Ammarik
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ammarik was most likely a deified mountain in origin.[3] It is possible that the corresponding landmark is located to the northwest of Ebla, in the proximity of Church of Saint Simeon Stylites.[1] According to Hittite documents, it was located in the land of Mukish.[2] A proposed identity is Mount Simeon, which according to Alfonso Archi is visible from Ebla.[4] In a Hittite document dealing with the borders of the areas under the control of Carchemish, Ammarik is mentioned as a mountain, designated with the determinative ḪUR.SAG.[4]
In later periods, the mountain was apparently seen as the residence of a weather deity, as evidenced by the annals of Ḫattušili I.[4]
Ammarik and Adarwan
In a ritual text from Ammarik occurs next to Adarwan, most likely also a deified mountain.[4] Alfonso Archi considers him to be a god,[4] but Volkert Haas describes Adarwan simply as the "numen" of Ammarik.[5] A village sharing the god's name, A-dar-a-nuki, is also attested in the Ebla texts.[4] Similarly, a village named after another deified mountain, Saggar, also existed.[6]
An Eblaite incantation (ARET 5.16) refers to dA-dar-wa-an BE ti8MUŠEN.ti8MUŠEN, "Adarwan, lord of the eagles."[4] Eagles were also a symbol of other mountain gods in ancient Syria and Anatolia, for example a Hittite text describing the appearance of various deities mentions that the cult statue of the mountain god Kuwarri was accompanied by an iron eagle, while an eagle made out of ivory was an attribute of Iškiša.[7] Documentation pertaining to the hišuwa festival mentions an eagle who sat on the shoulder of the mountain god Manuzi, Eribuški.[8]