Yam (god)
Yam | |
---|---|
God of the sea | |
Ugaritic | 𐎊𐎎 |
Major cult center | Ugarit [1] |
Equivalents | |
Hurrian equivalent | Kiaše,[2] Ḫedammu[3] |
Greek equivalent | Pontos[4] |
Yam (
Yam was also known in Ancient Egypt, though there is no evidence that he was actively worshiped in ancient Egyptian religion. He plays a role in a myth preserved in the so-called Astarte Papyrus, which is presumed to be an adaptation of western motifs, though not necessarily of the Baal Cycle. Yam is portrayed as an enemy of the Ennead who demands a tribute from the other gods, while the eponymous goddess is tasked with bringing it to him. Set, who serves as a stand-in for Baal, is responsible for defeating him, though the outcome of their battle is only known from references in incantations, as the ending of the Astarte Papyrus is not preserved. Yam is also present in the Tale of Two Brothers.
In the
In
Name and character
The
A cognate of Yam’s Ugaritic name has been identified in the Akkadian dialect used in Emar.[8] It was written in cuneiform as dYa-a-mi.[18] Cognate words referring to the sea occur in Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew and Arabic.[8] Furthermore, the early form wa-mu or wa-mu-um (/wammu(m)/) has also been identified in Eblaite.[19] It preserves an “archaic *w-prototype of this lexeme” predating the shift from w to y attested in Northwest Semitic languages.[20] As a loanword, the word yammu is also attested in Egyptian under a variety of spellings, typically as a designation for the Mediterranean Sea,[21] though it could function as a theonym too.[22]
In texts from Ugarit written in syllabic cuneiform, the sign sequence A.AB.BA, elsewhere read as the Akkadian word tâmtu, could be employed to write the ordinary word yammu as well as Yam’s name, as attested in a lexical text mentioning dA.AB.BA and by the logographic writing of the theophoric name ‘bdym, ÌR.A.AB.BA.[23] However, dA.AB.BA does not appear as an entry in any Mesopotamian god lists.[24] A figure whose name is written this way appears in the Myth of the Plough,[25] a text only known from a single late copy from either the Neo-Babylonian or Achaemenid period,[26] but she is female and has been characterized as dissimilar to Yam by Aaron Tugendhaft.[25]
In addition to functioning as a distinct theonym, the Ugaritic word ym is also attested as a part of one of the epithets of
Ugaritic texts
Yam is best known from the
Thirteen individuals bearing theophoric names invoking Yam have been identified in the Ugaritic texts.[41] Examples include Yammu’ilu (“Yam is god”), ’Iluyammu (“a god is Yam”), Milkuyammu (“a king is Yam”) and ‘Abduyammi (“servant of Yam”).[42]
Baal Cycle
In the Baal Cycle (KTU 1.1-1.6[43]) Yam is portrayed as one of the enemies of the eponymous god, Baal.[44] He is his main rival in the struggle for the status of king of the gods.[45] The conflict between Yam and Baal is considered one of the three major episodes of the Baal Cycle, with the other two being the construction of Baal’s palace and his conflict with Mot.[46][47] It forms approximately one third of the full composition.[11] Theodore J. Lewis has summarized the confrontation between them as “the second most riveting scene in the Baʿlu Cycle (bettered only by Baʿlu’s battle with Motu)”.[48]
The motif of the combat between the weather god and the sea first occurs in a letter sent by a certain Nūr-Sîn, a representative of
I gave the entire of this land to Yahdun-Lim! Furthermore, because of my weaponry, he had no rival. He forsook me, so the land that I had given to him I gave to Shamshi-Adad. [...] that I could restore you to the throne of your father’s house. I did restore you! I gave you the weaponry with which I did battle with the Sea. I anointed you with the oil of my triumph, so no one stood against you.[50]
It has been argued that an incantation from Ebla in which the weather god, Hadda, vanquishes snakes with the help of Ammarik, might be an even earlier example,[51] but according to Daniel Schwemer no conclusive evidence in favor of this interpretation is available.[52] In the early tradition the enemy of the weather god was known as Têmtum,[53] a “sea numen” (Meernumen).[52] The name of this figure was written without the so-called divine determinative (dingir) in cuneiform.[49] Seals showing a weather god striking a serpent have been tentatively identified as a representation of the battle between Adad and Têmtum.[54] Maciej Popko has proposed that the motif of battle against the sea reached inland Syria from Ugarit, but this interpretation is regarded as unlikely.[52] Most likely a variant of the account known from the Mari was integrated into Ugaritic tradition, and as a result eventually into the Baal Cycle.[55]
In the beginning of the Ugaritic narrative, Yam is presented as
Yam is also mentioned in the passage which follows the description of El enlisting Kothar-wa-Khasis’ help, which focuses on
As soon as the gathered gods notice they the approaching, they bow their heads, but Baal rebukes them for it.
