ṣalmum

Akkadian

Root
ṣ-l-m
1 term

Pronunciation

• (Old Babylonian) IPA^(key): /ˈsˤal.mum/

Etymology 1

𒂵𒀠𒁍𒌝 𒍝𒀠𒈬𒌝 (kalbum ṣalmum)

Compare Arabic ظَلِمَ (ẓalima, “to be(come) dark”) and Biblical Hebrew צַלְמָוֶת (ṣalmɔ́wɛṯ, “deep shadow”).

Adjective

ṣalmum (feminine ṣalimtum or ṣalittum, masculine plural ṣalmūtum, feminine plural ṣalmātum) (from Old Akkadian on)

1. verbal adjective of ṣalāmum:
   1. black, dark
   2. black haired (person)

Alternative forms

• ṣalmu (non-mimated)

Cuneiform spellings

Logograms	Phonetic
𒈪 (GE₆, MI)	𒍝𒀠𒈬𒌝 (ṣa-al-mu-um) 𒍝𒀠𒈬 (ṣa-al-mu) 𒉌𒈬 (ṣal-mu)

Descendants

• → Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: ܨܲܠܡܵܐ (ṣalmā, “cherry”)

See also

Colors in Akkadian · 𒊺𒂅 (šimtum) (layout · text)

𒌓 (peṣûm)		𒈪 (ṣalmum)
𒋛𒀀 (sāmum)	𒋛𒀀 (sāmum)	𒅊 (warqum)
	𒅊 (warqum)

References

• “ṣalmu”, in The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (CAD)‎^[1], Chicago: University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1956–2011

Etymology 2

𒀩 𒀭𒂗𒆠 (ṣalam Ea)

Cognate with Biblical Hebrew צֶלֶם (ṣɛ́lɛm) and, by dissimilation of /l/ to /n/, Arabic صَنَم (ṣanam).

Noun

ṣalmum m (construct state ṣalam, plural ṣalmū or ṣalmānū) (from Old Akkadian on)

1. effigy, image, likeness, drawing
2. statue (in the round), figurine, relief
3. constellation

Alternative forms

• ṣalmu (non-mimated)

Cuneiform spellings

Logograms	Phonetic
𒀩 (ALAN, ALAM) 𒉡 (NU) 𒊨 (DUL₃) 𒀭𒊨 (AN.DUL₃)	𒊓𒀠𒈬 (ṣa-al-mu) 𒉌𒈬 (ṣal-mu) 𒍝𒇴 (ṣa-lam) (construct state)

References

• “ṣalmu s”, in The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (CAD)‎^[2], Chicago: University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1956–2011
• Black, Jeremy, George, Andrew, Postgate, Nicholas (2000) “ṣalmu(m) II”, in A Concise Dictionary of Akkadian, 2nd corrected edition, Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz Verlag