NERGAL ()).:; Sept. 'Epy€X), a deity of the Cuthites in the Assyrian empire (2 Kings xvii. 3o), corresponding to Ares or Mars in the Hellenic and Latin mythology. His astrological symbol was the planet Mars, which still bears among the Zabians or Mendaeans the name of vp, Nerig ; and on the Assyrian monuments he is probably represented by the man-lion, sometimes also by the natural lion. He was the God of war and hunting, espe cially of the latter, as Nin was the god especially of war but also of hunting. The titles by which he is designated are, king of battle, storm-ruler, champion of the gods, strong begetter, tutelar god of Babylonia, and god of the chase. From him the Assyrian monarchs boasted that they derived their descent. It has been conjectured that he represents the deified hero Nimrod, who was pro bably worshipped under different titles. None of the minor deities of Assyria was held in equal re verence with Nergal. He is associated in inscrip tions and sculptures with Nin as the tutelary deity of the race, life, and home of the Assyrian kings.
Few temples, however, appear to have been raised to him. The city Cutha, or Tiggaba, is constantly called his city in the inscriptions ; so that when the men of Cuth were removed to Samaria, it was natural they should carry with them Nergal their tutelary deity. Various derivations of the name have been suggested. Fast traces it to Ill, to break in pieces, with 5 added ; Gesenius identi fies it with the Zabian .ATerig, the 1 being appended as the mark of a diminutive, winch was a sign of endearment ; Von Bohlen compares the Sanscrit Nrigal, man-destroyer; and Rawlinson says the name is evidently compounded of the two Ha mitic roots—air, a man, and gula, great ; so that he is the great man, or the great hero' (Ancient Alonarchies, i. 171 ; ii. 256. See also Rawlinson's Herodotus, i. 631).—W . L. A.