III. Who were the gods and the heroes of the Babylonians then?
A. The Older (genealogical) Gods:
| Apsu - the underworld ocean, masculine. The begetter of the skies and the earth. The father of Lahmus, Lahamu, Anshar and Kishar. He could not quell the noise of them or their children. He colluded with his vizier Mummu to silence the gods and allow Tiamat to rest, after Tiamat rejected the idea. Ea found out about his plans, cast a sleeping spell on him and killed him. |
Tiamat - primeval Chaos, bearer of the skies and the earth, mother of Lahmu, Lahamu, Anshar, and Kishar. The clamor of the younger gods disturbed her, but she continued to indulge them. When Apsu and Mummu suggested that they kill the younger gods, she grew furious, calmed down and rejected the plan. Her restless subservient gods goaded her into action after Apsu is slain. They prepared to wage war against the other gods. s Mother Hubur, the underworld river, who fashions all things, she bore giant snakes with venom for blood, and cloaked dragons with a godlike radiance yet with a terrible visage, for the war. She rallied a horned serpent, a mushussu-dragon, a lahmu-hero, a ugallu-demon, a rabid
dog, a scorpion-man, umu-demons, a fish-man, a bull-man, and eleven others underneath her champion, Qingu. She gave Qingu the Tablet of Destinies to facilitate his command and attack.
Marduk came with his host to attack her. Quingu's strategy initially confuses him, and Tiamat tried to enspell him, hurling jibes at him. She was rebuffed and incited into single combat with Marduk. She continued to cast her spell and Marduk netted her, and threw
a wind at her. She tried to swallow it and was undone - distended, shot, sliced in two and cut in the heart. Her crushed skull heralded her death, and half of her skin was used to roof up the sky. Her eyes became the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. |
| Lahmu and Lahamu - 'the hairy one' or 'muddy' they have three pairs of curls, and are naked except for a triple sash. They were the first children of Tiamat and Apsu. Kappa was sent to fetch them by Anshar, to help send off Marduk on his fight with Tiamat and be rallied to his side. They complied and helped find a princely shrine for Marduk. |
| Anshar - 'whole sky' He is the father of Anu and the child of Tiamat and Apsu. He is often paired with Kishar, and his qualities were assimilated with Ashur. When Ea learned of Tiamat's planned war, Anshar tried to stir him into attacking her first, but was
rebuffed. He turned to Anu and sent him on a peace mission to Tiamat, but Anu returned unsuccessful. An assembly was convened and Marduk came forth at Ea's urging, promising to deliver Tiamat's defeated body to Anshar's feet. He required of the assembly a promise that he would be given the leadership of the pantheon after he is victorious. He had Kappa gather Lahmu, Lahamu, and the other gods together to send off Marduk on his fight and rally them to his side. When they arrive they help find a princely shrine for Marduk. |
| Kishar - 'whole earth' , She is the mother of Anu and the child of Tiamat and Apsu. |
Anu - Sumerian for "heaven", a sky god, father and king of the gods. He is the son of Anshar and Kishar. He lives in the third heaven. The Eanna in Uruk was dedicated both to him and consort. His first consort was Antu. They produced the Anunnaki - the underworld
gods, and the utukki - the seven evil demons. His second consort was Innina (Ishtar). He is a god of monarchs and is not friendly to the common people. He is a "King of the Igigi". He is assigned the sky as his domain in 'Atrahasis'. His 'kishru's (shooting stars) have awesome strength. He has the ability that anything he puts into words, becomes reality. He is Niudimmud's (Ea's) father.
He calls Adapa to account for breaking the wing of the South Wind, and offers him the food and drink of eternal life after Dumuzi and Gizzida speak on Adapa's behalf.He agrees to send the Bull of Heaven after Gilgamesh on Ishtar's behalf, if she has made sure that the people of Uruk are properly provisioned for seven years. He decrees that either Gilgamesh or Enkidu must die for the slaying of Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven. He sends Kakka to Kurnugi to tell Ereshkigal to send a messenger to receive a gift from him.
When Anzu stole the Tablet of Destinies from Ellil, he called for one of the gods to slay Anzu and thereby greatly increase his reputation. He gave Marduk the four winds to play with. He made a whirlwind and a flood wave and stirred up Tiamat on purpose. When
Tiamat's retaliation for Apsu's death was discovered, Anshar sent him on a peace mission to her, but he returned unsuccessfully. He helps form a princely shrine for Marduk prior to his battle with Tiamat, and gives him the Anu-power of decreeing fates, such that his word is law.
He and Earth father the Sebitti. He gives them fearsome fates and powers and puts them at Erra's command, to aid in killing noisy, over populous people and animals.
Symbol: sacred shine surmounted by the divine horned cap.
