In Mandaean cosmology, the Sea of Suf (or Sea of Sup, Classical Mandaic: ࡉࡀࡌࡀ ࡖࡎࡅࡐ, romanized: iama ḏ-sup, lit. 'Sea of the End'[1]) is a primordial sea in the World of Darkness.[2][3] It is analogous to Tehom in the Book of Genesis. It is a great sea that the soul has to pass in the first steps of ascending, and is also considered to be the limit of worldly desire.
In the Ginza Rabba
editThe Sea of Suf is mentioned in Right Ginza 1, 2.3, 3, 5.2, 9.1, 15.1, 15.10, 15.12, 15.18, 16.1, 16.6, and Left Ginza 2.14, often as iama rba ḏ-sup or the "Great Suf-Sea."[1]
See also
edit- Abzu – Primeval sea in Mesopotamian mythology
- Cosmic ocean – Mythological motif
- Firmament – Solid dome dividing the primal waters
- Nu – Ancient Egyptian personification of the primordial watery abyss
- Tohu wa-bohu – In the Genesis creation narrative, the earth's condition immediately before light's creation
- Tiamat – Primordial goddess of ancient Babylon religion
- Yam Suph – Body of water in the Book of Exodus (Hebrew cognate)
References
edit- ^ a b Gelbert, Carlos (2011). Ginza Rba. Sydney: Living Water Books. ISBN 9780958034630.
- ^ Aldihisi, Sabah (2008). The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba (PhD). University College London.
- ^ Al-Saadi, Qais Mughashghash; Al-Saadi, Hamed Mughashghash (2012). Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book. Drabsha.
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