Mark and Eric talk about the unique creation of humankind in the first creation song in the Bible. In the photo above, Shamash sits enthroned as the head god, a human supplicant approaches Shamash followed by two lesser gods of the divine council. In Mesopotamian art, you can tell a being is divine if they have horns. Also notice the scepter in Shamash’s right hand— this imagery shows up in the prophets and the psalms, representing the “power in Yahweh’s right hand”. Oooh! And one more thing… see how Shamash is worshipped in exchange for his gift of the solar disk, that is, the sun! This is the earliest idea of the gods and goddesses in ancient Near Eastern institutions of religion. Far out for sure! Photo by Swift-Footed Markilles, Oriental Museum in Chicago.