The Organisation and Religion to Re-unite All Religions

 

Gods and Goddesses of Sumeria

By: Awen Eldorath 

 

One can hardly speak about the deities or beliefs of Sumeria without giving consideration to the many other cultures in and around Mesopotamia that were deeply influenced by the Sumerians. The beliefs of Sumeria were so often adapted into the neighboring cultures that they have become difficult to separate at times, and many of the Gods rose and fell in power almost as often as the cities and peoples they represented.   Some of these neighboring cultures included the Egyptians, Arabs, Greeks, and the Semitic peoples; not to mention the Babylonians, Akkadians (also spelt Accadian), and Chaldeans. 

The peoples of Sumeria, and all of Mesopotamia , worshipped several deities.   The Sumerians believed that everything had its own spirit or “Zi.”   This belief led to many references to the “300 spirits of heaven and the 600 spirits of earth,” which were essentially “lesser deities.”   Along with these myriad spirits, the Sumerians worshipped the heavenly bodies such as the “Seven Heavens,” each of which represented a deity; as well as nature spirits, such as mountains and rivers.   Many of these spirits were unpredictable, and many were seen as malevolent; much like the very land the Mesopotamians lived in.   The river valley in the Fertile Crescent faced constant flooding, was affected by constant landslides, and saw unending invasions of and wars over the region.   Injuries and illnesses were said to be caused by harmful spirits and demonic possessions, which could only be cured with special charms and exorcisms.   Priests and magicians were essentially one and the same since only the clergy knew such rituals. 

Naturally, some of these deities became more prominent; each of the Sumerian city-states had its own primary deity who resided in its particular ziggurat or temple, which further connected magick and religion in the minds of the ancients.   These deities formed a sort of council, in which majority ruled.   This meant that if a city experienced disaster, the city’s protective deity had been overruled.   This also led to a belief that if a city was conquered, its primary deity had been defeated and was thus supplanted by the deity of the conquering city.

The following is a compilation of Gods and Goddesses that are seen as most prominent, important, or well known.   Many of these deities feature prominently in the Enuma Elish (the Sumerian creation epic) or in various hymns and religious scriptures of the Sumerian and Mesopotamian peoples. 

Sar (Anshar), God of the Upper Firmament (Heavens).   Sometimes confused with Assur.   Also referred to as the “totality of the upper elements.”

Kisar (Kishar), God of the Lower Firmament (Heavens).   Also referred to as the “totality of the lower elements.”

Anu, the God of the Sky or the Heavens (“anna”).   Anu represented both the visible sky and the invisible Heaven that was the home of the Gods.   His chief place of worship was Erech, where Anu was believed to be the oldest of the Gods and the Creator of the Universe.   Anu is also seen as creator of the visible world and the Father of the Gods; in some beliefs he was referred to as “the One God.”   Anu’s consort was Anat, whose worship spread throughout Babylonia and into Egypt .   Anu was believed to rule Destiny and the lands of the dead, and was represented by the North Star.

Ea, God of the Deep or the Waters (“a”) and of life (“a” also meant “sperm”).   Also known as Enki, the Lord of the Earth (“kia”).   Represented the ocean stream that was believed to surround the Earth like a snake (which became a symbol for Ea), and from which all springs and rivers were fed.   Ea was seen in some myths as the “creator and benefactor of mankind,” and was called the “up-bringer of mankind.”   It was sometimes believed Ea created humans primarily for the comfort and pleasure of the Gods.   Another of his titles is “Lord of Wisdom.”   His chief place of worship was Eridu, the “ Holy City ,” which was located near the sacred “garden” where the Tree of Life and Knowledge is said to have been.   Ea gave mankind life, along with all the appliances and arts of culture.   Ea was known as the inventor or “father” of the magickal arts, was often invoked for aid in times of trouble, and was known as a God of healing who made medicines known to humans.   Sometimes represented as a “man with the tail of a fish,” Ea was called Oannes (“Ea the fish”) by the Greeks, and was said to have ascended out of the Persian Gulf and taught the Babylonians writing, science, and art.   Ea is also believed to have written a history of the origins of mankind and their ways of life.   His wife wad Dav-kina, “Lady of the Earth,” who ruled the lower world.

