# Nabu

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Mesopotamian god of literacy and scribes

For other uses, see [Nabu (disambiguation)](/source/Nabu_(disambiguation)).

Nabû God of literacy, the rational arts, scribes, and wisdom Colossal statue of Nabu, 8th century BC, from Nimrud, on display in the National Museum of Iraq Abode Borsippa Planet Mercury Symbol Clay tablet and stylus Parents Marduk and Sarpanitum Consort Tashmet Equivalents Greek Hermes Roman Mercury Hindu Budha Mandaean Nbu Egyptian Thoth Norse Odin Celtic Lugus

Eighth-century BCE Assyrian seal portraying a worshipper between Nabu and [Marduk](/source/Marduk), who each stand on a *[mušḫuššu](/source/Mu%C5%A1%E1%B8%ABu%C5%A1%C5%A1u)* (servant dragon)

Part of a series on Religion in Mesopotamia Chaos Monster and Sun God Ancient Mesopotamian religion Sumerian Babylonian Mythology Deities Primordial beings Tiamat and Abzu Lahamu and Lahmu Kishar and Anshar Mummu Seven gods who decree Four primary Anu Enlil Enki Ninhursag Three sky gods Inanna/Ishtar Nanna/Sin Utu/Shamash Other major deities Adad Ashur Dumuzid Enkimdu Enmesharra Ereshkigal Ki Kingu Geshtinanna Lahar Marduk Nergal Ninurta Šulpae Minor deities Agasaya Anunnaki Asaruludu Ashnan Ashgi Bel Dumuzi-abzu Enbilulu Erra Erragal Gibil Hendursaga Igigi Isimud Išum Kajamanu Lahar Laṣ Lisin Lugala'abba Mami/Nintu Mamitu Maštabba Nabu Namtar Nanshe Nindara Ninmarki Nisaba Ninazu Ningal Ningirida Ningirima Ninkasi Ninkilim Ninlil Ninmug Ninšar Ninsikila Ninšubur Ninsun Nuska Paniĝinĝarra Sarpanit Shul-utula Šubula Šulpae Tišpak Uttu Demigods and heroes Adapa Enkidu Enmerkar Gilgamesh Lugalbanda Shamhat Siduri Atra-Hasis Ziusudra Apkallu (seven sages) Spirits and monsters Udug Lamassu/Shedu Asag Edimmu Siris Anzû Ušum/Dragon Kuli-ana/Mermaid Bašmu Mušmaḫḫū Ušumgallu Seven-headed serpent Humbaba Hanbi Kur Lamashtu Lilu Pazuzu Rabisu Tales An = Anum Atra-Hasis Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta Enūma Eliš Epic of Gilgamesh Terms Dingir Sukkal Genealogy Babylonian Sumerian Other religions of the ancient Near East: Anatolia Egypt Hurrian Iranian Semitic Arabia Canaan v t e

Part of the myth series on Religions of the ancient Near East Pre-Islamic Arabian deities 'Amm A'ra Abgal Al-Lat Al-Qaum Almaqah Anbay ʿAṯtar Basamum Dhu'l-Khalasa Dhu Samawi Dushara Haubas Haukim Hubal Isāf and Nā'ila Kahl Manaf Manāt Nasr Nuha Quzah Rahmanan Ruda Sa'd Shams, Samas Syn Suwa' Ta'lab Theandrios al-‘Uzzá Wadd Ya'uq Yaghūth Yatha Arabian deities of other Semitic origins Aglibol (Palmyrene) Astarte Atargatis (Syrian) Baalshamin (Canaanite and Palmyrene) Bēl (Palmyrene) Bes (Egypt) Ēl / Ilah (NW Semitic) Inanna/Ishtar Malakbel (Palmyrene) Nabū, Nebo Nergal Yarhibol (Palmyrene) v t e

**Nabu** ([Akkadian](/source/Akkadian_language): [𒀭](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%F0%92%80%AD)[𒀝](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%F0%92%80%9D), romanized: *Nabû*,[1] [Jewish Babylonian Aramaic](/source/Jewish_Babylonian_Aramaic_language): נְבוֹ‏, romanized: *Nəḇo*[2]) is the [Babylonian patron god](/source/Ancient_Mesopotamian_religion) of [literacy](/source/Literacy), [scribes](/source/Scribe), [wisdom](/source/Wisdom_literature), and the rational arts. He is associated with the [classical planet](/source/Classical_planet) [Mercury](/source/Mercury_(planet)) in [Babylonian astronomy](/source/Babylonian_astronomy).[2]

## Etymology and meaning

The Akkadian *nabû* means 'announcer' or 'authorised person',[3] derived from the [Semitic root](/source/Semitic_root) n-b-y or nbʾ.[4] It is cognate with [Classical Syriac](/source/Classical_Syriac_language): [ܢܒܝܐ](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%DC%A2%DC%92%DC%9D%DC%90), romanized: *nəḇiyyā*, [Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): [نبي](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%A8%D9%8A), [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Arabic): *nabiyy*, and [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language): [נביא](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D7%A0%D7%91%D7%99%D7%90), [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Hebrew): *nāḇi*,[5] all meaning '[prophet](/source/Prophet)'.

