to will parsons, thanks for your comment. in addition to akkadian SHAMA(U)=sky i found IShATUM=fire (f.) [analogous to hebrew )$], where IShUM would be the (probably non-existent) masculine form.
so indeed it makes sense to interpret SHAMASH as a proto-semitic word resulting from a combination of the two units: SHAMA-ISHU. nir cohen _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
