Academic Journal
Solving the Starry Symbols of Sargon II
| Title: | Solving the Starry Symbols of Sargon II |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Worthington, Martin |
| Source: | Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research. 391:107-133 |
| Publisher Information: | University of Chicago Press, 2024. |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Subject Terms: | Symbolism, Dūr-Šarrukīn, Constellations, Book and Print Cultures, 06 humanities and the arts, Neo-Assyrian art, 01 natural sciences, Wordplay, Identities in Transformation, Manuscript, Astroglyphs, Khorsabad, Cryptography, Names, Sargon II, 0601 history and archaeology, Manuscript, Book and Print Cultures, Assyriology, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences |
| Description: | published online April 2024 The city of Khorsabad (ancient Dūr-Šarrukīn), the newly built capital of Sargon II of Assyria, contained multiple instances of a sequence of five images or symbols (lion, bird, bull, tree, plow) which also appeared shortened to three (lion, tree, plow). What did they mean? There is currently no consensus. This paper proposes a new solution, suggesting that the images a) symbolize specific constellations and b) represent Babylonian/Assyrian words whose sounds “spell out” Sargon’s name (this works for both the long and the short version). Combining these two traits, the effect of the symbols was to assert that Sargon’s name was written in the heavens, for all eternity, and also to associate him with the gods Anu and Enlil, to whom the constellations in question were linked. It is further suggested that Sargon’s name was elsewhere symbolized by a lion passant (pacing lion), through a bilingual pun. |
| Document Type: | Article |
| File Description: | (unknown); application/pdf |
| Language: | English |
| ISSN: | 2769-3589 2769-3600 |
| DOI: | 10.1086/730377 |
| Access URL: | http://people.tcd.ie/worthinm https://hdl.handle.net/2262/108341 |
| Accession Number: | edsair.doi.dedup.....53d28db511d41b0f28d7775bd9f623ea |
| Database: | OpenAIRE |
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