Shams
Sabaean · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
South Arabian sun-goddess, patroness of the Sabaean (and later Himyarite) dynasty; feminine counterpart and consort of the god Almaqah.
Domains
- sun
Powers
- Guard the Sabaean dynasty as patron sun-goddess
- Blaze across the sky as the burning sun
- Shines as patron sun-goddess and tutelary of the royal house
Relations
- spouse: AlmaqahReciprocal of sabaean_almaqah.spouse — The Sabaean national god and the sun-goddess Shams, dynastic patroness, are paired as consorts in the classic reading of the South Arabian triad.J. Ryckmans, 'The Old South Arabian Religion', in W. Daum (ed.), Yemen: 3000 Years of Art and Civilisation in Arabia Felix (1988) (secondary)
- equated with: ShapshuReciprocal of canaanite_shapshu.equated-with — Ugaritic Shapshu and South Arabian Shams are cognate feminine sun-deities of the same root — the western and southern branches that keep the sun a goddess, against Akkadian masculine Shamash.DDD (2nd ed. 1999), s.v. 'Shemesh' (secondary)
Sources
- existence: Sabaean/Himyarite inscriptions; shrines at Sirwah and Marib (primary); Britannica, Shams; Wikipedia, Shams (deity) (secondary)