. The same is true of [M]UL.DIĜIR.GUB].BAmeš DIĜIR.TUŠ.Ameš in Hg, where they are identified with Sîn and Šamaš (MSL 11, 41: 52). MUL.DIĜIR.GUB.BAmeš šu-ut É.KUR / MUL.DIĜIR.TUŠ.Ameš šu-ut É.KUR (after EN 21).

Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim

Sources Identifications
MUL.APIN.
  • (1) The stars of Enlil (no. 21):
    • mulDINGIR.GUB.BAmeš šu-ut E2-kur
    • "Standing Gods of the Ekur" (I i 23),
    • for a parallel see. [Horowitz 1989-90, 116, BM 54817:10'].
The constellations of "The Ekur" in Stellarium and a schema overlay: The Sitting Gods are bluish, and the Standing Gods are darker gray. The two additional Non-Ekur divine "entities" with their entourage (Susanne M Hoffmann 2025).
MUL.APIN.
  • The list of the stars of Enlil (no. 22): mulDINGIR.TUŠ.Ameš šu-ut E2-kur "Sitting Gods of Ekur" (I i 23), see also [Horowitz 1989-90, 116, BM 54817:10'].

Hoffmann and Krebernik Text Edition

The path of Enlil in MUL.APIN[1]
our numbering DIŠ explanandum explanans
1 1 STAREPINNU (Plough) GODEnlil
2 1 STARBARBARU (Wolf) seeder of STAREPINNU
3 1 STARŠĪBU (Old Man) GODEnmešarra
4 <1> STARGAMLU (Throwing-stick) GODGamlum(Throwing-stick)
5–6 1 STARTŪ’AMŪ·RABÛTU (Great Twins) GODLugalirra and GODMeslamtaʾea
7–8 1 STARTŪ’AMŪ·ṢEḪRŪTU (Little Twins) GODAlammuš and GODNingublaga
9 1 STARALLUTTU (Crab) seat of GODAnu
10 1 STARURGULÛ (Lion) GODLatarak
11 1 STAR opposite STARURGULÛ STAR (of the) King
12 1 twinkling STARs in the tail of STARURGULÛ ‘date-palm spadix’ (jewellery?) (of) GODErua | GODZarpanītum
13 1 STARŠU.PA (The Bright?) GODEnlil who determines the destinies of the land
14 1 STAR in front of it: STARḪENGALLĀYU (Abundant) vizier of GODNinlil
15 1 STAR behind it: STARBĀŠTUM(Dignity) vizier of GODTišpak(<*INANNA!?)
16 1 STAREREQQU (Wagon) GODNinlil
17 1 STAR by the pole of STAREREQQU: STARŠĒLEBU(Fox) GODErra, the  strong of the gods
18 1 STAR on the forehead of STAREREQQU: STARLAḪRU(Ewe) GODAya
19 1 STARMU.BU.KÉŠ.DA (Hitched yoke?) GODAnu-rabû of heaven
20 1 STARMAR.GÍD.DA.AN.NA (Wagon of heaven) GODDamkianna
21 1 STAR in its bond: STARAPIL-EMAḪ (Heir of the Emaḫ-temple) foremost son of GODAnu
{1} STAR·STANDING·GODs of the Ekur The stars (of the) Standing Gods of the Ekur
({1}) STAR·SITTING·GODs of the Ekur Sitting Gods of the Ekur (temple)
22 1 STARENZU (She-Goat) GODGula
23 1 STAR in front of STARENZU STARKALBU(Dog) (of GODGula)
24 1 bright STAR of STARENZU GODLamassatu | vizier of GODBaba (= GODGu-la)
25–26 1 2 STARs behind it GODNin-SAR and GODErrakal
27 1 STARU4.KA.DU8.A GODU.GUR(Nergal)
28 1 STAR to the right of it STARŠAḪÛ(Pig) | GODDamu
29 1 STAR to the left of it STARSSISÛ(Horse)
30 1 STAR behind it STARLULIMMU | vizier of STAR.STAR (Pleiades)
31 1 twinkling STARs opposite STARLULIMMU(Stag) GODḪarriru (Field Mouse) | GODManzât(Rainbow)
32 1 red bright STAR in the kidney of STARLULIMMU STARPĀŠITTU (Deleter)
When the STARs of GODEnlil are completed:
Constellations of the Gods of the Ekur

The Standing Gods and the Sitting Gods are rubric markers (like headlines in modern texts). Then, the rest of the list can be rendered as itemized lists in modern text layout.[2]

explanandum

(constellations)

explanans

(deities)

Standing Gods of the Ekur
  • Plough
    • Wolf
  • Old Man
  • Throwing Stick
  • Great Twins
  • Little Twins
  • Crab
  • Lion
    • King
    • Date-Palm Spadix
  • Dignity
  • Abundant One
  • Shupa
  • Enlil
    • .
  • Enmesharra
  • Gamlu
  • Lugalirra and Meslamta'ea
  • Alamush and Ningublaga
  • Anu
  • Latarak
    • .
    • Erua | Zarpanītum
  • Tišpak
  • the minister of Ninlil
  • Enlil
Sitting Gods of the Ekur
  • Wagon
    • Fox
    • Ewe
  • Hitched Yoke
  • Wagon of Heaven
  • The Heir of the Emaḫ-temple (could be Enlil's or Anu's son)
  • Ninlil
    • Erra
    • Aya
  • Anu
  • Damkianna
  • Anu
Outside the Ekur
  • She-Goat
    • Dog
    • Lamassatu
    • two stars
  • UD.KA.DU8.A
    • Pig
    • Horse
    • Stag
      • Field Mouse
      • Deleter
  • Gula
    • .
    • Lamassatu
    • Ninsar and Erragal
  • UD.KA.DU8.A
    • Damu
    • .
    • .
      • Manzat (Rainbow)
      • Pashittu


Historical Dictionaries

The historical dictionaries by Kurtik (2007) and Gössmann (1950) both don't include this term, as the discovery of the astronomical unit of The Ekur only happened in a series of papers later (Hoffmann and Krebernik 2023,[1] Hoffmann and Horowitz 2023,[3] and Hoffmann 2024[2])

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hoffmann, S. M. and Krebernik, M. (2023). What do deities tell us about the celestial positioning system, in: R. Rollinger, I. Madreiter, M. Lang, C. Pappi (eds.). The Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East, Papers held at the 64th Rencontre Assyriologique International and 12th Melammu Symposium July 16-20 2018, Innsbruck. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 539-579
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hoffmann, S.M. (2024): Standing and Sitting Gods of MUL.APIN, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, 27(2), 261-272
  3. ↑ Hoffmann and Horowitz (2023). The Standing and Sitting Asterisms of Ekur, N.A.B.U., n°3 (sept.), 141-143
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