The beginning of the section describing the confrontation between the two rivals is difficult to interpret, but it is presumed Baal falls under the power of Yam, apparently described as “the
Yam continues to play a role in the story of the Baal Cycle after his defeat.[104] The section which immediately follows describes Baal hosting a banquet on Mount Saphon, possibly in order to celebrate Yam’s defeat, but neither the attendees nor its purpose are known due to a lacuna.[105] In another passage, Anat mentions Yam while enumerating enemies she defeated after being approached by Gupan and Ugar:
Surely I struck down Yamm, the Beloved of El,
Surely I finished off River, the Great God,
Surely I boundTunnanuand destroyed him.
I struck down the Twisty Serpent,
The Powerful One with Seven Heads.
I struck down Desire, Beloved of El,
I destroyed Rebel, Calf of El.
I struck down Fire, Dog of El,
I annihilated Flame, Daughter of El,
That I might fight for silver, inherit gold.[106]
Anat’s intent seems to be to emphasize the connection between all of the listed enemies, including Yam, and El.[10] Her speech might reference a different conflict related to Baal’s struggle for kingship, though it has also been interpreted as a relic of an originally separate tradition in which Yam’s defeat was attributed to her rather than the weather god, which was otherwise not incorporated into the Baal Cycle.[107] If the former interpretation is accepted, it is possible that the battles were originally a part of the Baal Cycle, and their description occupied one of the lacunas on the earlier tablets.[10] If the latter proposal is correct instead, the intent of the compilers might have been to harmonize originally separate accounts.[108] A reference to Anat’s battle with Yam or to a further tradition where she and Baal fought him together might be present in the text KTU 1.83.[109] Aicha Rahmouni notes it is sometimes argued that the other monsters defeated by Anat were identified with Yam.[44] Mark S. Smith and Wayne T. Pitard single out the dragon-like Tunnanu as a possible non-anthropomorphic form of the sea god.[110] This conclusion has been criticized by Brendon C. Benz, who argues Yam and Tunnanu are presented as separate beings.[111] He points out that he is never identified with either this being or other sea monsters, such as Lītān, in any other Ugaritic texts.[112] Pitard has suggested that Yam might be identified with Tunnanu in KTU 1.83,[113] though Benz instead argues text itself similarly does not necessarily indicate that they were identical.[112]
It is possible that Yam is mentioned again when
Yam is mentioned again when Baal explains to Kothar-wa-Khasis why he does not want a window to be installed in his palace.[120] He might be concerned that it would let Yam attack[121] or kidnap his daughters, Pidray and Tallay.[122][c] Baal’s fears are seemingly unfounded, and both goddesses he is concerned about continue to appear in association with him in later sections of the text after the installation of the window.[124] It is presumed that the section of the plot involving Yam is fully resolved shortly after this scene, when Baal invites all the other gods to his palace, but due to the state of preservation of the tablet the exact circumstances are uncertain.[125] Yam’s name appears in a poorly preserved passage which is agreed to be too short to contain a description of a battle.[126] One possible interpretation is that the assembled deities guarantee their loyalty to Baal and reject allegiance to Yam.[127]
According to Steve A. Wiggins, Yam is referenced once more in the hymn closing the Baal Cycle, which is dedicated to Shapash.[128] However, an ordinary noun, either “sea” or “day”,[d] might also be meant.[131] Wiggins proposes that this passage might be a rubric alluding to the situation before Baal’s victory over Yam, though also speculates whether it might be another indication that he is to be understood as a continuous threat in the narrative.[128]
Other Syrian sources
Yam was worshiped by Amorites, though the occurrences of this theonym are in this case almost entirely limited to theophoric names.[132] Five of them have been identified among the 605 known from texts from western locations, such as the kingdoms of Qatna and Yamhad.[133] Examples include ‘Abdu-Yammim (“servant of Yam”) from Tuttul,[134] ‘Adnī-Yammu (“Yam is my bliss”) from Qatna,[135] and Yammu-qadum (“Yam is ancient”) from Yamhad.[136] A reference to a Sutean named Yammi-’ila (“Yam is god”) is also known.[137]
A foundation inscription of
Yam is also attested in sources from