Sacred number: 60
Astrological region: heavenly equator
Sacred animal: the heavenly Bull |
| Antu(m) - Sumerian for "the earth", she is a colorless being who was the first consort of Anu. They produced the Anunnaki - the underworld gods, and the utukki - the seven evil demons. She was replaced by Isthar (Inanna) who is sometimes her daughter. |
| Aruru (Ninmah, Nintu, Ninhursasga, Belet-ili, Mami) -She is the mother goddess and was responsible for the creation of man with the help of Enlil or Enki. She is also called the womb goddess, and midwife of the gods. On Ea's advice, she acted on his direction and
mixed clay with the blood of the god Geshtu-e, in order to shape and birth seven men and seven women. These people would bear the workload of the Igigi. She also added to the creation of Gilgamesh, and, at Anu's command, made Enkidu in Anu's image by pinching off a piece of clay, throwing it into the wilderness, and birthing him there. Ea called her to offer her beloved Ninurta as the one who should hunt Anzu. She does so. |
| Mammetum - the maker or mother of fate |
| Nammu - one of "the pure goddesses", Ea's mother, associated with fresh water. |
|
B. The Anunnaki, Igigi, and the Younger Gods
Ellil (Enlil) - Sumerian for "wind/storm-god". Initially the leader of the pantheon, he has since relinquished his spot to Anu. He is possiblly the slayer of Enmesharra and avenger of his father Anu. His role in this was upplanted by Marduk by the Babylonians. He is a short-tempered god who was responsible for the great flood. He is the creator of mankind. He is thought to favor and help those in need. He guards the "tablets of destiny", which allow him to determines the fate of all things animate or inanimate. They was once stolen from him by a Zu, a storm-bird (a bird with some human qualities). They were recovered and Zu faced judgment by Ellil. His consort is Ninlil, his chief-minister is Nusku. He was also god of the lands and of the earth. He is a "King of the Anunnaki". He was their counselor warrior. He and his people receive the earth in 'Atrahasis'. His temple is Duranki.
When the Igigi rebelled against him, and surrounded his house and called for Anu. After man was created in response to the Igigi's grievances, he grew weary of their noise and released several disasters upon them, after each one, man recovered and then he released a new one. The disasters included disease, flood, drought, and the great flood. He appointed Humbaba to guard the cedar forest and terrify mankind. He decreed that Enkidu must die for the slaying of the Bull of Heaven and Humbaba. He does not answer Gilgamesh's plea to restore Enkidu to life. He found a throne for Etana to rule from in Kish. He appointed Anzu as the guardian of his bath chamber, but while bathing, Anzu stole from him
the Tablet of Destinies, and his Ellil-power. Ninurta, with Ea's advise and Belet-ili's urgings slew Anzu and recovered the Tablet of Destinies.
Symbol: Seven small circles representing the Pleiades.
Sacred number: 50
Astrological region: north of "the way of Anu" ie. 12 degrees north of the equator. |
Ea (Enki, Nudimmud) - god of the waters. He is in charge of the bolt which bars the sea. He knows everything. He is the "Lord of Wisdom" and "Lord of Incantations". When he speaks, of a thing, it will be made. He is the son of Anu, but sometimes he is the son of Anshar. Dumkina is his consort. He created Zaltu as a complement to Ishtar. He discovered the plot of Apsu and Mummu, put Apsu under a sleeping spell, and slew him and put Mummu into a daze, tied him up, and slew him. He then named his quarters Apsu, the underworld ocean that supports the world. He and Damkina produced Bel and Marduk. (Bel is likely to be another name for Marduk.)
He learned that Tiamat was planning a war of revenge against the gods. His father Anshar tries to spur him into making the first attack against Tiamat, but Ea rebuffs him. He is the sire of Marduk. When Anu's peace mission fails, he urges Marduk into action.
He suggests the method of creating man, in response to the heavy workload of the Igigi. As mankind's patron, he is the instructor of all crafts, writing, building, farming, and magic. He advises mankind when other gods would do them harm. He granted Adapa
understanding, to teach mankind. When Adapa used this knowledge to break the wing of the South Wind, he cursed him and told him to complain of Dumuzi and Gizzida's absence to Anu. While in Anu's court, he advises Adapa not to eat the bread of eternal life (lest he forfeit his life on earth). He refuses to flood mankind for Ellil. Eventually he accedes, but only after advising Atrahasis to build a boat in which to weather the flood.
He tells Nergal to allow Enkidu's spirit to visit with Gilgamesh. When Ea is informed of Ishtar's imprisonment in the Underworld, he creates 'His appearance is bright' to stand at Ereshkigal's gate and mellow her mood and have her swear an oath by the great gods. He instructs Nergal on how to build the gift throne for Ereshkigal, and hides him with spring water to hide him from Namtar after he returned from the underworld.
