Gurzil
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Gurzil was an ancient Berber deity. In the Latin poem Iohannis by the 6th-century poet Corippus, he is the son of Ammon and a cow. The poem mentions multiple representations of the god, including a depiction as a bull which was taken into battle. It has been suggested that Gurzil's name is related that of the settlement of Ghirza, from which archaeological remains include a temple and an inscription and relief pertaining to the sacrifice of cattle. In the 11th century AD, the Muslim writer al-Bakrī mentioned a sanctuary at a place named "Gherza", which may be the same as Ghirza.
~6 min read
Article
7 sectionsContents
- ''Iohannis''
- Ghirza
- Other possible evidence
- Interpretation
- Notes
- References
- Further reading
Gurzil was an ancient Berber deity. In the Latin poem Iohannis by the 6th-century poet Corippus, he is the son of Ammon and a cow. The poem mentions multiple representations of the god, including a depiction as a bull which was taken into battle. It has been suggested that Gurzil's name is related that of the settlement of Ghirza, from which archaeological remains include a temple and an inscription and relief pertaining to the sacrifice of cattle. In the 11th century AD, the Muslim writer al-Bakrī mentioned a sanctuary at a place named "Gherza", which may be the same as Ghirza.
Other finds which have been proposed as evidence for Gurzil include a statue and relief of a horned god, a temple in Gholaia dedicated to "Vanammon", and a Neo-Punic inscription from Leptis Magna. Some scholars have interpreted Gurzil as a bull god, a characterisation which others have opposed. Connections with other animals have also been suggested.