GODS AND GODDESSES OF MESOPOTAMIA

Gods, Goddesses, Demons and Monsters The people of Mesopotamia believed that their world was controlled by gods and goddesses, demons and monsters.demonsmonsters There were hundreds of gods who were responsible for everything in the world, from rivers and trees to making bread and pottery. Each city was protected by its own special god or goddess and their family. Large temples were built in the centre of the city for these gods to live in. Priests looked after the gods with special rituals. There were also smaller temples throughout the city where ordinary people could make offerings.ritualsofferings Demons were created by the gods with human bodies and animal or bird heads. They could be either evil or good. Monsters were a mixture of animals and birds.

What did the world look like? One story believed by early Mesopotamians that the universe was a dome, and the god of the firmament was called An. Earth, or Ki, was at the bottom of the inside of the dome, with an underworld called Kigal, under which was seawater, called Apsu. The dome was surrounded by seawater, called Nammu

As for humans… One origin myth tells how the gods and goddesses inhabited the earth. They grew tired of doing all the work, and asked Enki, the wise, to help them. He made humans, out of clay and breathed life into them, but limited their life span. That way the humans could work and serve the gods and goddesses.

The gods and goddesses Originally, there were as many as 3600 of them, from Ur. You will not be tested on all of them An (heavens) + Ki (earth) = Enlil (their son) He was the leader of the Sumerian pantheon (group) of gods/goddesses

Who were they? The ANUNNAKI, or offspring of An and Ki From Sumer to Akkadia to Babylonia, a lot changed. Each group adapted new names and twists on the myths. Some information also got lost in translation. Some stories that stayed consistent though, were Gilgamesh and the flood deluge story.

Who were the Anunnaki? The Anunnaki major players included:

Anu (god of heaven)

Enlil (god of air)

Enki (god of freshwater, male fertility and knowledge)

Inanna (goddess of love, female fertility and warfare)

Ki (goddess of earth)

Nanna (god of moon)

Ninlil (air goddess, wife of Enlil)

Ninurta (god of war, agriculture)

Babylon changed many names… Enlil became Marduk

Inanna became Ishtar (sound familiar?)

Tower of Babel

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