Krun
Mandaean lord of the underworld, greatest of five.
In Mandaean cosmology, Krun (also called Akrun) is a lord of the underworld who resides in the deepest part of creation, holding up the entire physical world. He is the foremost among the five underworld lords, alongside Shdum, Hag, Gaf, and Zartai-Zartanai. This hierarchy is described in the fifth book of the right half of the Ginza Rabba, the Mandaeans’ most sacred text. Krun is commonly called “the great mountain of flesh” (Classical Mandaic: ṭura rba ḏ-bisra). His symbol, a lion, appears on the skandola talisman, which is used to seal the graves of the recently deceased.
A dark region along Pluto’s equator, just east of the bright feature Tombaugh Regio, was informally named “Krun Macula” by NASA scientists. This followed a 2015 public naming campaign initiated by Rutgers professor Charles G. Häberl, who sought to include Mandaean names in planetary geography. The campaign noted that while celestial nomenclature had expanded beyond Greco-Roman sources to honor many cultures, the Mandaeans had been overlooked. The name was later replaced by Safronov Regio in 2023.
Quick Facts
- Other Names
- Mountain of Flesh
- Affiliation
- <!-- or
- Abode
- World of Darkness
- Symbol
- Lion (in the skandola)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Krun is a central figure in Mandaean cosmology, described as dwelling in the lowest depths of creation and supporting the entirety of the physical world. According to the 5th book of the right half of the Ginza Rabba, the most sacred Mandaean text, he is the greatest of the five lords of the underworld, which also include Shdum, Hag, Gaf, and Zartai-Zartanai.
He is represented by the image of a lion on the skandola talisman, which is used to seal the graves of the newly dead. The epithet most frequently associated with him is ṭura rba ḏ-bisra (Classical Mandaic: ࡈࡅࡓࡀ ࡓࡁࡀ ࡖࡁࡉࡎࡓࡀ, lit. 'the great mountain of flesh').
Reader's Guide
Krun holds significance as a key figure in Mandaean mythology, representing the underworld's greatest lord and a foundational support of the physical cosmos. His inclusion in the Ginza Rabba underscores his importance within Mandaean sacred literature. The use of his lion image on the skandola talisman for sealing graves connects him to funerary practices and the afterlife. In modern times, a campaign called 'Vote Krun' led by Rutgers professor Charles G. Häberl sought to recognize the Mandaean community by naming a feature on Pluto after him. This resulted in the informal naming of 'Krun Macula,' a dark region along Pluto's equator, by NASA scientists, though it was later superseded by the name Safronov Regio in 2023. The campaign highlighted that Mandaeans, who preserve ancient Babylonian astrological traditions, had previously been unrepresented in astronomical place-names.
Did You Know?
- Krun is the greatest of the five Mandaean lords of the underworld, according to the 5th book of the right half of the Ginza Rabba.
- His epithet is ṭura rba ḏ-bisra, meaning 'the great mountain of flesh.'
- A dark region on Pluto was informally named 'Krun Macula' by NASA scientists, later superseded by Safronov Regio in 2023.
More in Giants 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced