Ninnisig
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann
Ninnisig is a modern star name adopted by the International Astronomical Union in the IAU-Catalog of Star Names (IAU-CSN). Its origin is Sumerian. It is the name of the star θ Lyr in constellation Lyra.
Concordance, Etymology, History
Nin-nisig (see Kurtik n40)[1] and Erragal are a couple of ancient Mesopotamian gods. Ninnisig is the butcher of Enlil’s palace Ekur, wife of Erragal. Her name is usually translated as "Lady Greenery" or "Lady Greens."[2] They are attested as two stars in MUL.APIN, the oldest astronomical known (dating between 1350 and 1150 BCE):
MUL.APIN (I i 27)[3]
- DIŠ 2 MULmeš ša2 EGIR-šu2 GUBmeš-zu dNin-SAR u dEr3-ra-gal
- The two stars which stand behind it [the Goat]: Nin-nisig and Erragal.
These two stars are identified with η + θ Lyrae (e.g bei Weidner 1957-59[4]).
Mythology
IAU Working Group on Star Names
The name was discussed and adopted by the IAU WGSN in 2026 with a set of star names for Lyra.
Decision: On 18 June 2026, the IAU WGSN adopted the name Ninnisig for the star θ Lyrae.
-
InfoCard1 -
InfoCard2
Weblinks
Reference
- ↑ Planetarium Babylonicum 2.0, All Skies Encyclopaedia.
- ↑ Cavigneaux, Antoine; Krebernik, Manfred (1998a), "dNin-sar", Reallexikon der Assyriologie (in German)
- ↑ Hunger, H. and Steele, J. M. (2019). The Babylonian Astronomical Compendium MUL.APIN, Routledge, NY
- ↑ Weidner E. mul gir2.tab = zuqaqîpi // AfO. 1957-1958. Bd. 18. S. 393-394].
