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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forAdrammelechAccording to a passage in the Old Testament, this was the name of a Babylonian deity. In II Kings xvii., 31, it is said that the Sepharvites whom the King of Assyria (Sargon) placed in the cities of Samaria " burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim." It is difficult to identify the deity or to understand the allusion. Mr. L. W. King tells us (Encycl. Bibl.) that throughout the cuneiform inscriptions, " there is no allusion to human sacrifice, and in the sculptures and reliefs no representation of the rite has been discovered." The name used to be explained as equivalent to Adarmalik, " Adar the prince." This was supposed to be another name for the god Ninib (q.v.). But the sup-position was a mere conjecture. On the other hand, if, as some scholars think, Sepharvaim is to be identified with Sippar, Adrammelech may have been a subsidiary name or title of Shamash the Sun-god, for the worship of this god was specially associated with Sippar. See Encycl. Bibl. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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