nēšum

Akkadian
𒌨𒈤 (nēšum)
𒀯𒌨𒀀 (nēšum)

Etymology

From Proto-Semitic *naḥaš- (“lion”). Cognate with Arabic حَنَش (ḥanaš, “snake, viper”) and Biblical Hebrew נָחָשׁ (nɔḥɔš, “snake”).

Pronunciation

Noun

nēšum m (plural nēšū) (from Old Babylonian on)

  1. lion
    Synonym: (poetic) lābum (“lion”)
  2. (astronomy) Leo (constellation)

Alternative forms
Cuneiform spellings
Logograms Phonetic
  • 𒌨𒈤 (UR.MAḪ)
  • 𒌨𒀀 (UR.A) (astronomy, omens)
  • 𒀯𒌨𒀀 (mulUR.A) (astronomy)
  • 𒀯𒌨𒈤 (mulUR.MAȞ) (astronomy)
  • 𒉈𒋗𒌝 (ne-šu-um)
  • 𒉌𒋗𒌝 (ne₂-šu-um)
  • 𒉌𒂊𒋳 (ne₂-e-šum)
  • 𒉈𒋳 (ne-šum)

Derived terms
  • nēštum (“lioness”)

References
  • “nēšu”, in The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (CAD)‎, volume 11, N, part 2, Chicago: University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1980
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