Mesopotamian Gods- Intro to Near Eastern Religions

Apsu

the depthless abyss containing underground seas beneath the earth representing chaos

Tiamat

the salt water sea

Lahmu / Lahamu

the mythical silt that comes when fresh water hits the ocean

depiction: nude

Anshar

king of the gods, fixer of fates

An / Anu

sky god

made in the image of his father - Anshar

created the four winds + gifted them to Marduk

created the world

father of all the gods

Enki - Ea

God of sweet waters (controls apsu)

very wise / profound

associated with magic

cult: Eridu

depiction: water flowing from his arms with fish + either sitting on or in a temple + standing on a mountain (has scales)

Enlil - Ellil

King of foreign land

center: Nippur

original owner of tablet of destinies

Marduk (Bel)

created inside Apsu

darling of the gods

will take power from Anshar

4 eyes + ears

city: Babylon

Ishkur - Adad

storm god- thunderstorm, rain, flood

son of Enllil

depiction: lightning

Ninurta

cult center: Nippur

depicted: hunting

son of Enlil

(possible) husband of Gula

champion against Anzu bird

Imdugud - Anzu

head of a lion, body of a bird

stole the tablets of destiny from Enki and was killed by Ninurta

Gula

healing goddess

patron of doctors

(possible) wife of Ninurta

depiction: dog + raised hands

Nabu

Scribe God (and later another god of wisdom)

son of Marduk

Depicted (sometimes) riding the back of a dragon

Nanna / Sin

God of the moon

Son of Enlil

Father of Utu-Shammash

symbol: crescent moon

depicted: lion-dragon

Ereshkigal

Queen of the Night

naked + claw feet + wings (short) + crown

Nergal

associated with: underworld, forrest fires, fevers, plagues

husband of Ereshkigal

depicted with a long flowing robe + stepping on a man or a raised support

Shamash - Utah

brilliant light of the son

son of Nanna - moon god

emblem: pruning saw

short rays of golden light emitting from his shoulders

god of truth and justice

Inanna / Ishtar

goddess of love and sexuality

not of marriage or motherhood

warlike goddess

depiction: winged + stars + lion

Lamassu

human head + bull + lion body + wings

guarded doors of Assyrian palaces

pazuzu

canine face + large eyes + wings + talons of a bird

counters Lamashtu and forces her back into the underworld

priest-king

an ancient priest in Uruk who took on rulership like responsibilities but was not like the more “modern” kings of mesopotamia

depiction: bun, beard net skirt cap-hat

Mushushu

creature of Marduk, god of Babylon

horned dragon creature

then conquered by Assyria & became the city god of Ashur

Huwawa / Humbaba

a monster guarding the Cedar forests, later killed by Gilgamesh and Enkidu

Scorpion man

the guardians of the underworld, whom Gilgamesh fights

Hepatoscopy

a form of divination done by examining the livers

believed the were the source of blood, therefore were the basis of life

Ziggurat

a multi-layer pyramid like temple - appear 3rd mil. BC

Extispicy

a form of divination where the animal’s entrails are interpreted

Divination

the process of understanding what the gods want by studying the natural phenomena

Omen

An observation or interpretation of the signs the gods send to humans

ensi

A type of kingship in Mesopotamia where the kings take on a prominent religious role

Lamma

minor god of protection

depiction: hands raised in benevolence to a major diety

Lamashtu

baby eater

associated with miscarriage and death

an amalgamation of many different animals

has piglets and whelp suckle at her breast

Lugal

A type of kingship dedicated to more military endeavors

Baal

dominant God of Syria and Palestine
storm god
warrior!!
wears the bowling pin hat of Upper Egypt

Anat

goddess of war
often paired with Astarte
represented with weapons + the atef or Egyptian crown

Reshef

God of war & plague (protects against)
depiction: Egyptian white crown of Upper Egypt (bowling pin) + gazelle horns

Astarte

sister / consort of El (and of Baal)
cult center: Sidon
goddess of war & fertility
symbols: lion sphinx horse dove Venus star

El

Chief of pantheon
creator of all things + all gods
home: north mountains
“the bull el” power strength male potency

Asherah

mother of all Gods
consort / sister of El
fertility goddess
nurtured human rulers
associated with trees + sea

Gilgamesh

king of Uruk
son of Nissan (goddess) 2/3 god 1/3 man
model of beauty and strength
protagonist of Epic of Gilgamesh- follows him becoming a better human being

Enkidu

wild beast man
created to oppose Gilgamesh
became civilized after having sex for a week
dies after fighting the bull of heaven

Kother wa Hasis

Artisan God
Builds palaces
manufactures weapons resides in Kaphtor (Crete)