While later Aramean and Luwian artifacts from the same region, for example a stele from Tell Ashara (Terqa) and reliefs from Malatya in modern Turkey, have been interpreted as evidence for familiarity with the motif of a battle between the sea and a weather god, related textual sources do not mention Yam.[146]
Egyptian reception
Yam was also known in ancient Egypt.[4] In the execration texts, dated to the reign of the Twelfth Dynasty,[147] theophoric names of foreigners such as ‘Abi-Yammu (“Yam is my father”) and Yammu-na’umu (“Yam is pleasant”) have been identified.[148] However, his importance in ancient Egyptian religion was minor, and no active cult dedicated to him is attested in any Egyptian sources, though Richard H. Wilkinson proposed that he might have been a god “known and feared by Egyptian seafarers.”[1]
Yam is also attested in the so-called
(...)Where have you come from, o daughter of Ptah, o furious and tempestuous goddess? Have you worn out the sandals that are on your feet? Have the clothes that are on you been torn by your going and coming through the sky and earth?[155]
According to Mark S. Smith, Yam’s recognition of Astarte’s anger should be interpreted as an indication that her mission failed.
The Astarte Papyrus has been prepared to honor the pharaoh Amenhotep II,[161] and due to the presence of Ptah it might have been composed in Memphis.[162] However, the plot shows the influence of a West Semitic milieu, though with Set taking the role elsewhere assigned to Baal.[150] It might have been derived directly from the Ugaritic Baal Cycle,[22] though this proposal is not universally accepted,[163] as a number of plot points find no parallel in the Baal Cycle.[164] The motif of the sea deity demanding tribute has been compared to the Hurrian Song of the Sea, where the deity who suggests this solution is Kumarbi, and Šauška is tasked with bringing it; these two figures are, respectively, a deity associated with grain and a goddess associated with a weather god, similarly as Reneunet and Astarte.[165] The Egyptian and Hurrian myths might have been adopted from the same source, distinct from the Ugaritic myth.[163]
Relaying partially on the Astarte Papyrus,[166] which according to her might contain a reference to marriage between Yam and Astarte,[167] Noga Ayali-Darshan has suggested that originally they were viewed as spouses in the Levant.[168] This proposal has been evaluated critically by Mark S. Smith, who points out the text indicates Astarte reacted with sadness to the Ennead’s instruction, that the preserved details of the ending do not indicate a spousal relation between her and Yam, and the lack of parallels in Ugaritic material.[151] He also notes that the supplementary evidence she provides, a possible connection between Emariote Ashtart ša abi and Yam, is not conclusive, as while they receive offerings together in a single case, the epithet of the former deity might instead refer to a type of shrine (abû), to a month in the local calendar (Abî), or to the plural of the word “father”.[169] The interpretation of the epithet ša abi as related to the word a-ab-ba (“sea”) has already been already rejected by Daniel E. Fleming in an earlier study of Emariote texts.[18] Smith accepts the possibility of a connection between the two deities, though he notes it might have been antagonistic, or that a tradition in which in which multiple gods competed for Ashtart might have existed.[170]
Tale of Two Brothers
According to Noga Ayali-Darshan Yam is also attested as a malevolent anthropomorphic figure in the Tale of Two Brothers.[171] The interpretation of the sea in this text as Yam is also accepted by Herbert Niehr.[4] One of the eponymous brothers, Bata, at one point warns his wife, a woman fashioned by the gods, to not go outside because the sea,[172] or, as suggested by Ayali-Darshan, Yam, might take her away, but when he leaves for a hunt, she nonetheless goes outside, where Yam noticed her, and with the help of a tree manages to steal a lock of her hair.[173] He subsequently takes it to Egypt and presents it to the pharaoh.[172] Eventually the woman is taken to Egypt too and marries the pharaoh, which leads to Bata’s death.[174]
Hebrew Bible
A number of references to Yam have been identified in the
Phoenician attestations
No references to Yam occur in any
