'Amm

Part of the myth series on
Religions of the ancient Near East
Pre-Islamic Arabian deities
Arabian deities of other Semitic origins

ʿAmm (Sabaean: 𐩲𐩣, romanized: ʿm; Arabic: عمْ) was a moon god worshipped in ancient Qataban, which was a kingdom in ancient Yemen. 'Amm's name stems from the Arabic word for paternal uncle.[1][2] The inhabitants of the kingdom referred to themselves as the Banu Amm, or the "Children of Amm".[1] He was also revered as a weather god, as his attributes included lightning bolts.[1] His consort is the goddess Asherah, and he was served by the oracle-judge Anbay.[citation needed]

According to French archaeologist Christian Robin [fr] and biblical scholar Daniel E. Fleming, one possible origin for the title 'Amm or "Children of 'Amm" is speculated to have stemmed from a designation of an earlier group of people who worshiped 'Amm as a central god, with the name 'Amm simply being the title for a forgotten deity whose true designation was not known.[3] Though 'Amm was worshipped into the time of the Qataban kingdom.[2]

  1. ^ a b c Jordan, Michael (May 14, 2014). Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses. Facts On File, Incorporated. p. 16. ISBN 9781438109855.
  2. ^ a b "Pre-Islamic deities". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  3. ^ Fleming, Daniel (December 3, 2020). Yahweh Before Israel: Glimpses of History in a Divine Name. Cambridge University Press. p. 242. ISBN 9781108835077.