## History

Nabu was worshiped by the Babylonians and the Assyrians.[6] Nabu gained prominence among the Babylonians in the 1st millennium BC when he was identified as the son of the god [Marduk](/source/Marduk).[6]

Nabu was worshipped in Babylon's sister city [Borsippa](/source/Borsippa), from where his statue was taken to Babylon each New Year so that he could pay his respects to his father.[6] Nabu's symbols included a stylus resting on a tablet as well as a simple wedge shape; King [Nabonidus](/source/Nabonidus), whose name references Nabu, had a royal sceptre topped with Nabu's wedge.[6][7]: 33–34 Clay tablets with especial calligraphic skill were used as offerings at Nabu's temple. His wife was the [Akkadian](/source/Akkadia) goddess [Tashmet](/source/Tashmetum).[6]

Nabu was the patron god of scribes, literacy, and wisdom.[6] He was also the inventor of writing, a [divine scribe](/source/Oracle), the patron god of the rational arts, and a god of vegetation.[7]: 33–34[8] As the god of writing, Nabu inscribed the fates assigned to men and he was equated with the scribe god [Ninurta](/source/Ninurta).[8][9] As an oracle he was associated with the Mesopotamian moon god [Sin](/source/Sin_(mythology)).[7]: 33–34 In the Babylonian tradition, planet Mercury was connected with Ninurta (as well as [Saturn](/source/Saturn)); because in the [MUL.APIN](/source/MUL.APIN) Ninurta is consistently identified with Mercury,[10][11][12] and it is read that: "Mercury whose name is Ninurta travels the (same) path the Moon travels." As Marduk took over the role of [King of the gods](/source/King_of_the_gods) from [Enlil](/source/Enlil) and inherited both his cultic roles and epithets as well as his position within the [pantheon](/source/Pantheon_(religion)) – the role of the most important son of the father of the gods that had previously belonged to Ninurta as son of Enlil (now replaced by Marduk); was thus taken over by Nabu, and Nabu became associated with the planet Mercury as well as being given connections with the moon god Sin, because as addressed in the MUL.APIN – even when Mercury was considered the planet of Ninurta, it still retained some moon-like aspects since it traveled the same path of the moon.

Nabu wore a horned cap, and stood with his hands clasped in the ancient gesture of priesthood. He rode on a winged [dragon](/source/Dragon) known as [Sirrush](/source/Mu%C5%A1%E1%B8%ABu%C5%A1%C5%A1u) that originally belonged to his father Marduk. In [Babylonian astrology](/source/Babylonian_astrology), Nabu was identified with the planet [Mercury](/source/Mercury_(planet)).[13][14]

Nabu was continuously worshipped until the 2nd century, when [cuneiform](/source/Cuneiform_script) became a lost art.[6]

Today in [Mandaean cosmology](/source/Mandaean_cosmology), the name for [Mercury](/source/Mercury_(planet)) is *ʻ[Nbu](/source/Nbu)* (ࡏࡍࡁࡅ), which is derived from the name Nabu.[15]

### Outside Mesopotamia

Nabu's [cult](/source/Cult_(religious_practice)) spread to [ancient Egypt](/source/Ancient_Egypt).[16] Names with Nabu in them are the most common [theophoric](/source/Theophoric) names for Semitic speakers in Egypt as it was in the Neo-Babylonian texts.[17] Nabu was also one of the Canaanite and Israelite deities worshipped in [Elephantine](/source/Elephantine) and [Aswan](/source/Aswan) alongside gods like [Yahweh](/source/Yahweh), [Nanay](/source/Nanaya), [Bethel](/source/Bethel_(god)), [Anat](/source/Anat), and the [Queen of Heaven](/source/Inanna).[18]

In the [Hebrew Bible](/source/Hebrew_Bible), Nabu is mentioned as *Nəḇo* (נְבוֹ) in [Isaiah 46:1](/source/Isaiah_46) and [Jeremiah 48:1](/source/Jeremiah_48).[6][19][20]

In the Hellenistic period, Nabu was sometimes identified with [Apollo](/source/Apollo) as a giver of prophecies.[6][7]: 71 As the god of wisdom and a divine messenger, Nabu was linked with the Greek god [Hermes](/source/Hermes), the Roman god [Mercury](/source/Mercury_(mythology)), and the Egyptian deity [Thoth](/source/Thoth).[7]: 71