When Anu and the gods could not locate a volunteer to kill Anzu, he told the Igiggi that he would pick one. He instructs Belet-ili/Mami to send Ninurta to slay Anzu and, through Sharur advises Ninurta on how to defeat the creature.
Symbol: Ram's head; goat-fish (a goat's head on a fish's body)
Sacred number: 40
Astrological region: 12 degrees south in the sky (includes Pisces and Aquarius) |
| Mummu - the craftsman god. He is attendant
to Ea and Apsu's vizier. He is very fond of Apsu and colludes with him
to disperse the younger gods when they disturb Tiamat, even after Tiamat
rejects the plan. Ea found out about his plan, enspelled him and tied him
up. |
| Qingu - Tiamat's battle leader. He is
promoted and enhanced to a leading position from among the ranks. Tiamat
places the Tablet of Destinies into his possession, giving him the Anu-power,
such that his word is law and effects reality. He gives his army fire-quenching
breath and paralyzing venom. His battle strategy initially confuses Marduk.
He is defeated by Marduk and counted among the dead gods. |
Sin (Nannar) - moon god, son of Enlil.
He has a beard of Lapis Lazuli and rides a winged bull. His consort is
Ningal. He is the father of Shamash. He does not answer Gilgamesh's plea
to restore Enkidu to life.
Symbol: Crescent
Sacred number: 30
Sphere of influence: the moon, calendars,
vegetation, cattle fertility |
| Ningal - the consort of Sin, the mother of Shamash |
Ishtar (Ishhara, Irnini, Inanna) - She
is Anu's second consort, daughter of Anu and Antum, (sometimes daughter
of Sin), and sometimes the sister of Ereshkigal. She is the goddess of
love, procreation, and war. She is armed with a quiver and bow. Her temples
have special prostitutes of both genders. She is often accompanied by a
lion, and sometimes rides it. The Eanna in Uruk is dedicated both to her
and Anu. As Irnini, she has a parakku (throne-base) at the cedar mountain.
She loved Tammuz in her youth, although he spends half the year in the
nether world wailing. She loved a lion, a stallion, a shepherd, all of
whom she required great sacrifice from and abandoned. She loved Ishullanu
a gardener who offered her fruit, but was taken aback when she revealed
herself to him, so she turned him into a frog.
After Gilgamesh cleans himself up, following
his defeat of Humbaba, she asks him to be her lover and husband, and offers
him many gifts and the homage of earthly rulers and kingdoms. She is rejected,
both because of her godly nature, and as a fair-weather lover. Ishtar asks
Anu to send the Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgamesh, and he agrees.
She determines to go to the Underworld.
She threatened to smash the gate and raise the dead so that they would
eat and outnumber the living unless the gatekeeper would open it for her.
She holds the great keppu-toy (a whipping top). She is allowed in by the
gate keeper, who takes her through seven gates to Ereshkigal's realm. By
Erishkigal's rites, she is stripped of items of clothing as she passes
through each of the gates: first her crown, then her earrings, then her
necklace, then her tudditu (breast pins), then her belt of birthstones,
then her wrist and ankle bangles, and finally her garment. While in the
underworld, no creatures engaged in acts of procreation. She was kept in
Egalgina and brought forth by Namtar after being sprinkled with the water
of life, and after 'His appearance is bright' has been cursed. She is led
back out through the gates, given back her accouterments, and released
in exchange for Dumuzi (Tammuz).
Symbol: an eight or sixteen-pointed star
Sacred number: 15
Astrological region: Dibalt (Venus)
and the Bowstar (Sirius)
Sacred animal: lion, (dragon) |
| Siduri - the barmaid, a manifestation
of Ishtar who dwells at the lip of the sea, beyond which is the Land of
Life, where Utnapishtim lives. She speaks with Gilgamesh. She wears a veil. |
Shamash (Babbar, Utu) - the sun god,
the son of Sin and Ningal. He rises from the mountains with rays out of
his shoulders. He enters and exits the underworld through a set of gates
in the mountain, guarded by scorpion-people. He travels both on foot and
in a chariot, pulled by fiery mules. He upholds truth, and justice. He
is a lawgiver and informs oracles. Nergal is a corrupt aspect of his nature.
He loves Gilgamesh, hates evil and instigates
Gilgamesh's quest against Humbaba, guiding him and receiving prayers from
him along the way. He tries to intercede to Ellil on Enkidu's behalf, but
is unsuccessful. He rebukes Enkidu for cursing the Stalker and the temple
prostitute for bringing him out of the wild.
In Kish, the eagle and the serpent swore
an oath to Shamash that they would not overstep the limits of Shamash.
The eagle broke the oath and ate the eggs of the serpent. Shamash, 'whose
net is as wide as earth', told the serpent how to serve the eagle justice.
