útu

útu is the Sumerian name for the major Mesopotamian deity known in Akkadian as Shamash. He is a principal sun god and a god of justice, truth, and divination, often acting as the divine judge who oversees oaths and legal proceedings. In traditional genealogies, útu is the son of the moon god Nanna (Sin) and his wife Ningal, and a brother to Inanna. As the sun god, útu is imagined traveling across the sky in a chariot, bringing daylight and watching over human affairs. He is closely associated with law and order, and in Babylonian tradition he is invoked as a source of justice and guidance; the idea that the sun god reveals truth underpins the belief in rightful judgment.

Etymology and names: The deity is referred to as útu in Sumerian texts and as Shamash in Akkadian inscriptions. The accentuated form reflects transliteration choices in some scholarly editions.

Worship and cult: Primary cult centers for útu were Sippar, home to the Ebabbar temple, meaning “House of the Sun.” The temple and its rituals aimed to ensure daylight, justice, and divine favor. Worship involved hymns, offerings, and festivals dedicated to the sun god.

Mythology and influence: In Mesopotamian myth, Shamash/útu frequently helps heroes and kings by providing insight or delivering justice. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Shamash aids Gilgamesh and Enkidu by sending a favorable wind to defeat Humbaba. Iconography often depicts the sun god with solar symbols such as the sun disk, rays, and sometimes a wheel or other solar motifs.

See also: Utu in the Sumerian pantheon; Shamash; ancient Mesopotamian religion.