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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
[edit]The 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.