UR.IDIM - Revision history

Sushoff at 19:39, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T19:39:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:39, 26 March 2026
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	{{distinguish\|Uridim}}		{{distinguish\|Uridim}}
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:UR.IDIM}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:UR.IDIM}}
	Authors: ~~Gennady E. Kurtik,~~ {{PAGEAUTHORS}}~~, Euin Choung Kim~~		Authors: {{PAGEAUTHORS}}
	----		----
	Mesopotamian constellation in the area of the modern constellation Lupus. UR.IDIM (𒌨𒁁), The Mad Dog (or: Rabid Dog), is a standalone constellation associated with a Mesopotamian female deity, a daughter of one of the three most important gods Anu (god of heavens) or Enlil (god of agriculture). This goddess did not have a constellation in the original Mesopotamian uranography of the -2nd millennium. To the west of the constellation of UR.IDIM, there is the constellation of the violent (male) nature god, Numushda whose iconographic representation and exact realm and origin are uncertain. However, it is well possible that the two neighbouring constellations Numushda and UR.IDIM were the model for the later Greek super-constellation of "[[Centaurus]] and [[Lupus]] with [[Ara]], the Censer".		Mesopotamian constellation in the area of the modern constellation Lupus. UR.IDIM (𒌨𒁁), The Mad Dog (or: Rabid Dog), is a standalone constellation associated with a Mesopotamian female deity, a daughter of one of the three most important gods Anu (god of heavens) or Enlil (god of agriculture). This goddess did not have a constellation in the original Mesopotamian uranography of the -2nd millennium. To the west of the constellation of UR.IDIM, there is the constellation of the violent (male) nature god, Numushda whose iconographic representation and exact realm and origin are uncertain. However, it is well possible that the two neighbouring constellations Numushda and UR.IDIM were the model for the later Greek super-constellation of "[[Centaurus]] and [[Lupus]] with [[Ara]], the Censer".

Sushoff at 09:28, 17 January 2026

2026-01-17T09:28:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:28, 17 January 2026
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	{{distinguish\|Uridim}}		{{distinguish\|Uridim}}
	{{DISPLAYTITLE:UR.IDIM}}		{{DISPLAYTITLE:UR.IDIM}}
			Authors: Gennady E. Kurtik, {{PAGEAUTHORS}}, Euin Choung Kim
			----
	Mesopotamian constellation in the area of the modern constellation Lupus. UR.IDIM (𒌨𒁁), The Mad Dog (or: Rabid Dog), is a standalone constellation associated with a Mesopotamian female deity, a daughter of one of the three most important gods Anu (god of heavens) or Enlil (god of agriculture). This goddess did not have a constellation in the original Mesopotamian uranography of the -2nd millennium. To the west of the constellation of UR.IDIM, there is the constellation of the violent (male) nature god, Numushda whose iconographic representation and exact realm and origin are uncertain. However, it is well possible that the two neighbouring constellations Numushda and UR.IDIM were the model for the later Greek super-constellation of "[[Centaurus]] and [[Lupus]] with [[Ara]], the Censer".		Mesopotamian constellation in the area of the modern constellation Lupus. UR.IDIM (𒌨𒁁), The Mad Dog (or: Rabid Dog), is a standalone constellation associated with a Mesopotamian female deity, a daughter of one of the three most important gods Anu (god of heavens) or Enlil (god of agriculture). This goddess did not have a constellation in the original Mesopotamian uranography of the -2nd millennium. To the west of the constellation of UR.IDIM, there is the constellation of the violent (male) nature god, Numushda whose iconographic representation and exact realm and origin are uncertain. However, it is well possible that the two neighbouring constellations Numushda and UR.IDIM were the model for the later Greek super-constellation of "[[Centaurus]] and [[Lupus]] with [[Ara]], the Censer".

Sushoff: /* Additional */

2026-01-08T18:08:00Z

Additional

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:08, 8 January 2026
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	=== Additional ===		=== Additional ===

