Guest Author - Elizabeth Bissette

The Four Major Gods and Goddesses

An Great Father of the Gods, king of the Gods, God of the Sun star Husband of Antu. Father of Ninhursag, Enlil, and Martu. Son of Ki and Nammu. At one time the head of the Sumerian pantheon, his worship waned and eventually his.

Enki God of water, wisdom, creation, fertility,inventior of writing, keeper of the divine laws, creator of the first humans. His symbol, still familiar today, was two serpents entwined on a staff. Enki warned Ziusudra, (the Sumerian Noah), of the coming flood. Son of Nammu. Father of Dumuzi, Ninsar, Uttu, Ninmu, Nindurra, and Asarlubi. Husband of Nintu.

Enlil God of rain, wind, and air, inventor of agricultural tools, creator of the deluge or "amaru" that threatened to destroy mankind. Raper of Ninlil. Either the brother or husband of Ninhursag. Father of Ashnan, Nergal, Ninazu, Ninurta, and Nanna. Son of Ki and An. Seceded An as the head of the Sumerian pantheon.

Ninhursag Mother Goddess, Goddess of childbirth, Queen of the mountains. Daughter of An and Nammu. Mother of Ninurta, Martu, and Ninkasi. Often stated as Enlil's sister and wife.

The Seven Who Decree Fate

The above four are joined by:

Inanna Goddess of love, fertility, procreation, war, Queen of the beasts, protector of Aratta,eight or sixteen pointed star. Daughter of Nanna and Ningal, (in early traditiosn she is the daughter of An). Wife of Dumuzi. In one account sister of Gilgamesh. Sister of Utu, Nanshe, Ninisinna, Ninmug, Nidaba, and Ereshkigal.

Nanna God of the moon, crescent. Father of Utu and Inanna. Son of Ninlil and Enlil.

Utu Larsa Sun god of justice. Son of Nanna and Ningal.

The Annunaki

Ashnan Goddess of grain. Daughter of Enlil.

Emesh God of agriculture. Brother of Enten.

Enbilulu Appointed by Enki to be in charge of the Tigris and the Euphrates.

Enkidu God of land owners and farmers. Adversary of Dumuzi. Companion of Gilgamesh. -

Enten Farmer god. Brother of Emesh.

Ereshkigal Goddess of Arallu, the Underworld. Sister of Inanna. Wife of Gugalanna.

Ishkur God of the winds and lightning.

Kabta God of the brickmold and pickax.

Lahar Goddess of cattle.

Mushdamma God of foundations and houses.

Nanshe Goddess morals and ethics, widows and orphans, seeks out justice for the poor. Wife of Haia. Sister of Inanna.

Nergal God of plague, underworld, and fires. Supreme ruler of Arallu. Son of Enlil and Ninlil. Brother of Ninurta.

Nidaba Goddess of writing and accounts. Patron deity of the palace archives. Sister of Inanna.

Ningal Sun goddess. Wife of Nanna. Mother of Utu and Ianna.

Ninurta Warrior God of the south wind, irrigation, copper and coppersmiths, fertility, patron of hunters. Son of Ninhursag and Enlil. Brother of Nergal. -

Ninisinna Goddess of healing and medicine. Sister of Inanna.

Ninkasi Goddess of brewing and alcohol. Daughter of Ninhursag.

Ninlil Goddess of grain. Daughter of Nunbarshegunu. Raped by Enlil, and is sometimes referred to as his sister. Mother of Nanna, Nergal, and Ninazu.

Sumuqan God of plant and animal on the Sumerian plain.

Uttu Goddess of weaving and clothing, plants, and vegetation. Daughter of Enki and Nindurra

Demi-Gods

Adapa Created by Ea to rule over man. Refused bread and water, which would have granted him everlasting life, and in turn brought illness, disease, and death to other humans.

Dumuzi Shepherd god of the fertility of plants, animals, stables and sheepfolds. Husband of Inanna. Brother of Geshtinanna. Son of Enki and Ninsun. Adversary of Enkimdu. Historical king of Erech who was deified.

Gilgamesh One-third man, two-thirds god. Sought out Utanapishtim for the secret of immortality. Son of Ninsun and Lugalbanda. Companion of Enkidu. Brother of Inanna. Historical king of Erech who was deified.

Geshtinanna Goddess of autumn vines and wine. Poetess, singer, and interpreter of dreams. Known as "Lady of Desolation," "Lady of the Vine," "Recorder of Hell," and "Bookkeeper of Heaven." Sister of Dumuzi. Daughter of Ninsum.

Gugulanna Bull of Heaven. Husband of Ereshkigal.

Khumbaba Guardian of the Cedar Forest of Amanus. Defeated and slain by Enkidu and Gilgamesh.

Kur Underworld monster symbolic of the empty space between the earth's crust and the sea.

Ziusudra King of Sippar who was warned by Enki of the impending deluge. Son of Ubartutu of Shuruppak. Granted eternal life by An and Enlil.