Talk:Utu

message: the semitic root sh-m-sh means sun (eg. Maltese 'xemx'). Which came first, the god or the word?
:I'd say neither. Shamash is the Sun : God and thing are one. While deification of concepts, wearing the name of the thing is much more strikingly present in Greco Roman mythology, this looks like an instance of it. --Svartalf 23:36, 2 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Section

message: As noted in the article, Shamash means attendant, or caretaker in Hebrew. But what should also be noted, as that in the Hanukiya (the 9-stemed menorah of Hanuka), the central Shamash is the first candle to be lit. It is then used to light the other ones (and could be considered a caretaker for the others). The Shamash is not counted with the other candles. 
For example, on the third evening of Hanuka, one should light 3 candles. There are actually 4 lit candles, one of them being the Shamash. --okedem 20:57, 16 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: It means that? last time I heard, the Hebrew meaning of "shemesh" was sun ... the closeness between that word, and the Akkadian led me to believe that the Semitic root sh-m-sh was tied to the sun... then again, I never studied Semitic languages much. --Svartalf 13:17, 25 April 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Shamash 

message: Should include the symbol of Shamash (a kind of 4-pointed star with wavy rays between the points).  One version of it is shown at http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/25/2516.html ... AnonMoos (talk) 01:59, 25 August 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: I strongly concur, especially since I am working on various "glyphs". And....my two cents are that all the later interpretations (of 'Shamash') should be tweaked after a moderate analysis of Shamash on the Cylinder seals, reliefs, etc from the many regions of Mesopotamia, (and surrounding influences, if any)(i.e. step forward from the original, and then talk of the uses by the later cultures)(i.e. Again, The religious interpretaions don't completely cut it, (unless one talks of literature, culture, etc(like the great EpicOfGilgamesh-I still say it is the first Great existential work of our species.))-(The Shamash Sun glyph needs a separate category or Article-As Do many of the other Mesopotamian Glyphs)-----...Mmcannis (talk) 02:53, 17 November 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Shamash symbol

message: I've added . I am not sure that link is ideal; at the moment, the Gabbai article discusses the role of a shamash in a synagogue, so that's what I've added, but to my understanding a shamash is distinct from a gabbai, with the former having more of a custodial role and the latter more assisting during services. - Jmabel | Talk 23:53, 12 October 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: You're right.  A shamash is by definition a servant; in a synagogue he cleans up, straightens things, puts books away, etc.  This is often a paid position.  A gabbai is by definition someone who is in charge of something; generally he decides who does what during the services, handles finances, etc.  This is almost never a paid position.  -- Zsero (talk) 22:23, 13 October 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Jewish meaning 

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thread_title:  External links modified 

message: There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Utu which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you.  —RMCD bot 22:45, 2 May 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Move discussion in progress