Picture 1: Bas-relief of a Apkallu figure from the temple of Ninurta at Nimrud.
Pictures 2/3: Apkallu on a relief at the palace of Ashurnasirpal II
Where are the seven apkallu of the apsu, the holy carp†,
who are perfect in lofty wisdom like Ea’s their lord,
who can make my body Holy?
†Usually translated as “pure puradu-fishes”
Poem of Erra; Tablet 2, line 162 (Kvanvig 2011, p. 162)
Apkallu (Akkadian), or Abgal (Sumerian), are terms found in Cuneiform inscriptions that mean either “wise” or “sage”.
In the later work by Berossus describing Babylonia the Apkallu appear again, also described as fish-men who are sent by the gods to impart knowledge to people - in Berossus the first one Oannes (a variant of Uanna) is said to have taught people the creation myth the Enuma Elis (qv)
Berossus wrote a history of Babylon in around 281 BC, during the Greek period of overlordship. According to his own account he was a Chaldean priest of Bel. His “Babyloniaca”was written in Greek, probably for the Seleucid court of Antiochus I.[32] His work gives a description of the wise men, their names, and their associated kings.[33][18]
Berossus’ original book is now lost.[34] Substantial elements of Babylonian myth survived via the writings of Berossus, a 3rd century BC Babylonian writer and priest of Bel (Marduk), the Babyloniaca. The original work is now lost but parts have survived via the abridgment and copying of historians including Alexander Polyhistor, Josephus, Abydenus, and Eusebius.[35][34] Mayer Burstein suggests that Berossus’ work was partly metaphorical, intended to convey wisdoms concerning the development of man - a nuance lost or uncommented on by later copyists.[34]
Oannes was once conjectured to be a form, and or another name of the ancient Babylonian god Ea,[48] It is now thought that the name is the Greek form of the Babylonian Uanna, an Apkallu.[49]
“Wisdom built her house. She set out its seven pillars”. - Book of Proverbs (Prov 9:1)
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