Is there a connection between the gods Dagon and Vishnu?

The god Dagon is half-human, half-fish. The god Vishnu, in another culture, has the same representation.

Asker: Francis, 60 years old

Answer

Dear Mr Dennis,

This connection does not exist. The Philistine god Dagon was not originally represented as half-man and half-fish. This representation is of a later date and inspired by the fact that in Hebrew ‘day’ means fish. The element dag in the god name Dagon was thought to refer to ‘fish’. More likely, the name Dagon has to do with the Semitic word dagan, “grain.” Dagon is then an agricultural god.

Is there a connection between the gods Dagon and Vishnu?

Answered by

Prof. Dr. Klaas Smelik

Hebrew and Judaism

university of Ghent

http://www.ugent.be

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