The serpent lured the eagle with a bull carcass and captured him. The eagle
requested to be spared and the serpent refused, saying that Shamash's punishment
would fall on him if he did not carry it out. He cut the eagle's wings
and left him to die in a pit. The eagle prayed to Shamash for mercy, and
Shamash refused to help personally, but sent Etana to help the eagle. He
agreed to help Etana's infertility problem if Etana would help the eagle.
Symbol: Solar disk with a four point
star inside with rays coming from between the points. A winged disk.
Sacred Number: 20 |
| Aia - Shamash's consort |
| Kakka - Anshar and Anu's vizier, who
is sent to Kurnugi to deliver Ereshkigal the message that Anu wishes to
deliver a gift to her via one of her messengers. Anshar sends him to round
up Lahmu and Lahamu to send off Marduk for his battle with Tiamat and rally
them to his side. |
| Ninlil - Ellil's consort |
| Nusku - the god of fire and Ellil's vizier. |
| Gerra (Gibil) - the god of fire, Anunitu
(Antu)'s son. He despairs and will not attack Anzu after Anzu has stolen
the Tablet of Destinies from Ellil. |
| Ishum (Hendursanga - 'lofty mace') -
He is the god of fire, and is adept at using weapons. He lights the way
in front of Erra and the Sebitti. He advises Erra against attacking Marduk
or his people in Babylon. When Erra takes Marduk's seat, Ishum persuades
him against destroying Babylon, finally appeasing him by promising that
the other gods would acknowledge themselves as his servants. |
| Kalkal - Ellil's doorkeeper in Nippur |
| Dumkina - Ea's lover, mother of Bel
and Marduk (note Bel is likely to be another title for Marduk). |
| Nash (Nanshe) - one of "the pure goddesses",
Ea's daughter. Her cult center is Sirara near Lagash. |
| Zaltu - "strife", goddess created by Ea to complement Ishtar |
Ninurta (shares some characteristics
with Ningrisu) - Chamberlain of the Anunnaki, the war god, the champion
of the land. He is the child of Ellil and Mami. He was born in Ekur, Ellil's
temple in Ekur. He is responsible for some small scale irrigation. He has
a bow and arrow, sometimes they are poisoned. He also carries the mace,
Sharur which can act as a messenger between Ninurta and other beings (notably
Ea). He can marshal the Seven of Battle, who can generate whirlwinds.
He bound the Mountain of Stones in his fury, conquered the Anzu with his weapon and slew the bull-man inside the Sea. (Dalley p. 204).
After the Tablet of Destinies was stolen,
Belit-ili, at Ea's advice, instructed him to kill Anzu. Initially his assault
was futile, but Sharur relayed advise from Ea to him, which, when it was
carried out allowed him to slay Anzu in a great onslaught. He recovered
the Tablet of Destinies for Ellil. Nissaba performs a purification ceremony
on him and he receives the following new names and shrines: Duku - 'holy
mound' in Sumerian, Hurabtil - an Elamite god, Shushinak - patron god of
the Elamite city Susa, Lord of the Secret, Pabilsag - god of the antediluvian
city Larak, Nin-Azu - god of Eshunna, Ishtaran - god of Der, Zababa -warrior
god of Kish, Lugalbanda - Gilgamesh's father, Lugal-Marada - patron god
of Marad, Warrior Tishpak - similar to Nin-Azu, Warrior of Uruk, Lord of
the Boundary-Arrow, Panigara - a warrior god, and Papsukkal - vizier of
the great gods. |
| Ninsun - 'the great wild cow', the great
queen, Gilgamesh's mother and Lugalbanda's mate. She is wise, 'knows everything'
and interprets Gilgamesh's dreams. She offers incense and drink to Shamash
and questions his decision to send Gilgamesh against Humbaba. When doing
so, she wears a circlet on her head and an ornament on her breast. She
adopts Enkidu prior to the quest against Humbaba. |
Marduk - son of Ea and Dumkina. He supplants
the other Babylonian deities to become the central figure of their pantheon.
He is a "King of the Igigi" He often works with and asks questions of his
father. He has fifty names many of which are those of other deities whose
attributes he usurped. He was of proud form and piercing stare, born mature,
powerful, and perfect and superior. He has four eyes, four ears, and emits
fire from his mouth when he speaks. He is also gifted in magic.
Anu gave him the four winds to play with.
When Anu's peace mission to Tiamat fails, Ea urges him into action. He
goes before Anshar and the divine assembly and declares that he will defeat
Tiamat and lay her head at his feet, but that the assembly must promise
that he should be the one to fix fates and more or less assume the role
of the leader of the pantheon. Anshar, Lahmu, Lahamu, and Anu find him
a shrine and Anu instills upon him the Anu-power in which, his word decrees
fate. He is proclaimed king and invested with the scepter, throne, and
staff-of-office. He is given an unfaceable weapon, the flood-weapon. He
takes a bow and arrow and mace. He puts lightning in front of him, marshals
his winds, makes a net to encircle Tiamat, fills his body with flame. He
rides his storm-chariot driven by Slayer, Pitiless, Racer, and Flyer, poison-toothed,
tireless steeds. He had a spell on his lips and an anti-toxin in his hand.
