Etymology, names, and meaning
The term apkallu has multiple uses, but usually refers to some form of wisdom; translations of the term generally equate to English language uses of the terms “the wise”, “sage” or “expert”.[3] Additionally, the term is used when referring to human “priests” (also “exorcists”, “diviners”).[4] However, Mesopotamian human sages also used the term ummianu (ummânù) “expert”.[5][6]
As an epithet, prefix, or adjective it can mean “the wise”; it has been used as an epithet for the gods Ea and Marduk, simply interpreted as “wise one amongst gods” or similar forms. It has also been applied to Enlil, Ninurta, and Adad.[7]
The term also refers to the “seven sages”,[8] especially the sage Adapa,[9] and also to apotropaic figures, which are often figurines of the ‘seven sages’ themselves.[10] A collation of the names and “titles” of theses seven sages in order can be given as:[11]
Uanna, “who finished the plans for heaven and earth”,
Uannedugga, “who was endowed with comprehensive intelligence”,
Enmedugga, “who was allotted a good fate”,
Enmegalamma, “who was born in a house”,
Enmebulugga, “who grew up on pasture land”,
An-Enlilda, “the conjurer of the city of Eridu”,
Utuabzu, “who ascended to heaven”.
The List of Kings
During the reign of Ayalu, the king, [Adapa]† was sage.
During the reign of Alalgar, the king, Uanduga was sage.
During the reign of Ameluana, the king, Enmeduga was sage.
During the reign of Amegalana, the king, Enmegalama was sage.
During the reign of Enmeusumgalana, the king, Enmebuluga was sage.
During the reign of Dumuzi, the shepherd, the king, Anenlilda was sage.
During the reign of Enmeduranki, the king, Utuabzu was sage.
After the flood, during the reign of Enmerkar, the king, Nungalpirigal was sage, whom Istar brought down from heaven to Eana. He made the bronze lyre [..] according to the technique of Ninagal. [..] The lyre was placed before Anu [..], the dwelling of (his) personal god.
Anna Note : This places the year around 1,900 BCE with The Tower of Babble — Entemenaki at 1400 BCE to 1200 BCE.
During the reign of Gilgamesh, the king, Sin-leqi-unnini was scholar.
During the reign of Ibbi-Sin, the king, Kabti-ili-Marduk was scholar.
During the reign of Isbi-Erra, the king, Sidu, a.k.a. Enlil-ibni, was scholar.
During the reign of Abi-esuh, the king, Gimil-Gula and Taqis-Gula were the scholars.
During the reign of […], the king, Esagil-kin-apli was scholar.
During the reign of Adad-apla-iddina, the king, Esagil-kin-ubba was scholar.
During the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the king, Esagil-kin-ubba was scholar.
During the reign of Esarhaddon, the king, Aba-Enlil-dari was scholar, whom the Arameans call Ahiqar.
- † Note the root for this word is the same (Iu4–4+60) as that for the following sage Uanduga (Iu4–4+60-du10-ga) ie the translation to Adapa is interpretive, not literally ‘phonetic’