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Archive-name: mythology/assyrbabyl-faq
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Last-modified: 1995/10/06
Version: 1.7
URL: http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren/assyrbabyl-faq.html
The Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ version 1.7
by Christopher B. Siren (Nov. 1994)
cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu
http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren
last revised (October 6th, 1995)
changes since last revision: lengthened Bahamut answer; addresses.
The latest copy of this FAQ is available via anonymous ftp at:
rtfm.mit.edu at /pub/usenet/news.answers/mythology/assyrbabyl-faq
It is currently availible on the web at:
URL: http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren/assyrbabyl-faq.html
I. Overview (including regional history)
II. So these are just like the Sumerian deities right?
III. Who were the gods and heroes of the Babylonians?
A. The older gods
B. The younger Annunaki and Igigi
C. The chthonic gods
D. The heroes and monsters
IV. What about the Underworld and Heaven and all that?
V. Hey! I read that Cthulhu is really some Babylonian or Sumerian god,
how come he's not there under Kutu?
VI. So, in AD&D, Tiamat is this five-headed evil dragon, but they got
her from the Enumma Elish, right? What about her counterpart, Bahamut?
VII. Where did you get this info and where can I find out more?
I. Overview (including regional history)
First, some definitions: Mesopotamia, in general, refers to the
area of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Assyria, was the northern
portion of Mesopotamia, who's capital was Ashur, and whose reach
included the major city of Nineveh. Sumer refers to the southern delta
region, who's primary cities included Ur, Uruk, and Eridu. Akkad was a
region north of Sumer which included the area around modern Baghdad as
well as the ancient sites of Babylon, Kish, and Nippur.
The political organization of the region was basically a
collection of city-states. Sargon of Agade (2371-16 BC) united the
regions of Sumer and Akkad. His descendants eventually lost control
of the empire due to pressures from the Hurrians, the Hittites, and
other invaders, not to mention internal pressures. In the south Sumer
again gained ascendancy, dominated by the city-state Ur. Sumer then
collapsed under the Amorites around 2000 BC. They established many sub-
kingdoms including Assyria and Babylon. Assyria attained a brief period
of dominance under Shamshi-Adad (1813-1781 BC) but was soon superseded
by Babylon under Hammurabi (1792-50BC) who established what was once
thought to be the first written law codes (more recent discoveries indicate
law codes from a coupl centuries prior to Hammurabi). The first Babylonian
dynasty collapsed in 1595BC when the Hittites sacked its eponymous capital.
Assyria had been taken over by the Mitanni but established its independence
in the mid 14th century BC. Under Tukulti-Ninurta I Assyria dominated the
entire fertile crescent in the late 13th century. By the time of Tiglath-
Pileser I, about a century later it had directed more of its attention
westwards towards Palestine and lost control of Babylon and the south.
Slowly Assyria began to expand again, reaching its apex between 750 and
650 BC under the rulers Tiglath-Pileser III, Sargon II, Senacherib, and
Ashuribanipal(668-627 BC). The empire collapsed from invaders with
Nineveh falling to Nabopalasar of Babylon in 612 BC and the empire dying
in 605 BC. Meanwhile, Babylon had been reasserting itself. Under
Nebuchadnezzar Babylon expanded westward, taking Jerusalem in 586 BC.
Babylon fell in the mid-540's to Cyrus the Persian whose empire lasted
until the late 300's BC when Alexander of Macedon established his empire
and renamed the area "Mesopotamia".
II. So these guys were just like the Sumerian Deities right?
Well some of them were mostly like the Sumerian Deities, but as
you might expect, they have their own kinks and differences. In general
the following relationships apply:
Sumerian name Babylonian Name
An Anu
Ki/Ninhursag Aruru, Mammi
Enlil Ellil
Enki Ea
Nanna Sin
Inanna Ishtar
Utu Shamash
Ninlil Mullitu, Mylitta
This is not a cut and dry relation. Sumerian and Babylonian names
appear in the same Babylonian document, sometimes referring to the same
entity. In addition, there are numerous local variations of these
deities names which, in the next section, such 'optional' names appear
in parentheses after the more prevalent name.
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. As 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 (the Canaanite Hadad, the Hurrian Teshub, Canaanite/Egyptian
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
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