The Burning Sun and the Killing Resheph: Proto-Astrological Symbolism and Ugaritic Epic
(2013) In Sky and Symbol: Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Sophia Centre Conference p.73-83- Abstract
- In the mythological texts from Ugarit in modern Syria (probably 14th century BC), the motif of the deadly, drought-inducing sun plays a large part: the burning sun casts its destroying rays as a result of the power and influence of death, especially the god of death himself, Mot. However, the solar goddess Shapshu is in other cases portrayed as quite a benevolent entity. In this paper, I discuss this discrepancy in the light of an astronomical omen text that appears to mention the dangerous properties of the sun when it appears together with Resheph, the god of feverish, hot illness – probably representing the planet Mars. The presentation touches on the possibility of these motifs representing early stages of proto-astrological symbolism.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4216092
- author
- Wikander, Ola LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2013
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Ugarit, Ugaritic, KTU 1.78, CAT 1.78, Omen, Astronomy, Astrology, Eclipse, Resheph, Shapshu, Shapsh, Shapash, Rashpu, Reshef
- in
- Sky and Symbol: Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Sophia Centre Conference
- editor
- Greene, Liz; Campion, Nicolas; and
- pages
- 73 - 83
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3b6581c0-f4cb-4041-a5a0-6b405bd0e4bd (old id 4216092)
- date added to LUP
- 2013-12-19 12:47:54
- date last changed
- 2017-01-01 00:44:38
@inbook{3b6581c0-f4cb-4041-a5a0-6b405bd0e4bd, abstract = {In the mythological texts from Ugarit in modern Syria (probably 14th century BC), the motif of the deadly, drought-inducing sun plays a large part: the burning sun casts its destroying rays as a result of the power and influence of death, especially the god of death himself, Mot. However, the solar goddess Shapshu is in other cases portrayed as quite a benevolent entity. In this paper, I discuss this discrepancy in the light of an astronomical omen text that appears to mention the dangerous properties of the sun when it appears together with Resheph, the god of feverish, hot illness – probably representing the planet Mars. The presentation touches on the possibility of these motifs representing early stages of proto-astrological symbolism.}, author = {Wikander, Ola}, editor = {Greene, Liz and Campion, Nicolas}, keyword = {Ugarit,Ugaritic,KTU 1.78,CAT 1.78,Omen,Astronomy,Astrology,Eclipse,Resheph,Shapshu,Shapsh,Shapash,Rashpu,Reshef}, language = {eng}, pages = {73--83}, series = {Sky and Symbol: Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Sophia Centre Conference}, title = {The Burning Sun and the Killing Resheph: Proto-Astrological Symbolism and Ugaritic Epic}, year = {2013}, }