{"id":11061,"date":"2026-09-12T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061"},"modified":"2026-05-19T20:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T20:52:00","slug":"looking-at-dr-d-basaks-book-2025-sumerian-mythology-part-16-of-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061","title":{"rendered":"Looking at Dr. D. Basak’s Book (2025) “Sumerian Mythology…”\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

0195 So, what does the differentiation of Nammu specify?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me consider the mythic separation of An (sky) and Ki (earth) (SVs<\/sub>), appearing in chapter 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the semiotic arrangements (SOs<\/sub>) that it stands for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0196 Here is my initial guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An2<\/sub> and Ki2<\/sub> are two real elements.  They belong in the category of secondness. They are two [contiguous] real elements.  These constitute a content-level actuality2a<\/sub> and the sign-vehicle of a specifying sign-relation (SVs<\/sub>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The embrace of An and Ki<\/em> has the potential to be fertile1b<\/sub><\/em>.  This situation-level potential1b<\/sub> plays a role in the specifying sign-interpretant (SIs<\/sub>) along with a normal context that has to do with cognition3b<\/sub> (SIs<\/sub>).  The implicit abstraction of fertility<\/em> becomes explicit<\/em> with a conception2b<\/sub><\/em> (SOs<\/sub>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

0197 The fertility of An and Ki’s embrace1b<\/sub><\/em> produce the child2b<\/sub> that will separate them into father and mother figures<\/em>.  The sky<\/em> and the implicit abstraction of fatherhood<\/em> are labeled “An”.  The earth<\/em> and the implicit abstraction of motherhood<\/em> are labeled “Ki”.  The substance potentiated by that separation<\/em> is [the air], the domain of Enlil3<\/sub>.  The domain of the god of the storm, Enlil3<\/sub>, is the child that separates father and mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0198 Formulated in this manner, the Marxist thing no longer applies.  That is expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is not expected?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resulting sign-relation says that the separation of An and Ki2a<\/sub> (SVs<\/sub>) (which occurs after the birth of Enlil) ends up conceiving Enlil2b<\/sub> (SOs<\/sub>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes no sense at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0199 So, I must step back and concoct a second guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0200 If I want to observe a sign-relation within the Sumerian creation story, then I need two levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story starts with Nanna.  Nanna2a<\/sub> is a pure monad, but still belonging to the realm of actuality.  Of course, this is not possible.  All it takes is a spoken word1a<\/sub> in order to induce a disturbance in this monad3a<\/sub>, that supports the differentiation of Nanna2a<\/sub>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the content-level actuality2a<\/sub> and the specifying sign-vehicle (SVs<\/sub>) testify to the instability of pure potential<\/em> in a world where all that it takes is a spoken word1a<\/sub><\/em> to induce a disturbance in the monad3a<\/sub>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps, this explains why monotheism takes so long to develop in our current Lebenswelt.<\/em>  On the content level, a single god is a monad that either (1) remains in the category of firstness and therefore does not actualize or (2) enters into the category of secondness and differentiates into a dyadic actuality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0201 Okay, that is a good start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a picture of my second guess for the specifying sign-relation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

0202 The sign-relation is apparent.  Nanna differentiating into An (male) and Ki (female)2a<\/sub> (SVs<\/sub>) stands for the actuality of the separation of An (sky) and Ki (earth)2b<\/sub> (SOs<\/sub>) in regards to Enlil3b<\/sub> (the child, whose domain is the air) operating on the potential of ‘the fertile embrace of An and Ki1b<\/sub> (SIs<\/sub>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In effect, the birth of a normal context3b<\/sub><\/em> shuts down further expression of the potential1b<\/sub> that supports it<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or, does it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recalling earlier comments, the potential of ‘the fertile embrace of An and Ki’1b<\/sub> shifts into ‘separation that may support a substance’1b<\/sub> in the normal context of Enlil3b<\/sub>.  In short, the fertility of the embrace between the heavens and the earth1b<\/sub><\/em> sublimates into the separation that supports Enlil’s domain of the [air]1b<\/sub><\/em>.  The [air] is the contiguity between heaven and earth<\/em>.  Enlil3b<\/sub><\/em> is the god of the storm2b<\/sub><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0203 If I compare the sign-vehicle <\/em>and the sign-object<\/em> for the two guesses, I get the following.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

0204 In the first guess, I start with the same actuality that I conclude with in the second guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each guess produces a specifying sign-relation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do these two guesses offer a lesson about semiotic arrangements?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surely, it is not necessarily obvious how explicit abstractions fit into the empty slots of the two-level interscope of sensible construction.  One of the reasons is that the content and situation two-level interscope<\/em> embodies a specifying sign-relation<\/em>.  In other words, the two-level interscope<\/em> contains a semiotic arrangement<\/em>.  Associations must comport with the logics of both relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0205 The SOs<\/sub> contributes to the esse_ce of the situation-level actuality2b<\/sub>, “separation” is an explicit abstraction that does not indicate what fills in between the two real elements<\/em>.  “Air, Enlil’s domain,” (SOs<\/sub>) is an explicit abstraction that does indicate what fills in between the two real elements.<\/em>  What is the implicit abstraction that one must draw?  Enlil’s domain<\/em> is not a real element<\/em>.  It is neither heaven nor earth.  Enlil’s domain<\/em> actualizes a separation that serves as a substance<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0206 A comparison of the two guesses in the realm of possibility is also interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The content-level comparison is evocative.  In the first guess, I choose the potential of ‘a separation that serves as a substance’1a<\/sub> as the ground for the separation of An and Ki2a<\/sub>.  In the second guess, the potential of ‘the breath it takes to speak a word’1a<\/sub> is enough to destabilize the pure monad of everything, Nammu, having entered the realm of actuality2a<\/sub>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

