Editing Shamash (section)

==Character==
The sun god was one of the principal deities of the [[Mesopotamian pantheon]].{{sfn|Lambert|2013|p=263}} In the [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)|Early Dynastic]] god list from [[Shuruppak|Fara]], he is the sixth among the deities listed, after [[Anu]], [[Enlil]], [[Inanna]], [[Enki]] and [[Nanna (Sumerian deity)|Nanna]].{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=606}} In later god lists, for example in ''[[An = Anum]]'', he and his circle appears between Nanna (Sin) and [[Ishkur]] (Adad).{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=606}} The [[Old Babylonian Empire|Old Babylonian]] [[Nippur]] god list instead places him between Ishkur and [[Ninurta]].{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=606}} Despite Utu's typical high status, it is agreed that the role of the sun and deities representing it in [[Ancient Mesopotamian religion|Mesopotamian religion]] was not comparable to that known from [[ancient Egyptian religion]].{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=599}} Based on the attestations of [[theophoric name]]s such as Shamash-bel-ili ([[Akkadian language|Akkadian]]: "Shamash is the lord of the gods"), Shamash-Enlil-ili ("Shamash is the Enlil of the gods") and Shamash-ashared-ili ("Shamash is the foremost of the gods"), [[Wilfred G. Lambert]] proposed that a tradition in which he was the supreme god of the pantheon did exist, but never found official support and its spread was limited to the clergy in [[Sippar]] and to a smaller degree [[Larsa]].{{sfn|Lambert|2013|pp=262-263}}

Common epithets characterize Utu as a "youth" ([[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] ''šul'', Akkadian ''eṭlu'') and "hero" (Sumerian ''ursaĝ'', Akkadian ''qarrādu'').{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=604}} As a representation of the sun, he was believed to travel every day through the sky from east to west, and at night in the opposite direction through AN.ŠAG<sub>4</sub>, a "nether sky" located directly above the [[Ancient Mesopotamian underworld|underworld]],{{sfn|Beckman|2012|pp=131-132}} though the notion of a night journey only developed later, and in sources from the third millennium BCE Utu usually rests at night.{{sfn|Katz|2003|p=50}} A reference to the latter tradition is also known from the "Standard Babylonian" version of the ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]'', where Shamash meets with his wife [[Aya (goddess)|Aya]] after sunset.{{sfn|George|2003|p=461}} Utu's vehicle was a [[solar chariot]],{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=603}} which was pulled by four animals bearing the Sumerian names Uhegalanna ("the abundant light of heaven"), Uhushgalanna ("the terrifying great light of heaven"), Usurmurgalanna ("the dreadful great light of heaven") and Unirgalanna ("the noble light of heaven").{{sfn|Wasserman|1997|pp=262-263}} Their species is not entirely consistent, though in most cases the sun chariot is apparently associated with [[Equidae|equids]]: "choice steeds" (''niskum'') in an inscription of [[Gudea]], [[horses]] in various prayers and incantations, and [[mule]]s in the ''[[Epic of Gilgamesh]]''.{{sfn|Bonechi|2011|p=102}} Manfred Krebernik argues that in early sources, his chariot was drawn by lions,{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=604}} but this has been questioned by Marco Bonechi.{{sfn|Bonechi|2011|pp=102-103}} Nathan Wasserman in his translation of a fragment of a hymn to Utu mentioning the animals only refers to them as "beasts."{{sfn|Wasserman|1997|p=263}} Sunrise and sunset were described as the sun god passing through cosmic gates situated on twin mountains on the opposite ends of the world.{{sfn|George|2003|pp=492-493}} It was believed that his daily journey let him see everything happening on earth.{{sfn|Beckman|2012|p=132}} He was also responsible for protection of travelers.{{sfn|George|2003|p=194}} Formulas common in both prayers and literary compositions indicate that he was likely often invoked outside temples, presumably as an astral body.{{sfn|Katz|2006|p=106}} Early morning was likely regarded as the most appropriate time for imploring him for help.{{sfn|George|2003|p=459}}

Utu was also the primary god of justice,{{sfn|Krebernik|2008|p=354}} presumably because due to traveling through the sky every day he was believed to see everything that happened in the world.{{sfn|Beckman|2012|p=132}} He could be assisted in this role by his father [[Nanna (Sumerian deity)|Nanna]], his sister [[Inanna]], and various minor judge deities.{{sfn|Krebernik|2008|pp=354-355}} At least in the third millennium BCE, [[Ishtaran]] was regarded as a divine judge equal in rank to Utu,{{sfn|Krebernik|2008|p=355}} and a fragment of a myth from [[Ebla]] mentions a divine tribunal in which they both partake alongside [[Idlurugu]] (<sup>d</sup>ÍD),{{sfn|Krebernik|1992|p=85}} a river god also known for his association with justice and judgment who represented [[ordeal by water]].{{sfn|Krebernik|2008|p=355}} A hymn to Utu states that Idlurugu cannot give judgment without his presence.{{sfn|Woods|2005|p=32}} As an extension of his role as a divine judge, Utu could be associated with the underworld,{{sfn|George|2003|p=127}}{{sfn|Krebernik|2008|p=359}} though this connection is not attested before the [[Old Babylonian period]].{{sfn|Katz|2003|p=28}} In exorcisms, he could be implored to help with bringing restless ghosts to the land of the dead.{{sfn|George|2003|p=134}} In this capacity he could be associated with the deified legendary king [[Gilgamesh]], commonly portrayed in a similar role.{{sfn|George|2003|p=814}}

Shamash and [[Adad]] were jointly regarded as gods of [[divination]], especially [[extispicy]].{{sfn|Schwemer|2007|p=140}} The connection between the sun god and the weather god is well attested in Mesopotamian sources{{sfn|Schwemer|2007|p=140}} and goes back to the Old Babylonian period.{{sfn|Schwemer|2007|p=149}} Its origin is uncertain, but since in the earliest Sumerian sources Ishkur, who was analogous to Adad, was not associated with divination, it is possible that it was based on the association between [[Hadad]] and the solar deity in [[Ebla]] and possibly  elsewhere in [[Syria (region)|Syria]] and [[Upper Mesopotamia]].{{sfn|Schwemer|2007|p=149}} According to a late ritual text, Shamash and Adad were responsible for teaching divination to the mythical king [[Enmeduranki]].{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=605}} Subsequently, he taught it to the people of Sippar, [[Nippur]] and [[Babylon]].{{sfn|Krebernik|2011|p=605}}