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

• (Old Babylonian) IPA^(key): /ˈneː.ʃum/

Noun

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

1. lion

   Synonym: (poetic) lābum (“lion”)

2. (astronomy) Leo (constellation)

Alternative forms

• nēšu (non-mimated)

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)‎^[1], volume 11, N, part 2, Chicago: University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1980