The identification of Philo’s Pontos as a late version of Yam is supported by the account of his conflict with Demarous, corresponding to Baal, and by the analogous meaning of his name, which can be translated from Greek as “sea”.[193] Albert I. Baumgarten has proposed that Poseidon also corresponds to Yam, as according to him “a single Semitic deity might, in different places, be identified with different Greek gods and vice versa” in Philo’s writings.[186] However, as argued by Aaron J. Brody, the Phoenician deity whose interpretatio graeca was Poseidon, who is also attested in other sources, does not correspond to Yam.[194] His native identity remains unknown due to lack references in bilingual texts,[193] but he was most likely a protective deity of sailors.[195]
Comparative mythology
In past scholarship, the conflict between Yam and
While no parallel to Yam has been identified among
Notes
- ^ The use of the epithet connecting Baal to Dagan is meant to highlight his status as a deity from outside El’s family.[77]
- ^ A title of Qudšu-wa-Amrur.[115]
- ^ The third daughter, Arsay, is absent from this passage.[123]
- ^ The Ugaritic word for day, yômu, was also written with the signs ym.[129] Its cognates include Akkadian ūmu, Old Aramaic ywm and Arabic yawm.[130]
References
- ^ a b c d Wilkinson 2003, p. 228.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2011, p. 712.
- ^ a b Dijkstra 2012, p. 65.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Niehr 2016, p. 143.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, p. 36.
- ^ a b Brody 1998, p. 96.
- ^ Pardee 2002, p. 21.
- ^ a b c del Olmo Lete & Sanmartin 2015, p. 951.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, p. 222.
- ^ a b c d Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 247.
- ^ a b Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 43.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 332.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 311.
- ^ a b Rahmouni 2008, p. 314.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, pp. 314–315.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 165.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 167.
- ^ a b Fleming 2000, p. 187.
- ^ Kogan & Krebernik 2021, p. 915.
- ^ Kogan & Krebernik 2021, p. 941.
- ^ Hoch 1994, p. 52.
- ^ a b Simpson & Ritner 2003, p. 108.
- ^ Huehnergard 2019, p. 411.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2011, p. 702.
- ^ a b Tugendhaft 2011, p. 701.
- ^ Lambert 2013, p. 387.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 284.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 281.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, pp. 284–285.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 285.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, p. 218.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 667.
- ^ Pardee 2002, pp. 15–16.
- ^ Pardee 2002, p. 285.
- ^ Pardee 2002, p. 48.
- ^ Pardee 2002, p. 85.
- ^ Pardee 2002, pp. 26–28.
- ^ Pardee 2002, p. 67.
- ^ Pardee 2002, p. 69.
- ^ Pardee 2002, pp. 19–21.
- ^ van Soldt 2016, p. 100.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2012, p. 150.
- ^ Pitard 1998, p. 262.
- ^ a b Rahmouni 2008, p. 338.
- ^ a b Rahmouni 2008, p. 213.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, pp. 33–34.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 9.
- ^ a b c d Lewis 2011, p. 209.
- ^ a b Schwemer 2001, p. 226.
- ^ Foster 2005, p. 144.
- ^ Archi 2015, p. 588.
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- ^ a b Smith 1994, p. 265.
- ^ Cho 2013, p. 154.
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- ^ Krebernik 2013, p. 200.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 275.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 293.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 265–266.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 266–267.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 300.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 267.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 267–268.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 268.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 316.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 318.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 331.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 333.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 334–335.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 336–338.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 338–340.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 343.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 349.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 351.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 352.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 352–353.
