World of Darkness (Mandaeism)
{{Short description|Underworld in Mandaeism}}
{{Mandaeism}}
{{For|the Manichaean World of Darkness|Manichaeism#The World of Darkness}}
In Mandaeism, the World of Darkness ({{langx|myz|{{linktext|ࡀࡋࡌࡀ ࡖࡄࡔࡅࡊࡀ}}|alma ḏ-hšuka}}) is the underworld located below Tibil (Earth). It is ruled by its king Ur the Leviathan and its queen Ruha, mother of the seven planets and twelve constellations.
Description
The great dark Sea of Suf lies in the World of Darkness.{{cite thesis|url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1444088/|last=Aldihisi|first=Sabah|year=2008|title=The story of creation in the Mandaean holy book in the Ginza Rba|type=PhD|publisher=University College London}} The great dividing river of Hitpun, analogous to the river Styx in Greek mythology, separates the World of Darkness from the World of Light.{{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.de/Ginza-Rabba-English-Translation-Drabsha/dp/B00A3GO458|last1=Al-Saadi |first1=Qais Mughashghash |last2=Al-Saadi |first2=Hamed Mughashghash |chapter=Glossary |title=Ginza Rabba: The Great Treasure. An equivalent translation of the Mandaean Holy Book |year=2019 |edition=2 |publisher=Drabsha}} Siniawis is one of the regions of the World of Darkness.{{cite book|last=Buckley|first=Jorunn Jacobsen|title=The Mandaeans: ancient texts and modern people|publisher=Oxford University Press|publication-place=New York|year=2002|isbn=0-19-515385-5|oclc=65198443}}
The Ginza Rabba mention the Abaddons (ebdunia) as part of the World of Darkness. The Right Ginza mentions the existence of the "upper Abaddons" (ebdunia ʿlaiia) as well as the "lower Abaddons" (ebdunia titaiia).{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}
The World of Darkness is sometimes referred to as Sheol (šiul) in the Ginza Rabba and other Mandaean scriptures.
Inhabitants
{{main|Demons in Mandaeism}}
Various beings inhabit the World of Darkness.
See also
References
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