A divine name is what you call a deity, sometimes DN in lexicons for short. In Egyptian, DNs were indicated with a "god's flag" 𓏏 (nṯr, which can be Anglicised as netjer.) In Sumerian cuneiform, the Dingir sign (𒀭) was used.[1]

mgn rbt atrt ym mgz qnyt ilm
Asherah's title in KTU 1.4 mgn rbt is like Jupiter's title optimus maxiumus.

It can be distinguished from an epithet. A divine epithet expresses a god through specific traits, aspects or domains, or using a common noun.[2] Rahmouni says a locative name is ʔil yṯb bʕṯtrt in KTU 1.108, 2 meaning "The god who sits (enthroned) in ʕAṯtartu.[3]

A name is sometimes double-barreled, like in Shagar-we-Ishtar or Kothar-wa-Hasis.

ʔṯrt w rḥmy Asherah-wa-Rachmai takes this ("binomial") form but is of slightly unclear categorization.[4] In this case and the Lady of Byblos, it's not clear if the appellation is a personal name.

Binomial names can be found in "bound forms" like Bethel's Anat-Bethel, Ashim-Bethel, "and Herem-Bethel from the archives of Elephantine."[5]

Yahweh is seen as the personal name of a monotheistic deity, a secret until revelation made to Moses. This theophany came after the story of Jacob wrestling with God, where despite the outcome he refuses to answer the question of his name.

In a different narrative, the Egyptian sun god Ra's true name was cunningly uncovered by Isis. Using a secret scheme, Isis gained complete dominion over Ra. This enabled her to elevate her son Horus to the throne, showing the power of a name to the gods. [6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Mark S. (2003-11-06). The Origins of Biblical Monotheism. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516768-6.
  2. ↑ Rahmouni, Aicha (2007-11-27). Divine Epithets in the Ugaritic Alphabetic Texts. Brill. ISBN 9789047423003. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  3. ↑ Locative epithet 10 in Rahmouni, p 33. Tell Ashtara or Ashteroth karnaim. Parallel with "The god who judges / rules in Hidra`yu.
  4. ↑ Rahmoui Pg xxvi
  5. ↑ "A New Analysis of YHWH's asherah". Religion and Literature of Ancient Palestine. 2015-12-13. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  6. ↑ Harris, Geraldine (1981). Gods & Pharaohs from Egyptian Mythology. London, England: Eurobook Limited. pp. 24–25. ISBN 0-87226-907-8
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