	==== ~~II.~~ Deity. ====		==== Deity. ====
	The minor deity <sup>d</sup>ur.idim ''= ur(i)dimmu'' is known from sources of the Kassite, Neo-Assyrian and Seleucid periods. It was depicted in the form of a man-lion, sometimes paired with a man-bull, who performed protective functions as a guardian of the gates of Marduk and Zarpanitu and other deities. It also acted as an intermediary between the deities and the sick – expelling evil and helping the sick to regain health [Beaulieu 1990; Black-Green 1992<ref>''Black J., Green A.'' Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia. An Illustrated Dictionary. London, British Museum Press, 1992.</ref>, 122; Tallqvist 1938<ref name=":7">''Tallqvist K''. Akkadische Götterepitheta. Helsingforsiae, 1938.</ref>, 344; Wiggermann 1992, 173-4].		The minor deity <sup>d</sup>ur.idim ''= ur(i)dimmu'' is known from sources of the Kassite, Neo-Assyrian and Seleucid periods. It was depicted in the form of a man-lion, sometimes paired with a man-bull, who performed protective functions as a guardian of the gates of Marduk and Zarpanitu and other deities. It also acted as an intermediary between the deities and the sick – expelling evil and helping the sick to regain health [Beaulieu 1990; Black-Green 1992<ref>''Black J., Green A.'' Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia. An Illustrated Dictionary. London, British Museum Press, 1992.</ref>, 122; Tallqvist 1938<ref name=":7">''Tallqvist K''. Akkadische Götterepitheta. Helsingforsiae, 1938.</ref>, 344; Wiggermann 1992, 173-4].

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	(1) Wishes of prosperity for the Assyrian king, cf. [Watanabe 1992<ref>''Watanabe K.'' Segenswünsche für den assyrischen König in der 2. Person Sg. (II) // ASJ. 1992. Vol. 14. P. 369-373.</ref>, 370, K. 6331 r. 12-13].		(1) Wishes of prosperity for the Assyrian king, cf. [Watanabe 1992<ref>''Watanabe K.'' Segenswünsche für den assyrischen König in der 2. Person Sg. (II) // ASJ. 1992. Vol. 14. P. 369-373.</ref>, 370, K. 6331 r. 12-13].

	==== ~~III.~~ Symbol. ====		==== Symbol. ====
	A monster-like figure, standing vertically, and sometimes depicted with a scepter, on top of which lays a month; the upper part of the figure is human (with a bearded face in a hat, a male torso, and two arms), the lower half – lion-like (two paws, a hind, a ring shaped and twisted tail with a tassel). The earliest known image is dated to the last quarter of the 2nd millennium BC. The image of a lion-man on a kudurru (with a Scorpius tail) belongs to the same period [Seidl 1968<ref>''Seidl U.'' Die babylonischen Kudurru-Reliefs // BaM. 1968, Bd. 4. S. 1-220.</ref>, 41-42, Abb. 10; Wiggermann 1992, 173]. For images dating back to the Neo-Assyrian period see. [SAA 10<ref>''A. Sachs, T. Pinches, J. Strassmaier,'' Late Babylonian Astronomical and Related Texts, London, 1955.</ref>, Fig. 24, 27]. In general, these images correspond to the descriptions of the parts of the constellation that we find in the texts, but they are too static and do not fit well with the epithet ''kalbu šegû'' "Mad Dog," which suggests a more expressive image.		A monster-like figure, standing vertically, and sometimes depicted with a scepter, on top of which lays a month; the upper part of the figure is human (with a bearded face in a hat, a male torso, and two arms), the lower half – lion-like (two paws, a hind, a ring shaped and twisted tail with a tassel). The earliest known image is dated to the last quarter of the 2nd millennium BC. The image of a lion-man on a kudurru (with a Scorpius tail) belongs to the same period [Seidl 1968<ref>''Seidl U.'' Die babylonischen Kudurru-Reliefs // BaM. 1968, Bd. 4. S. 1-220.</ref>, 41-42, Abb. 10; Wiggermann 1992, 173]. For images dating back to the Neo-Assyrian period see. [SAA 10<ref>''A. Sachs, T. Pinches, J. Strassmaier,'' Late Babylonian Astronomical and Related Texts, London, 1955.</ref>, Fig. 24, 27]. In general, these images correspond to the descriptions of the parts of the constellation that we find in the texts, but they are too static and do not fit well with the epithet ''kalbu šegû'' "Mad Dog," which suggests a more expressive image.

	==== ~~IV.~~ Identification. ====		==== Previous Identification. ====
	= Caput Serpentis [van der Waerden 1949<ref>''Waerden B. L. van der''. Babylonian astronomy. II. The thirty Six Stars // JNES. V. 8. P. 6-26.</ref>, 13].		= Caput Serpentis [van der Waerden 1949<ref>''Waerden B. L. van der''. Babylonian astronomy. II. The thirty Six Stars // JNES. V. 8. P. 6-26.</ref>, 13].

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	= Lupus and ζ+ Scorpii [MA, 138].		= Lupus and ζ+ Scorpii [MA, 138].

	==== V. Parts of the constellation and individual stars. ====		==== Parts of the constellation and individual stars. ====
	(1) ''igi'' <sup>mul</sup>''ur.idim'' "Eye of the Mad Dog," see GU text.		(1) ''igi'' <sup>mul</sup>''ur.idim'' "Eye of the Mad Dog," see GU text.