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Lanfranchi, Giovanni B. (1987). *The Correspondence of Sargon II*. Helsinki: Helsinki University Press. p. 92. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9515700043](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9515700043).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-The_Comprehensive_Aramaic_Lexicon_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-The_Comprehensive_Aramaic_Lexicon_2-1) ["The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon"](https://cal.huc.edu/oneentry.php?lemma=nbw%20d&cits=all). *cal.huc.edu*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Richter, Thomas (2006). ["Nabû"](https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-new-pauly/nabu-e815710). *Brill’s New Pauly*. Brill. Retrieved 2022-10-14.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Semitic Roots Appendix"](https://www.ahdictionary.com/word/semitic.html). *The American Heritage Dictionary*. Retrieved 6 December 2019. nbʾ To name, proclaim, summon."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** p.1571, Alcalay. An alternative translation of this Hebrew word is derived from an Akkadian word "Nabu," meaning to call. The Hebrew "Navi" has a passive sense and means "the one who has been called" (see HALOT, p.661).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-Bertman_6-8) Bertman, Stephen (2005). [*Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=1C4NKp4zgIQC&pg=PA122) (Paperback ed.). Oxford: [Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press). p. 122. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780195183641](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780195183641). Retrieved 2016-08-08.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Green_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Green_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Green_7-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Green_7-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Green_7-4) Green, Tamara M. (1992). [*The City of the Moon God: Religious Traditions of Harran*](https://books.google.com/books?id=hrJ97aZr3AcC&pg=PA34). Leiden: [Brill Publishers](/source/Brill_Publishers). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9004095136](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9004095136). Retrieved 2017-01-04.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Britannica_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Britannica_8-1) ["Nabu"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160702144238/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nabu). *[Encyclopedia Britannica](/source/Encyclopedia_Britannica)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nabu) on July 2, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Leick, Dr Gwendolyn (2002). [*A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_pqEAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA123). [Routledge](/source/Routledge). p. 124. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781134641024](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781134641024). Retrieved March 7, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKoch1995127_10-0)** [Koch 1995](#CITEREFKoch1995), p. 127.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHungerSteele2018127_11-0)** [Hunger & Steele 2018](#CITEREFHungerSteele2018), p. 127.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHorowitz1998172_12-0)** [Horowitz 1998](#CITEREFHorowitz1998), p. 172.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Colligan, L. H. (January 15, 2010). [*Mercury*](https://archive.org/details/mercury0000coll). [Marshall Cavendish](/source/Marshall_Cavendish). p. [22](https://archive.org/details/mercury0000coll/page/22). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780761445517](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780761445517). Retrieved March 7, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Lewis, James R. (Mar 1, 2003). [*The Astrology Book: The Encyclopedia of Heavenly Influences*](https://books.google.com/books?id=nPMnUMhZzswC&pg=PA442PAGE) (Second ed.). [Visible Ink Press](/source/Visible_Ink_Press). p. 442. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781578593019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781578593019). Retrieved March 7, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Bhayro, Siam (10 February 2020). "Cosmology in Mandaean Texts". [*Hellenistic Astronomy*](https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004400566/BP000051.xml). Leiden: [Brill Publishers](/source/Brill_Publishers). pp. 572–579. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1163/9789004400566_046](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F9789004400566_046). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789004243361](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789004243361). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [213438712](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:213438712). Retrieved 8 February 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Porten, Bezalel (1968). [*Archives from Elephantine: The Life of an Ancient Jewish Military Colony*](https://books.google.com/books?id=aVKtP0w4HkIC&pg=PA166) (First ed.). [University of California Press](/source/University_of_California_Press). p. 166. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780520010284](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780520010284). Retrieved October 4, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Porten, Bezalel; Zadok, Ran; Pearce, Laurie (2016). "Akkadian Names in Aramaic Documents from Ancient Egypt". *Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research*. **375**: 2. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5615/bullamerschoorie.375.0001](https://doi.org/10.5615%2Fbullamerschoorie.375.0001).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Toorn, Karel van der (24 September 2019). [*Becoming Diaspora Jews: Behind the Story of Elephantine*](https://books.google.com/books?id=mpKsDwAAQBAJ). Yale University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-300-24949-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-300-24949-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Isaiah 46:1 NIV – Gods of Babylon – Bel bows down, Nebo"](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2046:1-46:1&version=NIV). *[BibleGateway.com](/source/BibleGateway.com)*. Retrieved 2015-06-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Jeremiah 48:1 NIV – A Message About Moab – Concerning Moab"](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+48%3A1&version=NIV). *[BibleGateway.com](/source/BibleGateway.com)*. Retrieved 2015-07-02.

## Bibliography

- Horowitz, Wayne (1998). *Mesopotamian Cosmic Geography*. Eisenbrauns. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0931464997](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0931464997).

- Hunger, Hermann; Steele, John (2018). *The Babylonian Astronomical Compendium MUL.APIN*. Taylor & Francis. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1351686815](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1351686815).

- Koch, Ulla Susanne (1995). *Mesopotamian astrology: an introduction to Babylonian and Assyrian celestial divination*. Museum Tusculanum Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-8772892870](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-8772892870).

## External links

- ["Nebo"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_New_International_Encyclop%C3%A6dia/Nebo). *[New International Encyclopedia](/source/New_International_Encyclopedia)*. 1905.

- [Jastrow, Morris](/source/Morris_Jastrow_Jr.) (1911). ["Nebo"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Nebo). In [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm) (ed.). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 322–323.

Authority control databases International VIAF 2 GND National United States France BnF data People DDB Other IdRef Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nabu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabu) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabu?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.