Mul-ge, God of the Earth.   Also known as Merodach or Bel (Baal), though Merodach eventually became an individual deity.   Like Anu and Ea, Mul-ge was one of the offspring of Sar and Kisar.   Mul-ge is sometimes referred to as the “heart of Babylonian magick,” and became a central deity in many ancient magickal systems.   His consort was Bilat or Beltis (“the Great Lady”), who came to be regarded as the wife of Merodach rather than “the other Bel.”   Mul-ge was primarily worshipped in Nippur (Niffer).   Said to be known to the Semitic Babylonians as Belit, Lord of the Underworld.   His Finnish equivalent was Ilarinen, and to the Arabs he was Al-Lat, who married her son Jupiter.   Mul-ge is also associated with Ishtar.   His planet was Jupiter.

Merodach, an aspect of the Sun God.   In this aspect, Merodach was one of the foremost children of Ea and Dav-kina.   Merodach was always engaged in battling evil forces and helping mankind.   He was referred to as the “redeemer of mankind,” “the restorer to life,” “raiser from the dead,” and many religious hymns are dedicated to him.   Merodach was a sort of intermediary between Heaven and Earth; he would tell Ea about the sufferings of men and would then return with directions from Ea on how to relieve these sufferings.   A bas-relief from Nineveh depicts Merodach chasing Tiamat (the personification of Chaos and Anarchy) with a curved sword or a thunderbolt.   He was commonly addressed as Bel, or “Lord,” and eventually replaced the original Bel or Mul-ge.   His wife was Zarpanit (Zirat-panitu), and his children were Nebo and Nebo’s wife, Tasmit.   His companion was Rimmon.   The planet Jupiter represented Merodach after he replaced Mul-ge.   Merodach has many similarities to Marduk; in fact, it is possible the two may potentially be different names (or transliterations of names) for the same deity.   In one version of the creation epic both deities armed with bow and scimitar (and sometimes a mace), defeated Tiamat by throwing an “evil wind” down Tiamat’s throat as she opened her mouth to swallow him.   Tiamat was then cut in half and her corpse was used to form the upper and lower firmaments.

Marduk, God of Prudence, Wisdom, and the “Spring Sun.”   He is sometimes accredited with the formation of human beings using the blood of Tiamat’s general, Kingu, and the breath of life from the benevolent Gods.   Marduk shares many similarities with Merodach, and is sometimes associated with Enlil.   Marduk’s son was Nebo, and his planet was Jupiter. 

Enlil, God of Storms.   Sometimes referred to as the “God of the Great Mountain ” (meaning the Earth) and the “ruler of the Golden Age.”   In some legends, Enlil held the Tablets of Destiny until Zu, who was also said to be God of Storms, stole them.   Enlil was the father of Sin and is associated with the planet Jupiter. 

Sin, the Moon God.   Also known as Nanna (Nannar).   Sin had great importance amongst the Chaldeans, who were the inventors of both astrology and astronomy.   He was also called Agu (Acu) in Akkadian, and was the patron God of Ur.   His symbol was the crescent moon.   His son was Shamash, and in some legends his daughter was Ishtar; who eventually replaced him as Goddess of the Moon.   Sin’s queen was Ningal.

Samas/Shamash (Utu), God of the Sun.   Shamash was the son of Sin, as day was seen as coming from night.   Shamash became more important when the Semitic Babylonians, whose religion was more solar-based, adapted the Gods of their predecessors.   The Sun God was often addressed as Bel or Baal, which meant “Lord,” and was apparently worshipped in many forms and by many names; many being referred to as Baalim or “Lords.”   At times, the Sun God was seen as a healer and the giver of “light and life to all things;” at others as the “scorching sun of summer who demanded the sacrifice of the first-born to appease his wrath.”   Shamash was the “Champion of Justice” and was the Giver of the Law (to Hammurabi). 

Tammuz, God of the Sun.   Tammuz was the aspect of the Sun as the handsome young man who personified Spring and Summer was slain by the “boar’s tusk of winter” around the Autumnal Equinox.   The Goddess Ishtar rescued him around the Vernal (spring) Equinox, and his return to the upper worlds brought renewal to the earth, thus associating Tammuz with fertility and nature.   Tammuz was referred to as adoni (Adonis) or “master;” and the Semitic Babylonians referred to the month of June as “the month of Tammuz.”

