Cuneiform sign: 𒀭
Sign name: AN
Phonetic values: an, d, diĝir, il3, am6, naggax
UTF-8 Symbol: U+1202D
Category: Snapshot
Sub-signs: none
Visual analysis: The sign depicts a star.
Derived meaning: Although the sign depicts a star, it does not carry the meaning "star," since the Sumerian sign for star is 𒀯. The symbol has two possible interpretations:
- It refers to someone who comes from the stars (i.e., a god), or to the place where those who come from the stars usually dwell (i.e., the heavenly realm).
- It refers to someone who is regarded as godlike, or to the sky above us.
The dual interpretation of the symbol (heavenly realm vs. sky) may be the historical reason why many religions have placed the seat of the gods in the sky.
Usage: There are different types of usage:
- As a noun, the sign has the meanings "god of heaven" and "heavenly realm," but also "the godlike one" (as the beginning of a ruler's name) and "sky."
- As an operator ☒S→S, it is used to express what the task of a specific god is. It thus means "the god of heaven who is X" or "the god of heaven whose task is X."
Conventional interpretation: sky, god of heaven, the divine