05 p2 The Anunnaki, Igigi, and the Younger Gods (gods and the heroes of the Babylonians)
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This article is from the Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ, by Christopher B. Siren cbsiren@hopper.unh.edu with numerous contributions by others.
05 p2 The Anunnaki, Igigi, and the Younger Gods (gods and the heroes of the Babylonians)
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.
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