Nisroch

Assyrian god Nisroch, Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin

Nisroch (Hebrew: נִסְרֹךְ; Greek: Νεσεραχ; Latin: Nesroch) (Aramaic: ܢܝܼܫܪܵܟ݂‎) is the Assyrian god of agriculture,^[1] in whose temple king Sennacherib was worshipping when he was assassinated by his own sons in revenge for the destruction of Babylon. (2 Kings 19:37; Isa. 37:38). Josephus calls him Dagon.

His identification as a god in Mesopotamia is unclear. Some suggest he could be the same as Nusku or Dagon.

(See also Mesopotamian Religion)

Hebrew legend

In the Midrash, "Nisroch" is actually said to be derived from the Hebrew word "neser." Neser was the name given to a plank of wood discovered by Sennacherib on his return to Assyria from his campaign in Judah. The sages write that this plank was originally part of Noah's Ark, and that Sennacherib worshiped it as an idol. It would therefore be concluded that it was this idol that Sennacherib was worshiping when he was murdered by his two sons.

Nisroch in demonology

Some religious authors consider Nisroch to be a fallen angel, once of the order of Principalities and an associate to Belphegor. Johann Weyer and Collin de Plancy wrote that Nisroch is chief of cuisine to the princes in Hell.

Nisroch in fiction

• In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Nisroch is the name of an outcast devil.
• A rebel angel, Nisroch, features in John Milton's Paradise Lost.
• Nisroch briefly appears in the children's novel The Story of the Amulet by Edith Nesbit.
• Nisroch is a summonable demon in Shin Megami Tensei.

References