Ur (Mandaeism)

Ur
Ur
Other names	Leviathan,Bar-Spag
Abode	World of Darkness
Symbol	Serpent or snake (in theskandola)
Parents	RuhaandGaf
Equivalents
Judaism equivalent	Leviathan

InMandaeism,ʿUr(Classical Mandaic:ࡏࡅࡓ) is the king (Classical Mandaic:ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡀ,romanized:malka) of theWorld of Darkness(alma ḏ-hšuka) orunderworld.He is the son ofRuha,the queen of the underworld,^[1]and her brotherGaf(also spelled Gap), one of the giants in the World of Darkness described in book 5 of theGinza Rabba.Ur is typically portrayed as a large, ferocious dragon or snake.^[2]He is represented by the image of a serpent on theskandolatalisman.^[3]^: 37

TheMandaean Book of Johncontrasts Ur, the King of Darkness, with the King of Light (Hayyi Rabbi).^[4]

Names[edit]

Ur has also been referred in Mandaean texts asLeviathan(Classical Mandaic:ࡋࡉࡅࡉࡀࡕࡀࡍ,romanized:liuiatan;fromRight Ginza15.1). According to theRight Ginza5.1, his mother Ruha called him "the Great Giant, the Power of Darkness" (gabara rba, haila ḏ-hšuka).^[5]

Ur'sepithetsinclude Bar-Spag (Classical Mandaic:ࡁࡓ ࡎࡐࡀࡂ,lit. 'Son of Spag') and other names.^[5]

Parallels[edit]

Aldihisi (2008) compares Ur toTiamatin Babylonian mythology andSamaelin Gnostic literature.^[2]

References[edit]

^Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002).The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-515385-5.OCLC 65198443.
^^a ^bAldihisi, Sabah (2008).The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba(PhD). University College London.
^Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937).The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran.Oxford At The Clarendon Press.
^Häberl, Charles (2020).The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary.Boston: De Gruyter.ISBN 978-3-11-048651-3.OCLC 1129155601.
^^a ^bGelbert, Carlos (2011).Ginza Rba.Sydney: Living Water Books.ISBN 9780958034630.

[Buckley_2002-1] Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002).The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-515385-5.OCLC 65198443.

[Aldihisi_2008-2] Aldihisi, Sabah (2008).The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba(PhD). University College London.

[auto2-3] Drower, Ethel Stefana (1937).The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran.Oxford At The Clarendon Press.

[Haberl2020-4] Häberl, Charles (2020).The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary.Boston: De Gruyter.ISBN 978-3-11-048651-3.OCLC 1129155601.

[GR_Gelbert-5] Gelbert, Carlos (2011).Ginza Rba.Sydney: Living Water Books.ISBN 9780958034630.

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