ashur
|ash-ur|
🇺🇸
/ˈæʃʊr/
🇬🇧
/ˈæʃʊə/
Assyrian city and patron god
Etymology
'Ashur' originates from Akkadian, specifically the word 'Aššur', where 'Aššur' was the proper name of the city and its patron deity.
'Ashur' changed from the Akkadian word 'Aššur', passed into Biblical Hebrew and Assyrian/Aramaic forms, and later appeared in Greek and Latin as 'Assur' before becoming the modern English form 'Ashur'.
Initially, it meant the name of a specific city and its patron god, but over time it also came to refer metonymically to the Assyrian state and people; today it is used chiefly as a historical/place name and theonym.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an ancient city on the Tigris River that served as a principal religious and administrative center of the Assyrian state (often spelled Assur or Aššur).
Ashur was an important center of trade and religion in ancient Assyria.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the chief national god of the Assyrian empire, often identified with the city of Ashur and worshipped as the divine patron of Assyria.
Ashur was worshipped as the supreme deity of the Assyrian state.
Synonyms
Noun 3
a masculine personal name derived from the historical/cultural name (used occasionally in modern contexts).
Ashur visited the museum to see artifacts from his namesake civilization.
Last updated: 2025/10/28 17:20