The first of these legendary fish-man sages is known as Oan/Oannes (Sumerian) or Uanna/U-An (Akkadian) on a few cuneiform inscriptions this first sage has "adapa" appended to his name. In Berossus, the first one, Oannes (a variant of Uanna), is said to have taught people the creation myth the Enuma Elis. In a later work by Berossus describing Babylonia, the Apkallu appear again, also described as fish-men who are sent by the gods to impart knowledge to people. The terms Apkallu (as well as Abgal) is also used as an epithet for kings and gods as a mark of wisdom or knowledge.Ī further use of the term Apkallu is when referring to figurines used in apotropaic rituals these figurines include fish-man hybrids representing the seven sages, but also include bird-headed and other figures. Post-deluge, the sages are considered human, and in some texts are distinguished by being referred to as Ummanu, not Apkallu. After the deluge (see Epic of Gilgamesh), further sages and kings are listed. Sometimes the sages are associated with a specific primeval king.
In several contexts the Apkallu are seven demi-gods, sometimes described as part man and part fish, associated with human wisdom these creatures are often referred to in scholarly literature as the Seven Sages. Apkallu ( Akkadian) and Abgal ( Sumerian:𒉣𒈨 ) are terms found in cuneiform inscriptions that in general mean either "wise" or "sage".
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