Orientalische Religionen in der Antike Ägypten, Israel, Alter Orient Oriental Religions in Antiquity Egypt, Israel, Ancient Near East (ORA) Herausgegeben von / Edited by Angelika Berlejung (Leipzig) Joachim Friedrich Quack (Heidelberg) Annette Zgoll (Göttingen) 11 Maciej M. Münnich The God Resheph in the Ancient Near East Mohr Siebeck Maciej M. Münnich, born 1973; 2003 PhD from the Catholic University of Lublin, Faculty of Arts; 2012 Post-doctoral degree (habilitation) from the Catholic University of Lublin, Faculty of Arts; currently Head of the Department of Ancient History at the Catholic University of Lublin. ISBN 978-3-16-152491-2 / eISBN 978-3-16-160600-7 unveränderte eBook-Ausgabe 2021 ISSN 1869-0513 (Orientalische Religionen in der Antike) Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliographie; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. © 2013 by Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, Germany. www.mohr.de This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that permitted by copyright law) without the publisher’s written permission. This applies particularly to reproductions, translations, microfilms and storage and processing in electronic systems. The book was printed by Gulde-Druck in Tübingen on non-aging paper and bound by Buchbinderei Spinner in Ottersweier. Printed in Germany. Foreword The publication, which readers hold in their hands, is the result of several years of au- thor’s work. However, it was undoubtedly created to a large extent thanks to the support of many friendly people and institutions. First of all, one should mention those working in the Institute of History at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) who supported the author by friendly atmosphere and inspiring discussions. Special thanks should be ex- tended to Dr. Bogumił Szady for his help in preparing the maps and to Dr. Piotr Plisiecki for reading the manuscript and giving valuable remarks. One cannot overesti- mate the kindness I experienced from Fr. Licentiate Paweł Trzopek, O.P., the director of the library, during my research at École Biblique et Archéologique Française in Jerusa- lem. Without his generous help this book would have been insufficient and limited. I also thank Dr. Olga Drewnowska-Rymarz from the University of Warsaw for helping me study some more difficult Eblaite fragments. I experienced similar support from Rev. Dr. Krzysztof Modras, O.P., from the Institute of Cultural Studies at KUL, who helped me read some Egyptian texts. I cannot omit the name of Prof. Edward Lipiński from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, with whom I had the possibility and pleasure of discussing some issues concerning the god Resheph. Although I dare to disagree with him about some ideas he is, undoubtedly, the best expert in the issues discussed in this book. All efforts of the author would have been ineffective had not been for the finan- cial support in the form of grant from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Educa- tion. Finally, I would like to thank those who I owed the most – my family: my Wife Monika and Children: Krzyś, Zosia and especially Jędruś, who was born almost at the same time my work was completed. In fact I owe them an apology for the stolen time which I spent working on the computer or conducting research in libraries. Thanking them for their patience I would like to dedicate this book to them. Maciej M. Münnich Lublin, May 2011 Foreword to the English edition The English edition of the presented work is a revised and updated version of the Polish publication. I would particularly like to thank Professors Angelika Berlejung, Annette Zgoll and Joachim Friedrich Quack. They read my manuscript and gave me many valu- able remarks and advice. Only I know how much I am in debt to them. Any errors are mine and mine alone. Last but not least, I want to express my deep gratitude to the Mohr Siebeck Verlag for accepting the volume for the Oriental Religions in Antiquity series. Maciej M. Münnich Lublin, December 2012 Table of Contents Foreword...........................................................................................................................V Foreword to the English edition ..................................................................................... VI Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. XI A. Reference works and archaeological sites ............................................................ XI B. General ................................................................................................................. XII Transcription................................................................................................................ XIV Introduction .......................................................................................................................1 Etymology .........................................................................................................................8 Part One: The Third Millennium Sources Chapter 1: Ebla ................................................................................................................13 A. The deity Resheph..................................................................................................14 B. Onomastics.............................................................................................................37 C. Conclusions............................................................................................................41 I. The chronology of the cult and the forms of Resheph’s name ............................41 II. Resheph’s characteristics..................................................................................42 III. The local hypostases of Resheph at Ebla .........................................................48 1. Resheph of Atani............................................................................................49 2. Resheph of Gunum.........................................................................................51 3. Resheph of Tunip...........................................................................................55 4. Resheph of the palace....................................................................................56 5. Other hypostases ...........................................................................................57 IV. Identification with Nergal ................................................................................58 V. Archaeological data...........................................................................................64 VI. Onomastics .......................................................................................................66 Chapter 2: Elam...............................................................................................................69 Part Two: The Second Millennium Sources Chapter 3: Mari – Terqa – Tuttul.....................................................................................73 A. The deity Resheph..................................................................................................73 B. Onomastics.............................................................................................................74 VIII Table of Contents C. Conclusions............................................................................................................76 Chapter 4: Babylon..........................................................................................................79 Chapter 5: Egypt..............................................................................................................80 A. The deity Resheph..................................................................................................80 B. Onomastics and toponomastics..............................................................................96 C. Herishef................................................................................................................100 D. Conclusions..........................................................................................................101 I. The chronology of the cult ................................................................................101 II. Resheph’s name and titles ...............................................................................109 III. Resheph’s characteristics ..............................................................................111 1. Warrior........................................................................................................111 2. Divine protector of horses...........................................................................112 3. Charitable protective deity..........................................................................115 Chapter 6: Byblos ..........................................................................................................120 Herishef.....................................................................................................................120 Chapter 7: Alalakh.........................................................................................................122 Onomastics................................................................................................................122 Chapter 8: Ugarit ...........................................................................................................124