Lammašaga (Lammasaga) is an ancient Sumerian goddess, and sukkal of the medicine goddess Bau. Belonging to a class of guardian deities or lamma, she is widely worshiped such cities as Lagash and Girsu.
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A hymn dedicated to Lammašaga is copied in scribal schools or edubas in the Old Babylonian period (c. 2004 - 1595 BCE). Part of the work of student scribes is copying and re-copying poems, hymns and epics. In this way is much Mesopotamian literature preserved.
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Lammašaga can translate to "the good protective spirit" or "the good lamma." A class of female deities, the lamma take guardian angel roles, watching over those who need and want their guidance. A lamma may act alone or with others.
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The term lamma can refer to the Goddess Lammasaga (Lamma) or goddesses of the lamma class. Lamma goddesses have multiple jobs. Associated with protection, especially from evil magic, they are also invoked during childbirth or take roles as healers.
The lammas are protective figures with wings and flounced robes. They wear the traditional Mesopotamian multi-horned headdress or helmet. A lamma can be appointed to an individual such as a ruler, and this is done through the Goddess Ninsun.
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Ninsun functions as a lamma goddess at times, especially concerning her husband Lugalbanda, deified King of Uruk. She's also famous for begetting Gilgamesh and his ten siblings.
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Goddess Lammašaga is the divine attendant or sukkal of healing goddess Bau. As such she can intercede with Bau for the worshipers. The personal name Lamma-sukkal, found in Mesopotamian records, may refer to her.
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Besides taking messages between the Goddess and the supplicants, Lammašaga performs duties such as advising the Goddess, running errands or acting as intermediary between Bau and others in strife. Fortunately Bau has a pleasant nature.
Other god/esses do not. Underworld sukkals Namtar and Ishum must mediate between Queen Ereshkigal of the Underworld and her often unfaithful husband Nergal, god of war, disease and death.
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In astronomy texts Lammasaga is given a star, attesting to her popularity in contemporary culture. The star, thought to be Vega, is the same allocated to the sukkal of later medicine goddess Gula. Worship of Gula overshadows Bau, whose longevity eventually prevails.
Lammasaga is mentioned in an early riddle, which states she is the city goddess of a place whose name is not preserved, in which a canal named Lamma-igi-bar is located. Dated to the 24th century BCE, the text is the oldest known reference to the concept of Lamma.
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The idea of the guardian angel may get its start in Lagash. From there it spreads to other regions. The Lamma goddesses are displayed as figurines in the home or worn as jewelry. They help women in labor and nursing mothers and infants.
The Lamma have healing skills and may be invoked in times of illness. They can protect against evil entering the home or the body. They help bring mental calm and soothe anxiety. Although associated with Kings they are also household goddesses and deities of women.
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The hymn Bau A, focused on Lammašaga, might have originated in Girsu. Although Lagash is in decline as a city-state power, it's known for scribe schools. The hymn becomes part of the scribal school curriculum in the Old Babylonian period.
After detailing Lammašaga's role in the court of Bau, the hymn describes her in three separate sections. It mentions, in order, her head, nape, forehead, lips, ears, and jaws; skin, neck, sides, limbs, and fingers; navel, hips, and pudenda.
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Some passages of the hymn are meant as erotic poetry. It's a traditional part of the eduba curriculum and the scribes need little urging to do their homework. The hymn is considered part of the ritual for placing a statue into a temple.
In ancient Sumer and later Babylonia, even towns and cities have a lamma goddess. They're mentioned in City Laments, compositions about the downfall of ancient cities. The lamma goddesses are said to abandon the city along with tutelary or other protective entities.
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In the tradition of Yahweh, the first mention of angels comes from Hebrew scripture of the first millennium BCE. The earliest focus on guardian angels is the 15th-century text The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage by Abraham of Worms, a German Cabalist.
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