He led the gods to battle. (P.251-252 Dalley) Qingu's strategy confused
him. Tiamat tried to enspell him and wheedled at him. Marduk reproaches
her and calls her out for single combat. She looses her temper and they
fight. He unleashes his weapons at her, distended her body with winds,
shot her in the belly with an arrow, split her in two and slit her heart.
He defeats the rest of her forces and retrieves the Tablet of Destinies.
He smashed Tiamat's skull to herald her
death. He made half of her skin the roof of the sky. He leveled Apsu, measured
it and established numerous shrines for many of the gods. He set up stands
for the gods, constructed the heavens and regulated the year, giving Shamash
some dominion over the months and the year. He made the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers from Tiamat's eyes and made mountains from her udders. He smashed
the weapons of Tiamat's army and put images of them at the gates to the
underworld. He set up his temple at Esharra and his seat in Babylon. The
gods honored him as king. He put blood and bones together as and made early
man to bear the work of the gods, as in Atrahasis. For Qingu's part in
the war he was made to provide the blood for the creation of man. He divided
the Anunnaki and placed 300 to guard the sky, and six hundred to dwell
in heaven and earth. He had them create Babylon building the Esagalia temple
and a high ziggurat.
Anshar gave him many new names: 1. Asarluhi, 2. Marduk,
3. The Son, The Majesty of the Gods, 4. Marukka, 5. Mershakushu, 6. Lugal-dimmer-ankia
(King of heaven and earth), 7. Bel, 8. Nari-lugal-dimmer-ankia, 9. Asarluhi,
10. Namtila, 11. Namru, 12. 'Asare, 13. Asar-alim, 14. Asar-alim-nuna,
15. Tutu, 16. Zi-ukkina, 17. Ziku, 18. Agaku, 19. Shazu, 20. Zisi, 21.
Suhrim, 22. Suhgurim, 23. Zahrim, 24. Zahgurim, 25. Enbilulu, 26. Epadun,
27. Gugal, 28. Hegal, 29. Sirsir, 30. Malah, 31. Gil, 32. Gilima, 33. Agilima,
34. Zulum, 35. Mummu, 36. Zulum-ummu, 37. Gizh-numun-ab, 38. Lugal-ab-dubur,
39. Pagal-guena, 40. Lugal-Durmah, 41. Aranuna, 42. Dumu-duku, 43. Lugal-duku,
44. Lugal-shuanna, 45. Iruga, 46. Irqingu, 47. Kinma, 48. Kinma, 49. E-sizkur,
50. Addu, 51. Asharu, 52. Neberu, 53. Enkukur.
He becomes a firm lawgiver
and judge who, when angered is not stoppable. Later he becomes somewhat
negligent and Erra challenges him by preparing to attack his people in
Babylon. He responds to the challenge by saying that he already killed
most of the people in the flood and would not do so again. He also states
that no-one would be in control of things if he got off of his throne to
work up a flood, to which Erra volunteers to run things from Marduk's throne. |
| Bel - Cleverest of the clever and sage
of the gods, he is the child of Ea and Dumkina. This name (meaning 'lord')
is most likely referring to Marduk. |
Ashur (A-sir, Arusar, A-shar, Assur)
- god of Assyria and war. He is a "King of the Igigi"
Symbol: winged disk enclosing upper body,
while he shoots an arrow. |
| Shullat - Shamash's servant |
| Papsukkal - vizier of the Great Gods,
son of Sin. While Ishtar was in the Underworld, he became gloomy and informed
Sin and Ea of this plight. |
| Hanish - the weather god's servant |
Adad (Hadad, Teshub, Resheph, Rimmon)
- a storm god, Anu's son. He holds a lightning bolt in his right hand and
an axe in his left. He is partially responsible for the flood. He despairs
and will not attack Anzu after Anzu has stolen the Tablet of Destinies
from Ellil.
Sacred number: 6
Sacred animal: Bull |
Adad (Hadad, Teshub, Resheph, Rimmon)
- a storm god, Anu's son. He holds a lightning bolt in his right hand and
an axe in his left. He is partially responsible for the flood. He despairs
and will not attack Anzu after Anzu has stolen the Tablet of Destinies
from Ellil.
Sacred number: 6
Sacred animal: Bull |
| Shara - Anu and Ishtar's son. He despairs
and will not attack Anzu after Anzu has stolen the Tablet of Destinies
from Ellil. |
| Nin-ildu - the carpenter god. He carries
the pure axe of the sun. |
| Gushkin-banda - creator of god and man,
goldsmith god. |
| Nin-agal - 'lord strong-arm' patron
god of smiths. He chews copper and makes tools. |
|
C. The Anunnaki and other chthonic deities
and demons
Ereshkigal (Allatu) - the supreme goddess
of the underworld. Nergal is her consort. She is often considered Ishtar's
sister. When angered, her face grows livid and her lips grow black.
