Ur (Mandaeism)
| Ur | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Leviathan, Bar-Spag |
| Abode | World of Darkness |
| Parents | Ruha and Gaf |
| Equivalents | |
| Judaism equivalent | Leviathan |
| Part of a series on |
| Mandaeism |
|---|
 |
| Religion portal |
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] He is represented by the image of a serpent on the skandola talisman.[3]: 37
The Mandaean Book of John contrasts Ur, the King of Darkness, with the King of Light (Hayyi Rabbi).[4]
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.[5]
See also
- Shdum, also known as the "King of Darkness"
- Leviathan
- Nagaraja
- Tiamat
- Yaldabaoth
- Ahriman
- Asrestar
- Prince of Darkness (Manichaeism)
References
- ^ Buckley, Jorunn Jacobsen (2002). The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515385-5. OCLC 65198443.
- ^ a b Aldihisi, 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.
- ^ Ginza Rba. Translated by Gelbert, Carlos. Sydney: Living Water Books. 2011. ISBN 9780958034630.
