Definition

Proper noun In ancient Mesopotamian mythology, Kishar is a primordial goddess. She is the Babylonian consort of the god Anshar. In the older Sumerian tradition, her name conceptually represents "the totality of the lower world," often interpreted as the earthly realm or the whole of the terrestrial domain, in contrast to the heavenly realm.

Usage Notes

• Mythological Context: This word is used almost exclusively in academic or descriptive contexts related to ancient Near Eastern mythology, religion, and history.
• Capitalization: As a proper noun, it is always capitalized.
• Function: It functions as a name for a specific deity. It is not used in general language.

Examples

• In Mythology:
  • In the Babylonian creation epic, Anshar and Kishar are among the earliest divine beings.
  • The goddess Kishar represents the foundational earthly principle.

Advanced Usage

• Theological Concept: In Sumerian cosmology, "Kishar" is less a personal goddess and more a deified concept of the unified terrestrial world, often paired with Anshar (the totality of the upper world or sky). This pairing represents the united horizon or the axis of the world.

Variants and Related Words

• Anshar (proper noun): The primordial sky god, consort and counterpart to Kishar.
• Tiamat (proper noun): Another primordial Babylonian goddess from a later generation in the same mythological lineage.
• Apsu (proper noun): The primordial fresh water god, often paired with Tiamat.

Synonyms

• Earth goddess (general term): A very broad, non-specific synonym.
• Primordial deity: Describes her type and generation within the mythos.

Notes on Meaning

The meaning of "Kishar" is fixed within its mythological context. It does not have modern, everyday meanings, idiomatic uses, or phrasal verbs. Its significance is entirely historical and religious.

Noun

1. Babylonian consort of Anshar; in Sumerian the name signifies `the totality of the lower world'