- ^ Lewis 2011, pp. 209–210.
- ^ a b Smith 1994, p. 357.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, pp. 53–54.
- ^ Smith 1994, pp. 357–359.
- ^ a b Smith 1994, p. 355.
- ^ Dijkstra 2012, p. 79.
- ^ Dijkstra 2012, p. 80.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 358.
- ^ a b c Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 45.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 1.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 72.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, pp. 244–245.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 245.
- ^ Pitard 1998, p. 274.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 54.
- ^ Benz 2013, p. 128.
- ^ a b Benz 2013, p. 138.
- ^ Pitard 1998, p. 276.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, pp. 59–60.
- ^ Rahmouni 2008, p. 150.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, pp. 60–61.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, p. 61.
- ^ Wiggins 2007, p. 62.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 472.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, pp. 605–606.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 40.
- ^ Wiggins 2003, p. 90.
- ^ Wiggins 2003, p. 97.
- ^ Wiggins 2003, p. 91.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 41.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 606.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, pp. 606–607.
- ^ a b Wiggins 1996, p. 337.
- ^ Bordreuil & Pardee 2009, p. 317.
- ^ del Olmo Lete & Sanmartin 2015, pp. 950–951.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 259.
- ^ Charpin 2021, p. 1183.
- ^ Buck 2019, pp. 249–250.
- ^ Buck 2019, p. 272.
- ^ Buck 2019, p. 285.
- ^ Buck 2019, p. 290.
- ^ Buck 2019, p. 293.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2011, p. 704.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2010, pp. 26–27.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2011, p. 705.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 151.
- ^ a b Tugendhaft 2012, p. 149.
- ^ Thames 2020, p. 100.
- ^ Thames 2020, p. 16.
- ^ Thames 2020, p. 175.
- ^ a b c Niehr 2016, p. 144.
- ^ Buck 2019, p. 228.
- ^ Buck 2019, p. 229.
- ^ a b Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 31.
- ^ a b Smith 2014, p. 66.
- ^ a b c Smith 2014, p. 67.
- ^ a b Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 32.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2020, p. 22.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 41.
- ^ a b Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 33.
- ^ a b Simpson & Ritner 2003, p. 110.
- ^ a b c Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 34.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2010, p. 20.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2015, pp. 34–35.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2020, p. 34.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 39.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2020, p. 17.
- ^ a b Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 38.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 42.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 35.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2010, pp. 20–21.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2020, p. 51.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2010, pp. 28–29.
- ^ Smith 2014, pp. 67–68.
- ^ Smith 2014, p. 68.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2015, p. 37.
- ^ a b Simpson & Ritner 2003, p. 86.
- ^ Ayali-Darshan 2010, p. 21.
- ^ Simpson & Ritner 2003, p. 80.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, pp. 673–674.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 673.
- ^ a b c Stolz 1999, p. 740.
- ^ a b Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 256.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 248.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 250.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, p. 60.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 1.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, pp. 5–6.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 32.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 38.
- ^ a b c d Baumgarten 2015, p. 207.
- ^ a b c Baumgarten 2015, p. 183.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 209.
- ^ Brody 1998, p. 67.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 211.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 215.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 224.
- ^ a b Brody 1998, p. 23.
- ^ Brody 1998, p. 22.
- ^ Brody 1998, pp. 24–25.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, pp. 131–132.
- ^ Benz 2013, p. 127.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2013, p. 191.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2013, p. 193.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2012, p. 153.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2012, p. 152.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2012, pp. 153–154.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 105.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2012, p. 155.
- ^ Smith 1994, p. 361.
- ^ Smith & Pitard 2009, pp. 53–54.
- ^ Benz 2013, pp. 138–139.
- ^ Baumgarten 2015, p. 134.
- ^ a b Tugendhaft 2013, p. 195.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2013, p. 192.
- ^ Tugendhaft 2011, pp. 711–712.
- ^ Schwemer 2001, p. 547.
- ^ a b Rutherford 2001, pp. 601–602.
- ^ Rutherford 2001, p. 604.
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