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	(8) The central part (lit. navel) of the Mad Dog (δ Lup), see dbn-text.		(8) The central part (lit. navel) of the Mad Dog (δ Lup), see dbn-text.

	==== ~~VI.~~ Astrology. ====		==== Astrology. ====
	The lack of predictions associated with the Mad Dog constellation may indicate its relatively late origin.		The lack of predictions associated with the Mad Dog constellation may indicate its relatively late origin.

Sushoff at 18:07, 8 January 2026

2026-01-08T18:07:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:07, 8 January 2026
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	Mesopotamian constellation in the area of the modern constellation Lupus. UR.IDIM (𒌨𒁁), The Mad Dog (or: Rabid Dog), is a standalone constellation associated with a Mesopotamian female deity, a daughter of one of the three most important gods Anu (god of heavens) or Enlil (god of agriculture). This goddess did not have a constellation in the original Mesopotamian uranography of the -2nd millennium. To the west of the constellation of UR.IDIM, there is the constellation of the violent (male) nature god, Numushda whose iconographic representation and exact realm and origin are uncertain. However, it is well possible that the two neighbouring constellations Numushda and UR.IDIM were the model for the later Greek super-constellation of "[[Centaurus]] and [[Lupus]] with [[Ara]], the Censer".		Mesopotamian constellation in the area of the modern constellation Lupus. UR.IDIM (𒌨𒁁), The Mad Dog (or: Rabid Dog), is a standalone constellation associated with a Mesopotamian female deity, a daughter of one of the three most important gods Anu (god of heavens) or Enlil (god of agriculture). This goddess did not have a constellation in the original Mesopotamian uranography of the -2nd millennium. To the west of the constellation of UR.IDIM, there is the constellation of the violent (male) nature god, Numushda whose iconographic representation and exact realm and origin are uncertain. However, it is well possible that the two neighbouring constellations Numushda and UR.IDIM were the model for the later Greek super-constellation of "[[Centaurus]] and [[Lupus]] with [[Ara]], the Censer".

	==Concordance, Etymology, History==		==Concordance, Etymology, History<ref>[[Mesopotamian (All Terms)\|Planetarium Babylonicum 2.0]], All Skies Encyclopaedia.</ref>==
	=== Krebernik (2023) ~~===~~		* = ''ur(i)dimmu'' (𒀯𒌨𒁁𒈬) Akkadian parallel (Kurtik 2007<ref>Kurtik, G. (2007): Звездное небо Древней Месопотамии. Шумеро-аккадские названия созвездий и других светил [The Star Heaven of Ancient Mesopotamia: Sumero-Akkadian Names of Constellations and Other Heavenly Bodies], Aletejja, St. Petersburg, Russia.</ref>, u25).
	The conventional translation “mad dog” is based on the equation ''ur-idim'' = ''kalbu šegû'' (Hh XIV 95, see MSL 8/2, 14).		* "Mad Dog (var.: Lion)";
			* constellation within the modern Wolf ([[Lupus]]) [Gössmann 1950<ref>''Gössmann P.F''. Planetarium Babylonicum, Rom, 1950 (A. Deimel. Šumerisches Lexikon 4/2).</ref>, 163; AHw<ref>''Soden von W''. Akkadisches Handwörterbuch. Wiesbaden, 1985.</ref>, 1429b; Beaulieu 1990; BPO 2<ref name=":0">''Reiner E., Pingree D''. Enuma Anu Enlil, Tablets 50-51. Undena Publications, Malibu, 1981 (Babylonian Planetary Omens: Part Two).</ref>, 16; Wiggermann 1992, 172-174].

			However, note that UR.IDIM = ''uridimmu'' figures in art correspond to composite lion-human figures (see fig. **, '''''<nowiki>[[Wayne provide reference from RlA or Wiggerman etc.???]]</nowiki>'''''. The significance of the figure standing behind the composite lion-human figure needs to be explained. Perhaps some connection somehow with a super-constellation consisting of the stars of classical Lupus and Centaurus may be suspected.