Istar/Ishtar, Goddess of Venus (the Evening and Morning Star).   Ishtar ruled the areas of love, war, and the hunt.   In her aspect of the Evening Star, she was called “Istar of Erech;” as the Morning Star, Anunit or Anat, who was the Goddess of Accad ( Akkad ).   Ishtar was addressed as “the Queen of Heaven” and “Queen of all the Gods.”   Her name became Ashtoreth amongst the Semitic peoples, “th” being a feminine suffix.   In fact, it seems that most Goddesses were referred to as “Ashtoreths.”   Eventually, Ishtar became known as Astarte “with crescent horns,” who was the Goddess of the Moon.   She was sometimes seen as androgynous.   One of Ishtar’s most well known myths is of her descent into the Underworld in search of the slain Tammuz.   As she descended, she had to pass through seven gates, at each of which she was required to leave one of her adornments (“me” or divine decrees) until she came to the throne of Allat naked.   Ishtar was imprisoned in the Underworld until the Gods created a “hound called ‘the renewal of light,’” who resurrected Ishtar and returned her and Tammuz to the upper world; bringing the rebirth of the lands which had been locked in the depths of winter.   The decent of Ishtar was celebrated during the month of August (which the Accadians referred to as “the month of the errand of Istar”) around the time of the Autumnal Equinox, though it is also associated with the phases of the moon.

Nebo, God of oratory and literature.   Nebo is attributed with the invention of cuneiform, and was said to have “enlightened the eyes” of people to understand writing.   In Accadian, he was known as Dimsar, “the tablet-writer.”   Nebo was also referred to as “the prophet.”   Nebo was worshipped on the island of Bahrein as Enzak, and was also known as Nusku, though Nusku was originally a separate deity.   “The Temple of the Seven Lights of Heaven and Earth” at Borsippa was dedicated to Nebo, and his worship carried into Canaan .   His wife was Tasmit, called “the hearer,” who “enlargened the ears” so that people could understand the spoken word.   Both Nebo and Tasmit are said to be the offspring of Merodach.   Nebo’s planet was Mercury. 

Nergal, God of the city Cuthah and its necropolis.   Nergal ruled over the lands of the dead along with Anu.   Nergal was also known as a God of hunting and war, and was sometimes seen as the God of pestilence and destruction.   His queen was Allatu. 

Allat (Allatu), Goddess of the Underworld.   Allatu was also known as Ereshkigal.   Allatu was the sister of Ishtar and was responsible for the imprisonment of Tammuz and Ishtar in the Underworld.   She was the wife of Nergal.

Rimmon (Ramman), God of the Atmosphere (Rain and Storms).   Known as “the thunderer,” he was sometimes feared as the “destroyer of crops,” and the “scatterer of the harvest.”   Rimmon was also referred to as the “lord of fecundity.”   His worship extended into Syria , where he seems to have been seen as the supreme deity of Damascus .   Rimmon is also known as Adad (Haddad) or Dadda, and was the companion of Merodach. 

Assur (Asshur), God of War.   Assur was the patron God of the city and country of Assur, which have come to be known as Assyria .   As city and country, Assur originally meant “water-boundary,” but evolved to mean “gracious.”   The names of Assur and Sar were sometimes confused.   The God Assur came to be known as the “gracious god” and was associated with the primal firmament.

Tiamat (Tiamet), Goddess of the Deep or the Primeval Sea.   Tiamat was “the personification of Chaos and Anarchy,” and is often referred to as a dragon or the “monstrous serpent of seven heads” “which beats the Sea.”   She is also known as the “wicked serpent.”   Tiamat is associated with “night and darkness.”   In some versions of the creation myth, Tiamat gathered “the rebellious deities” for battle.   Merodach or Marduk, armed with bow and scimitar (and sometimes a mace) was said to have defeated Tiamat by driving an “evil wind” down Tiamat’s throat as she opened her mouth to swallow him. 

Ninib, God of Fertility and Healing.   Ninib’s wife was Gula, the Goddess of Healing who could restore life and was known as the “Great Physician.” 

Zu, a God of Storms.   Sometimes referred to as “the Divine Storm-Bird.”   Said to have stolen the Tablets of Destiny (from Enlil) and Bel’s lightening.   Zu was eventually punished for his crimes, much like his Greek counterpart, Prometheus. 

Girru, God of Fire.   Also known as Gibil.   Sometimes associated with arts and crafts.