Irḫan
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| Irḫan | |
|---|---|
Deified western branch of the Euphrates | |
| Major cult center | Ur |
| Animals | snake |
Irḫan was a Mesopotamian god who personified the western branch of the Euphrates, which in the first millennium BCE became its main course. The name could also refer to the river itself. The worship of Irḫan is sparsely attested, and many aspects of his character as a deity are uncertain. Two topics which continue to be a subject of debate among experts are his association or confusion with the snake god Nirah, and his proposed cosmogonic role.
Irḫan was the Sumerian name of the western branch of the Euphrates.[1] In Akkadian it was called Araḫtu.[1] These names are cognates, and most likely both were derived from the Semitic root 'rḫ, "to go on route."[1] Araḫtu grew in importance in the first millennium BCE, because the eastern branch flowing through cities such as Kish and Nippur, which was formerly the main course, became difficult to navigate.[2] As a result, the name Araḫtu started to be used interchangeably with Purattu.[2]
The name could be written both syllabically (ir-ḫa-an) and logographically (ÍD.dMUŠ.DIN.TIR.BALAG). Mixed writings, such as dMUŠ.ir-ḫa.DIN.BALAG, are also attested.[3] It could also simply be represented by the logogram dMUŠ.[4] However, it could also designate Ištaran,[5] his messenger Nirah,[1] the underworld god Ninazu,[4] the tutelary god of Susa, Inshushinak,[6] and the tutelary god of Eshnunna, Tishpak.[7]
Character
Irḫan, when understood as a deity, was a deification of the river sharing his name.[3] Snake-like characteristics were most likely ascribed to him,[3] presumably in reference to the many meanders of the river he represented.[2]
Sporadic references to Irḫan as a female figure are also known.[8]
An unresolved problem in scholarship is whether Irḫan should be understood as a cosmogonic deity. Frans Wiggermann argues that the available evidence does not support this theory, with a possible exception being the pairing of Irḫan with Dur, a deity analogous to the cosmogonic mound, Duku, in an offering list from Ur.[3] He points out that the god list An = Anum makes Irḫan a son of Lisin, which would not be a suitable ancestry for a cosmogonic deity.[9] However, Wilfred G. Lambert argued that he should be understood as such.[10] He interpreted the Kassite period personal name MUŠ-šar-ilāni, "MUŠ is the king of the gods," as referring to Irḫan as a theogonic figure.[11] Analogous names invoking other deities, including both traditional pantheon heads and other gods, are also known.[11]