Tammuz
Tammuz is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.
Profile
Origin
Tammuz's depiction in the Megami Tensei franchise is ultimately derived from Arifumi Satō's book Sekai Yōkai Zukan, in which タムズ Tamuzu is described as a scorpion from Spain covered in black moss that drives people insane.[1] Satō likely partially derived his depiction from the Dictionnaire Infernal's Thamuz, though the only traces of this are the name and the mention of Spain.
According to the Dictionnaire Infernal, Thamuz is a demon associated with fire and the inventor of artillery and women's bracelets,[2] and he is hell's ambassador to Spain.[3] The book also states that some scholars believe the "burned demon" Adonis to be the same as Thamuz.[4]
The name of the Dictionnaire's Thamuz is presumably derived from Dumuzid, a Mesopotamian deity of agriculture and shepherds, who is referred to as Tammuz in Hebrew and is mentioned under that name in the Book of Ezekiel. Dumuzid is the husband of Inanna, and, each year, Dumuzid spends half the year in the underworld. The Greek figure Adonis, who also spends part of each year in the underworld, is believed by scholars to be derived from Dumuzid.
The initial profile for the Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei strategy guide only mentions the scorpion monster described by Satō.[5] The Mesopotamian god Tammuz would be mentioned in its profile from Megami Tensei II no Subete[6] and the profile written by Kazunari Suzuki for Shin Megami Tensei no Subete Akuma Fukkatsu-hen,[7] though they do not say that the demon actually is the Mesopotamian Tammuz. However, Tammuz's entry in the Demon Dictionary from the Game Boy Advance and iOS versions of Shin Megami Tensei would do so.
Design
In Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II and Shin Megami Tensei, Tammuz is depicted as a scorpion with a human skull for a head.
Gameplay
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Last Bible Special
Compendium
| Compendium Entries | |
|---|---|
| Shin Megami Tensei(A-Mode DDS) | Origin: Spain A monstrous scorpion of Spain. He is also the Babylonian god of plants. He is Ishtar's brother and husband, whose name means "Loyal son." He is also known as a god of irrigation, and he is constantly dying and being reborn. |
Nomenclature
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 Japanese
|
タムズ | Thamuz |
Gallery
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Sprite of Tammuz from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II.
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Animated sprite of Tammuz from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II.
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A Sprite of Tammuz from the PlayStation version of Shin Megami Tensei
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A Sprite of Tammuz from the Mega-CD version of Shin Megami Tensei
References
- ↑ Soren and EirikrJS, Kaneko's Crip Notes LIII: Shigeru Mizuki, Master of Mysteries. Published August 12, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2024. Tumblr.
- ↑ "Thamuz, démon du second ordre, inventeur de l'artillerie. Ses domaines sont les flammes, les grils, les bûchers. Quelques démonomanes lui attribuent l'invention des bracelets que les dames portent." Dictionnaire infernal (1863), Jacques Collin de Plancy. French. (6th ed.) p. 657.
- ↑ "Ambassadeurs. Belphégor, ambassadeur en France ; Mammon, ambassadeur en Angleterre ; Bélial, ambassadeur en Turquie ; Rimmon, ambassadeur en Russie; Thamuz, ambassadeur en Espagne ; Hutgin, ambassadeur en Italie ; Martinet, ambassadeur en Suisse, etc." Dictionnaire infernal (1863), Jacques Collin de Plancy. French. (6th ed.) pp. 186-187.
- ↑ "Adonis, démon brûlé. Selon les démonologues, il remplit quelques fonctions dans les incendies. Des savants croient que c'est le même que le démon Thamuz des Hébreux." Translation: "Adonis, burned demon. According to demonologists, he fulfills some functions in fires. Some scholars believe that he is the same as the demon Thamuz of the Hebrews." Dictionnaire infernal (1863), Jacques Collin de Plancy. French. (6th ed.) p. 8.
- ↑ "スペインの
伝 説 にあるサソリの魔 物 。しっぽには強 力 な毒 がしこまえている。" Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei: Certain Victory Strategy Guide Perfect Edition (1987), Fighting Studio. Published by Futabasha. Japanese. p. 39. ISBN-13: 978-4-575-15160-2. - ↑ "スペインに伝わる、年老いたサソリの化物。太古より永遠に近い間、生き続けている。人を狂気に導くという。バビロニアの豊饒神タンムーズの、成れの果てか？" Megami Tensei II no Subete (1990), Daisuke Narisawa. Japanese. p. 51. ISBN-13: 978-4-88063-925-3.
- ↑ "スペインの蠍の怪物だが、その起源はメソポタミアの狩人の神、夕ンムーズ神らしい。彼は死と再生のテーマに登場し、蠍に殺されたギリシア神話のオリオンの様な伝説を残している。" Shin Megami Tensei no Subete Akuma Fukkatsu-hen (1992), Kazunari Suzuki et al.. Published by JICC. p. 54. ISBN-13: 978-4-7966-0514-4.