degim
דגימ
The 'degim' are literally “the fish-men”. This word is used exclusively within legendary contexts; first, as one topic of legends told by King Solomon, and secondly in the name of a gate of the city of Jerusalem, probably referring to the same legends and possibly indicating that decorative fish-men were carved upon the gate.
This fact reveals the numerous conflicting mythologies within ancient Hebrew culture, borrowing motifs from neighboring cultures, in this case Degon (aka Dagon) the Canaanite fish-god, who appears in the book of 1 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. He was said to be half man and half fish. There are long-standing traditions paralleling this character in Sumerian, Akkadian and Babylonian cultures as well. It is highly probable that the legends of Solomon, and the imagery on the so-called fish gate may have been influenced by these local cultural legends of fish-men.
LexID 91710