Adapa#As Oannes

Oannes is according to Berossus, the Babylonian name of a hybrid creature from fish and humans.

Except for a fish head to Oannes a human head, have had in addition to a fish tail human feet and a human voice. Oannes is regarded as bearer of culture. He emerged from the sea in the morning and taught the people skills like writing, science and the arts, as well as the architecture and agriculture. While Oannes was among the people, he took no food, in the evening he went back into the sea.

Interpretations

Creuzer looks Oannes in a line of development from the Indian Vishnu, as the fish will return the Vedas in one of his transformations, towards the Roman god Janus, who has no more animal form, but two faces. Baring - Gould sat Oannes equal to the philistinisch -Syrian Dagon and thought it was a sun deity who appears in the morning and evening on the earth sinks into the sea; to fit the double figure: half fish, half man .. Also an equation with Ea was considered but can not hold loud Borger.

Equating with the Sumerian people - fish hybrids kulullu U- On ( na) ( Akkadian To - Anu ), nicknamed Adapa, who had come with others of its kind from the sea, to bring the people, the culture, on the other hand is considered likely.