			Hoffmann and Krebernik add:<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Krebernik, M. (2023). What do deities tell us about the celestial positioning system, in: R. Rollinger, I. Madreiter, M. Lang, C. Pappi (eds.). The Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East, Papers held at the 64th Rencontre Assyriologique International and 12th Melammu Symposium July 16-20 2018, Innsbruck. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 539-579</ref> <blockquote>The conventional translation “mad dog” is based on the equation ''ur-idim'' = ''kalbu šegû'' (Hh XIV 95, see MSL 8/2, 14). </blockquote>
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	\|+		\|+
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	\|}		\|}

	<sup>mul</sup>UR.IDIM The associated deity is '''Kusu:'''		<sup>mul</sup>UR.IDIM The associated deity is '''Kusu:'''<ref>Hoffmann, S. M. and Krebernik, M. (2023). What do deities tell us about the celestial positioning system, in: R. Rollinger, I. Madreiter, M. Lang, C. Pappi (eds.). The Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East, Papers held at the 64th Rencontre Assyriologique International and 12th Melammu Symposium July 16-20 2018, Innsbruck. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 539-579</ref>
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	\|Goddess of the cultic censer, mainly occurring in purification rituals. Her name is also an ancient epithet and later byname of the grain goddess Nissaba.		\|Goddess of the cultic censer, mainly occurring in purification rituals. Her name is also an ancient epithet and later byname of the grain goddess Nissaba.
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	\|}		\|}
	Note that Nisaba carries an ear of grain, and that the (later, Greek) constellations of The Censer (Ara) and The Maiden (Virgo) are neighbouring the super-constellation [[Centaurus]]+[[Lupus]].		Note that Nisaba carries an ear of grain, and that the (later, Greek) constellations of The Censer (Ara) and The Maiden (Virgo) are neighbouring the super-constellation [[Centaurus]]+[[Lupus]].

	~~=== Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim, Safford ===~~

	* = ''ur(i)dimmu'' (𒀯𒌨𒁁𒈬) Akkadian parallel (Kurtik 2007<ref>Kurtik, G. (2007): Звездное небо Древней Месопотамии. Шумеро-аккадские названия созвездий и других светил [The Star Heaven of Ancient Mesopotamia: Sumero-Akkadian Names of Constellations and Other Heavenly Bodies], Aletejja, St. Petersburg, Russia.</ref>, u25).
	* "Mad Dog (var.: Lion)";
	* constellation within the modern Wolf ([[Lupus]]) [Gössmann 1950<ref>''Gössmann P.F''. Planetarium Babylonicum, Rom, 1950 (A. Deimel. Šumerisches Lexikon 4/2).</ref>, 163; AHw<ref>''Soden von W''. Akkadisches Handwörterbuch. Wiesbaden, 1985.</ref>, 1429b; Beaulieu 1990; BPO 2<ref name=":0">''Reiner E., Pingree D''. Enuma Anu Enlil, Tablets 50-51. Undena Publications, Malibu, 1981 (Babylonian Planetary Omens: Part Two).</ref>, 16; Wiggermann 1992, 172-174].

	However, note that UR.IDIM = ''uridimmu'' figures in art correspond to composite lion-human figures (see fig. **, '''''<nowiki>[[Wayne provide reference from RlA or Wiggerman etc.???]]</nowiki>'''''. The significance of the figure standing behind the composite lion-human figure needs to be explained. Perhaps some connection somehow with a super-constellation consisting of the stars of classical Lupus and Centaurus may be suspected.

	==== Sources and Identification(s) ====		==== Sources and Identification(s) ====

InitTeam at 08:04, 16 December 2025

2025-12-16T08:04:05Z

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JanSafford at 13:46, 13 December 2025

2025-12-13T13:46:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:46, 13 December 2025
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	Note that Nisaba carries an ear of grain, and that the (later, Greek) constellations of The Censer (Ara) and The Maiden (Virgo) are neighbouring the super-constellation [[Centaurus]]+[[Lupus]].		Note that Nisaba carries an ear of grain, and that the (later, Greek) constellations of The Censer (Ara) and The Maiden (Virgo) are neighbouring the super-constellation [[Centaurus]]+[[Lupus]].

	=== Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim ===		=== Kurtik with Hilder, Hoffmann, Horowitz, Kim, Safford ===

	* = ''ur(i)dimmu'' (𒀯𒌨𒁁𒈬) Akkadian parallel (Kurtik 2007, u25).		* = ''ur(i)dimmu'' (𒀯𒌨𒁁𒈬) Akkadian parallel (Kurtik 2007, u25).

JanSafford at 13:44, 13 December 2025

2025-12-13T13:44:39Z

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YoulaAzkarrula: /* Stars within the Constellation Area */

2025-12-02T03:34:14Z

Stars within the Constellation Area

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Sushoff: /* Stars within the Constellation Area */

2025-11-30T17:14:25Z

Stars within the Constellation Area

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:14, 30 November 2025
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	\|		\|
	\|}		\|}
			[[File:UR.IDIM CH Screenshot 2025-11-30 192409.png\|thumb\|Convex Hull for the stars inside UR.IDIM (CC BY Youla Azkarrula).]]

	====Stars within the Constellation Area====		====Stars within the Constellation Area====

Sushoff at 20:37, 23 November 2025

2025-11-23T20:37:27Z

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