Glossary of Proper Nouns (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards representing key proper nouns from the video notes on Mesopotamian mythology.

Ea

The god of the freshwater Ocean Below; the wisest of the gods who helped the Mother Goddess create mankind and is skilled in many arts.

EANNA

House of Heaven; the temple of Ishtar and Anu in the city of Uruk.

EBABBARA

Shining House; the temple of Shamash at Larsa.

EBLA

A town in north Syria (Tell Mardikh), southwest of Aleppo.

EKUR

Mountain House; the temple of Enlil at Nippur.

ENDASHURIMMA

Ancestor of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

NINDASHURIMMA

Ancestor of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

ENDUKUGA

Ancestor of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

NINDUKUGA

Ancestor of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

ENGILUA

A waterway of Uruk; variant form of Idurungal, the principal eastern branch of the Euphrates.

ENKI

The Sumerian name for Ea.

ENKI and NINKI

Ancestors of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

ENKIDU

Lord of the Pleasant Place; in Babylonian myth a wild man created as Gilgamesh's equal; in Sumerian he is Gilgamesh's favoured servant.

ENLIL

Lord Air; the divine ruler of Earth and its inhabitants; aided by Anu, Ea and the Mother Goddess; cult-centre at Nippur; ancestors counted among the dead and dwelling in the Netherworld.

ENMEBARAGESI

Elder sister of Gilgamesh; in history an early ruler of Kish, traditionally treated as male.

ENMESHARRA

Uncle of Enlil; resident in the Netherworld.

ENMUL

Ancestor of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

NINMUL

Ancestor of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

ENUTILA

Ancestor of Enlil, resident in the Netherworld.

ERESHKIGAL

Mistress of the Great Earth; queen of the Netherworld.

ERIDU

Ancient city in southern Babylonia; cult-centre of Enki-Ea; now Tell Abu Shahrein, southwest of Nasiriyah.

ERRAKAL

A manifestation of Nergal as a god of wanton devastation.

ETANA

Legendary king of Kish who rode an eagle to heaven; mortal; in the afterlife an officer in the Netherworld court.

GANZIR

First of seven gates of the Netherworld.

GILGAMESH

Legendary king of Uruk; son of a goddess; in the afterlife a judge in the Netherworld.

GIPAR

Private chambers of Inanna in her temple Eanna.

GIRSU

City-state of eastern Babylonia; modern Telloh, north of Nasiriyah.

HAMRAN

A mountain of uncertain location on the way to the Cedar Forest.

HUMBABA

Monstrous guardian of the Cedar Forest, appointed by Enlil to protect its timber.

HUSHBISHA

Its Fury is Fine; a member of Ereshkigal's court.

HUWAWA

Old form of the name Humbaba.

IGIGI

Traditional name for one of the two divisions of the pantheon; later associated with the great gods of heaven.

INANNA

Queen of Heaven; Ishtar in Sumerian texts.

IRRALLA

Great City; a name of the Netherworld and also its queen.

IRNINA

Name given to the goddess Ishtar; also a deity of the Netherworld.

ISHTAR

Goddess of Uruk; goddess of sexual love and war; daughter of Anu; in heaven she is Venus.

ISHULLANU

Shorty; a cultivator of dates; one of Ishtar's former lovers.

KISH

Ancient city-state; early northern Babylonia; modern Tell Uhaimir, east of Babylon.

KULLAB

Part of the city of Uruk.

LARSA

Modern Senkereh; town between Uruk and Ur; housed Shamash cult-centre.

LION-BIRD

Anzu; the Babylonian mythical being, lion-headed eagle or flying stallion, defeated by Ninurta.

LUGALBANDA

Little Lord; mortal king of Uruk, later deified; sometimes considered Gilgamesh's father or guardian deity.

LUGALGABANGAL

Chest-endowed Lord; Gilgamesh's minstrel.

MAGAN

A distant land across the Gulf; possibly modern Oman.

MAMMITUM

Name of the Mother Goddess, creatress of mankind.

MARDUK

God of Babylon; son of Ea; exorcism expert; later king of the gods; minor figure in Uruk epic tradition.

MASHU

Twin Peaks: mountains where the sun rises and sets.

NAMTAR

Doom; minister of Ereshkigal and the angel of Death.

NANNA

Name of Sin, the Moon God, in Sumerian.

NERGAL

God of plague and war; later husband of Ereshkigal.

NIMUSH

High Zagros peak (Pir Omar Gudrun) near Suleimaniyah in southern Kurdistan.

NINAZU

Lord Doctor; son of Ereshkigal.

NINGAL

Great Lady; wife of the Moon and mother of the Sun.

NINGISHZIDA

Lord of the True Tree; chamberlain of the Netherworld in Ereshkigal's court.

NINHURSANGA

Lady of the Uplands; name of the Mother Goddess.

NINSHULUHHATUMMA

Lady whose Hands are Fit for Cleansing; member of Ereshkigal's court.

NINSUN

Lady Wild Cow; a minor goddess and Gilgamesh's mother.

NINTU

Lady who Gives Birth; a name of the Mother Goddess.

NINURTA

Lord Earth; son of Enlil; epitome of youthful vigour; champion of the gods; god of agriculture.

NIPPUR

Cult-centre of Enlil; modern Nuffar, near 'Afaq in central Babylonia.