The south and north wind (1)

Text
Mar Uqba (fl. 210-240 CE, Babylonia) did not go to the court during a south wind (šwtˀ = Akkadian šūtu), while R. Nahman (died Babylonia 320 CE) argued that a legal ruling (halachah) demands clarity like the North Wind (ˀstnˀ = Akkadian iltānu), both statements probably reflecting suppositions in Akkadian omen literature that the South wind was dangerous while the North wind was considered to be propitious, e.g. ‘when the South Wind blows, do not fight a battle’, although there is abundant evidence for the propitious nature of the North Wind in Akkadian sources (see CAD s.v.).

Source (list of abbreviations)
Babylonian Talmud, Erubin 65a

Bibliography

Mark Geller

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