Apkallu are found in cuneiform mean “wise” or “sage”. In several contexts the Apkallu are seven demigods, sometimes described as part man and part fish or bird, as the Seven Sages, and with a specific primeval king. After the Great Flood see Epic of Gilgamesh, about Anunnaki Gods.
In Mesopotamian mythology, Oannes was an amphibious fish-man and the first of the Apkallu, a race of mythical sages. Oannes was also known as Uanna in Sumerian and Adapa in Babylonian.
Appearance:
- Oannes had the body of a fish, but the head, arms, and feet of a man
- He was an emissary of Ea (Enki), the god of wisdom and the freshwater deep
Teachings:
- Oannes taught humans how to read, write, and do mathematics
- He taught them how to build cities, found temples, make laws, and divide land
- He taught them how to plant seeds, harvest fruits, and distinguish the seeds of the earth
- He explained to the first humans how the gods created the world
Behavior:
- Oannes came up to the seashore of the Persian Gulf in the daytime to instruct humans
- He plunged back into the sea at sunset and spent the night in the deep
Other Apkallu:
- Other Apkallu were associated with various cities and taught the people
- Plaques of the Apkallu were placed in Mesopotamian houses to ward off evil
“After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug.” Sumerian Kings List.
Genesis 5:1 Anunnaki Generations of Sumerian Kings Adam to Noah: 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam=Adapa. In the day that God=Anu=Anunnaki created man Adapa to Utnapishtim or Adam to Noah, in the likeness of God=Anunnaki made he him;