0207 In sum, the Lotman thing<\/em> directs the inquirer to consider entering terms of explicit abstraction<\/em> into interscopes that contain embedded sign-relations<\/em>.  The discussion here is only an intimation of how extensive this research project will be.  The three types of sign-relation that are integral to the three level interscope is discussed in Razie Mah’s blog for October 2023 titled, Looking at John Deely’s Book (2010) “Semiotic Animal”<\/em>.  A lengthy anthropological application may be found in the four-part e-work, Original Sin and the Post-Truth Condition,<\/em> available at smashwords and other e-book venues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

0195 So, what does the differentiation of Nammu specify? Let me consider the mythic separation of An (sky) and Ki (earth) (SVs), appearing in chapter 4. What are the semiotic arrangements (SOs) that it stands for? 0196 Here is my initial guess. An2 and Ki2 are two real elements.  They belong in the category of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[417],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-review"],"yoast_head":"\nLooking at Dr. D. Basak's Book (2025) "Sumerian Mythology..."\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20) - An Archaeology of the Fall<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Looking at Dr. D. Basak's Book (2025) "Sumerian Mythology..."\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20) - An Archaeology of the Fall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"0195 So, what does the differentiation of Nammu specify? Let me consider the mythic separation of An (sky) and Ki (earth) (SVs), appearing in chapter 4. What are the semiotic arrangements (SOs) that it stands for? 0196 Here is my initial guess. An2 and Ki2 are two real elements.  They belong in the category of […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"An Archaeology of the Fall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-12T08:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slide38-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"540\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"360\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ad695f570ebd1b2a6f85c4ac5badcd04\"},\"headline\":\"Looking at Dr. D. Basak’s Book (2025) “Sumerian Mythology…”\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20)\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-12T08:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061\"},\"wordCount\":975,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Slide38-1.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Book Review\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061\",\"name\":\"Looking at Dr. D. Basak's Book (2025) \\\"Sumerian Mythology...\\\"\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20) - An Archaeology of the Fall\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Slide38-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-12T08:00:00+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ad695f570ebd1b2a6f85c4ac5badcd04\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Slide38-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Slide38-1.png\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?p=11061#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Looking at Dr. D. Basak’s Book (2025) “Sumerian Mythology…”\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"An Archaeology of the Fall\",\"description\":\"A Horror Story by Razie Mah\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ad695f570ebd1b2a6f85c4ac5badcd04\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/13f66383028a15bc9f1f6f30c43ce372a5a073cb8ec7f9069fa5158a183efe4d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/13f66383028a15bc9f1f6f30c43ce372a5a073cb8ec7f9069fa5158a183efe4d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/13f66383028a15bc9f1f6f30c43ce372a5a073cb8ec7f9069fa5158a183efe4d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.raziemah.com\\\/blog\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Looking at Dr. D. Basak's Book (2025) \"Sumerian Mythology...\"\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20) - An Archaeology of the Fall","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Looking at Dr. D. Basak's Book (2025) \"Sumerian Mythology...\"\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20) - An Archaeology of the Fall","og_description":"0195 So, what does the differentiation of Nammu specify? Let me consider the mythic separation of An (sky) and Ki (earth) (SVs), appearing in chapter 4. What are the semiotic arrangements (SOs) that it stands for? 0196 Here is my initial guess. An2 and Ki2 are two real elements.  They belong in the category of […]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061","og_site_name":"An Archaeology of the Fall","article_published_time":"2026-09-12T08:00:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":540,"height":360,"url":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slide38-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ad695f570ebd1b2a6f85c4ac5badcd04"},"headline":"Looking at Dr. D. Basak’s Book (2025) “Sumerian Mythology…”\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20)","datePublished":"2026-09-12T08:00:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061"},"wordCount":975,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slide38-1.png","articleSection":["Book Review"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061","url":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061","name":"Looking at Dr. D. Basak's Book (2025) \"Sumerian Mythology...\"\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20) - An Archaeology of the Fall","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slide38-1.png","datePublished":"2026-09-12T08:00:00+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ad695f570ebd1b2a6f85c4ac5badcd04"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slide38-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Slide38-1.png"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?p=11061#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Looking at Dr. D. Basak’s Book (2025) “Sumerian Mythology…”\u00a0 (Part 16 of 20)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/","name":"An Archaeology of the Fall","description":"A Horror Story by Razie Mah","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/ad695f570ebd1b2a6f85c4ac5badcd04","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/13f66383028a15bc9f1f6f30c43ce372a5a073cb8ec7f9069fa5158a183efe4d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/13f66383028a15bc9f1f6f30c43ce372a5a073cb8ec7f9069fa5158a183efe4d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/13f66383028a15bc9f1f6f30c43ce372a5a073cb8ec7f9069fa5158a183efe4d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"url":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11061"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11066,"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11061\/revisions\/11066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.raziemah.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}