She doesn't know why Ishtar would visit
her, but she allows her in, according to the ancient rites. She instructs
Namtar to release his diseases upon Ishtar. When 'His appearance is bright'
tries to get her to swear an oath, she curses him. She has Namtar release
Ishtar in exchange for Dumuzi.
Anu sends Kakka to her with a message
and then sends Nergal to give her a throne upon which she is to sit and
give judgment. She offers Nergal food, drink, a foot bath, and entices
him with her body. Eventually he succumbs and they sleep with each other
for seven days. She is enraged when he wishes to leave. She sends Namtar
to heaven to request that Anu, Ellil, and Ea send Nergal to her as one
of the few favors she has ever had. If they do not, she will raise the
dead and they will eat and outnumber the living. Nergal is brought back.
In some versions of the myth, Nergal takes control of Namtar's attendant
demons and grabs Ereshkigal by the hair. In this position she proposes
marriage to him. In both versions they are married. |
| Belit-tseri, tablet-scribe of the underworld.
She kneels before Ereshkigal. |
| Namtar(a) - the Fate-Cutter, Ereshkigal's
messenger and vizier, the herald of death. He commands sixty diseases,
which are grouped by the part of the body which they affect. Offerings
to him may stave off diseases. He takes Ishtar back out of the Underworld
at Ereshkigal's command. He acts as her messenger to Anu. |
| Sumuqan - the cattle god, he resides
in the underworld, in Ereshkigal's court. |
Nergal (Erragal, Erra, Engidudu - 'lord
who prowls by night') -, the Unsparing, god of the underworld, husband
of Ereshkigal, lover of Mami. As Erra he is a hunter god, a god of war
and plague. He is submissive to Ea. He can open the doorposts to the underworld
to allow the passage of a soul.
He achieved his post by refusing to stand
before an address of Namtar. When Ereshkigal called him to be punished,
he dragged her off of her throne by the hair, and threatened to decapitate
her. She offered him the position as her consort and he accepted.
He is an evil aspect of Shamash. He allows
Enkidu's spirit to visit Gilgamesh at the behest of Ea. He is sometimes
the son of Ea. Prior to his first journey to the underworld, he builds
a chair of fine wood under Ea's instruction to give to Ereshkigal as a
gift from Anu. He is advised not to take part of the food, drink and entertainment
offered there. He is tempted by Ereshkigal and eventually succumbs, sleeping
with her for seven days. He then takes his leave, angering her. The gatekeeper
lets him out and he climbs the stairway to heaven. He hides from Namtar
in heaven, but is discovered and returns to the underworld to marry Ereshkigal.
In some versions, on the way back to the Underworld, he seizes control
of Namtar's attendant demons and grabs Ereshkigal by the hair. In this
position she offers marriage.
He commands the Sebitti, seven warriors
who are also the Pleadies, they aid in his killing of noisy, over-populous
people and animals. He rallies them when he feels the urge for war, and
calls Ishum to light the way. They prefer to be used in war instead of
waiting while Erra kills by disease.
He regards Marduk as having become negligent
and prepares to attack his people in Babylon. He challenges Marduk in Esagila
in Shuanna/Babylon. Marduk responds that he already killed most of the
people in the flood and would not do so again. He also states that he could
not run the flood without getting off of his throne and letting control
slip. Erra volunteers to take his seat and control things. Marduk takes
his vacation and Erra sets about trying to destroy Babylon. Ishum intervenes
on Babylon's behalf and persuades Erra to stop, but not before he promises
that the other gods will acknowledge themselves as Erra's servants. |
| Irra - plague god, underling of Nergal |
| Enmesharra - Underworld god |
| Lamashtu - a dread female demon also known as 'she who erases'. |
| Nabu - god of Despoilment |
| Nedu - the guardian of the first gate of the underworld. |
| Ningizzia - a guardian of the gate of heaven; a god of the underworld |
| Tammuz (Dumuzi, Adonis) the brother
and spouse to Ishtar, or the lover of her youth. He is a vegetation god.
