Ur (Mandaeism)

In Mandaeism, ʿUr (Classical Mandaic: ࡏࡅࡓ) is the king (Classical Mandaic: ࡌࡀࡋࡊࡀ, malka) of the World of Darkness (alma d-hšuka) or underworld. He is the son of Ruha, the queen of the underworld,[1] and her brother Gaf (also spelled Gap), one of the giants in the World of Darkness described in book 5 of the Ginza Rabba. Ur is typically portrayed as a large, ferocious dragon or snake.[2]

Ur
Other namesLeviathan, Br-Spag
AbodeWorld of Darkness
ParentsRuha and Gaf
Equivalents
Judaism equivalentLeviathan

The Mandaean Book of John contrasts Ur, the King of Darkness, with the King of Light (Hayyi Rabbi).[3]

Ur has also been referred in Mandaean texts as Leviathan. Aldihisi (2008) compares him to Tiamat in Babylonian mythology and Yaldabaoth in Gnostic literature.[2] Ur's epithets include Bar-Spag (Classical Mandaic: ࡁࡓ ࡎࡐࡀࡂ, "Son of Spag") and other names.[4]

See also

References

  1. Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
  2. Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
  3. Häberl, Charles (2020). The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary. Boston: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-048651-3. OCLC 1129155601.
  4. Ginza Rba. Translated by Gelbert, Carlos. Sydney: Living Water Books. 2011. ISBN 9780958034630.
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