Shamash, derived from the Akkadian word 'šamaš', means 'sun'. This name was used in Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian cultures to refer to Utu, the ancient Mesopotamian sun god. Shamash was believed to oversee daily events, ensuring justice and protecting travelers. He was also associated with the underworld as a divine judge and served as a god of divination, often alongside the weather god Adad. Shamash was particularly venerated in the cities of Sippar and Larsa and was considered one of the...