He went into the underworld and was recovered through the intervention
of Ishtar. He is sometimes the guardian of heaven's gates and sometimes
a god of the underworld. He is friends with Ningizzia. He is exchanged
for Ishtar in the Underworld. He guards the Gate of Anu with Gizzida. |
| Belili (Geshtinanna) - Tammuz/Dumuzi's
sister, 'the one who always weeps', the wife of Ningishzida. |
| Gizzida (Gishzida) - son of Ninazu, consort of Belili, doorkeeper of Anu. |
| Nissaba (Nisaba) - cereal grain harvest
goddess. Her breast nourishes the fields. Her womb gives birth to the vegetation
and grain. She has abundant locks of hair. She is also a goddess of writing
and learned knowledge. She performs the purification ceremony on Ninurta
after he has slain Anzu and is given his additional names and shrines. |
| Dagan (Ugaric for 'grain) - chthonic
god of fertility and of the Underworld. He is paired with Anu as one who
acknowledges directives and courses of action put forth in front of the
assembly of the gods. |
| Birdu - (means 'pimple') an underworld god. Ellil used him as a messenger to Ninurta |
| Sharru - god of submission |
| Urshambi - boatman to Utnapishtim |
| Ennugi - canal- controller of the Anunnaki. |
| Geshtu-e - 'ear', god whose blood and intelligence are used by Mami to create man. |
|
D. Demigods, heroes, and monsters:
| Adapa (Uan) - the first of the seven
antediluvian sages who were sent by Ea to deliver the arts of civilization
to mankind. He was from Eridu. He offered food an water to the gods in
Eridu. He went out to catch fish for the temple of Ea and was caught in
a storm. He broke the South Wind's wing and was called to be punished.
Ea advised him to say that he behaved that way on account of Dumuzi's and
Gizzida's absence from the country. Those gods, who tended Anu's gate,
spoke in his favor to Anu. He was offered the bread and water of eternal
life, but Ea advised against his taking it, lest he end his life on earth. |
Atrahasis and Ut-napishtim, like the
Sumerian Ziusudra (the Xisuthros of Berossus) or Noah from the Pentateuch,
were the long-lived survivors of the great flood which wiped out the rest
of humanity. In Atrahasis' case, Ellil had grown tired of the noise that
the mass of humanity was making, and after a series of disasters failed
to eliminate the problem, he had Enki release the floodgates to drown them
out. Since Enki had a hand in creating man, he wanted to preserve his creation,
warned Atrahasis, and had him build a boat, with which he weathered the
flood. He also had kept his ear open to Enki during the previous disasters
and had been able to listen to Enki's advice on how to avoid their full
effects by making the appropriate offerings to the appropriate deities.
He lived hundreds of years prior to the flood, while Utnapishtim lives
forever after the flood.
Utnapishtim of Shuruppak was the son
of Ubaratutu. His flood has no reason behind it save the stirrings of the
hearts of the Gods. As with Atrahasis, Utnapishtim is warned to build an
ark by Ea. He is also told to abandon riches and possessions and seek life
and to tell the city elders that he is hated by Enlil and would go to the
watery Abyss to live with Ea via the ark. He loads gold, silver, and the
seed of all living creatures into the ark and all of his craftsmen's children
as well. After Ea advises Enlil on better means to control the human population,
(predators, famine, and plague), Enlil makes Utnapishtim and his wife immortal,
like the gods. |
| Lugalbanda - a warrior-king and, with
Ninsun, the progenitor of Gilgamesh. He is worshipped, being Gilgamesh's
ancestor, by Gilgamesh as a god. |
Gilgamesh (possibly Bilgamesh) and Enkidu
The son of the warrior-king Lugalbanda and the wise goddess Ninsun, Gilgamesh
built the walls of the city Uruk, and the Eanna (house of An) temple complex
there, dedicated to Ishtar. He is two-thirds divine and one-third human.
He is tall and a peerless warrior. He is the king and shepherd of the people
of Uruk, but he was very wild, which upset his people, so they called out
to Anu. Anu told Aruru to make a peer for Gilgamesh, so that they could
fight and be kept occupied, so she created the wild-man Enkidu. Enkidu
terrorizes the countryside, and a Stalker, advised by his father, informs
Gilgamesh. They bring a love-priestess to bait Enkidu. She sleeps with
him, and educates him about civilization, Gilgamesh and the city. Gilgamesh
dreams about Enkidu and is anxious to meet him. Enkidu comes into the city
Gilgamesh is on his way to deflower the brides in the city's "bride-house"
and the two fight. They are evenly matched and become friends.
Gilgamesh decides to strengthen his reputation
by taking on Humbaba, Enlil's guardian of the forest. Enkidu accompanies
Gilgamesh and they spend much time in preparation. Eventually they find
the monster and defeat him.
Ishtar offers to become Gilgamesh's lover,
but Gilgamesh insults her, saying that she has had many lovers and has
not been faithful to them. Ishtar asks Anu to send the Bull of Heaven to
punish Gilgamesh, and he does. Gilgamesh and Enkidu defeat the creature,
but Enkidu falls ill and dies, presumably because the gods are unhappy
that he helped kill Humbaba and the Bull of Heaven.
Gilgamesh morns Enkidu and decides to
visit Utnapishtim, the only human who does not die. He goes to the mountains
of Mashu and passes by the guardian scorpion-demons into the darkness.
It becomes light as he enters the Garden of the Gods and he finds Siduri
the Barmaid, to whom he relates his quest. She sends him to cross the waters
of death and he confronts the boatman, Urshanabi. They cross and Gilgamesh
speaks with Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim recounts the tale of the flood and
challenges Gilgamesh to remain awake for six days and seven nights. He
fails, but Utnapishtim's wife urges him to reveal to Gilgamesh a rejuvinative
plant. Gilgamesh takes it, but looses it to a serpent before returning
to Uruk.
Another tablet of the Babylonian Gilgamesh
story exists, which is similar to the Sumerian version of the tale. Enkidu
volunteers to enter the underworld to recover Gilgamesh's pukku and mikku
(drum and throwing stick). Gilgamesh warns him of the proper etiquette
for the underworld, lest Enkidu be kept there. Enkidu prepares to enter
the underworld, and is dressed, scented and bade good-bye. The Earth seizes
him and Gilgamesh weeps. He pleads for Enkidu's sake to Enlil, Sin, and
finally to Ea. Ea tells Nergal to let Enkidu's ghost escape the underworld
and tell Gilgamesh about it. He tells Gilgamesh of the dead which he has
seen there, of those who are cared for and those who aren't, indicating
the sort of judgment and ritual associated with the afterlife and death. |
| Etana - the human taken to the sky by
an eagle. He was the king of Kish. Ishtar and the Igigi searched for a
king for Kish. Ellil found a throne for Etana and they declared him the
king. He was pious an continued to pray to Shamash, yet he had no son.
Shamash told him to where to find the eagle with the cut wings, who would
find for him the plant of birth. He found the eagle, fed it, and taught
it to fly again. Not being able to find the plant, the eagle had Etana
mount on his back and they journeyed to Ishtar, mistress of birth. On flying
up to heaven, Etana grew scared at the height and went down. Then after
some encouraging dreams tried to ascend to heaven on the eagle again. They
succeeded. Etana had a son, Balih. |
| Humbaba (Huwawa) - this monster was
appointed by Ellil to guard the cedar forest, which is in fact one large
tree, the home of the gods, and terrify mankind. 'His shout is the storm-flood,
his mouth, fire, his breath is death.' (Gardner & Maier p. 105) He
has seven cloaks with which to arm himself. There is a gate and a path
in the cedar mountain for Humbaba to walk on. Gilgamesh and Enkidu attack.
Humbaba pleads for mercy, Enkidu argues against mercy, and Enkidu and Gilgamesh
decapitate him. |
| The Bull of Heaven - this creature was
created by Anu to kill Gilgamesh at Ishtar's behest. At its snorting, a
hole opened up and 200 men fell into it. When it fights Enkidu and Gilgamesh,
it throws spittle and excrement at them. It is killed and set as an offering
to Shamash. |
| Anzu - a demonic being with lion paws
and face and eagle talons and wings. It was born on the mountain Hehe.
It's beak is like a saw, its hide as eleven coats of mail. It was very
powerful. Ellil appointed him to guard his bath chamber. He envied the
Ellil-power inherent in Ellil's Tablet of Destinies and stole it while
Ellil was bathing. With the Tablet of Destinies, anything he puts into
words becomes reality. He takes advandtage of this by causing Ninurta's
arrows to never reach their target. However, once Ea's advice reached Ninurta,
Anzu was slain by the hero's onslaught. |
| aqrabuamelu (girtablilu) - scorpion-man,
the guardians of the gates of the underworld. Their "terror is awesome"
and their "glance is death". They guard the passage of Shamash. They appraise
Gilgamesh and speak with him. |
|
Definitions:
| Anunnaki |
gods (mostly of the earth). The sky
Anunnaki set the Igigi to digging out the rivers |
| Igigi |
gods (mostly of the heavens) They are
given the task of digging riverbeds by the Anunnaki. They rebelled against
Ellil. |
| Sebitti |
the seven warrior gods led by Erra;
in the sky they are the Pleadies. They were children of Anu and the Earth-mother.
Anu gave them fearsome and lethal destinies and put them under Erra's command.
They prefer to exercise there skills instead of letting Erra stay in the
cities with his diseases. |
| Utukki |
demons |
| Muttabriqu |
Flashes of Lightning |
| Sarabda |
Bailiff |
| Rabishu |
Croucher |
| Tirid |
Expulsion |
| Idiptu |
Wind |
| Bennu |
Fits |
| Sidana |
Staggers |
| Miqit |
Stroke |
| Bel Uri |
Lord of the Roof |
| Umma |
Feverhot |
| Libu |
Scab |
| gallu |
demons - can frequently alter their
form. |
| umu |
demons - fiercely bare their teeth. |
|