An – Sumerian God
An is the supreme god of the Sumerian pantheon, god of the sky and father of many gods. Despite his supreme position, he rarely intervenes directly in earthly affairs and usually remains aloof. As the husband of the earth goddess Ninhursag, he fathered Enlil. After losing his temple E-ana to Inanna, he lost his earthly...
Anzu – Sumerian Demon
Anzu is an eagle demon with lion-like features who was tasked by Enlil with determining the fates of ordinary humans. As an ambitious inhabitant of the Huluppu tree, he strives to become equal to the gods. He can transport humans to heaven. He breaks the friendship he had made with the Usumgallu snake. His quest...
Enki – Sumerian God
Enki belongs to the Anunnaki and is the god of wisdom and fresh water. From his temple E-abzu in Eridu, he promotes craftsmanship, art, and science. As Enlil's wise advisor and benevolent helper to mankind, he made the earth fertile with Ninhursag and gave humans greater intelligence. He saved humanity from the flood through Atrahasis....
Enlil – Sumerian God
Enlil is the supreme god of the Anunnaki on Earth and the legitimate successor to his father An. From the Ekur Temple in Nippur, he manages resources and organizes large infrastructure projects such as the canal system. As an authoritarian ruler, he is commander of the Igigi. He resorts to drastic measures such as epidemics...
Ereshkigal – Sumerian Goddess
As Enki's twin sister, Ereshkigal is one of the five original Anunnaki. As ruler of the underworld, she transforms the souls of all the dead. She voluntarily descended into the underworld to take on this task. For her, the underworld is a “realm of essence” where life and death merge. She gave Enki the seed...
Huluppu Tree
The Huluppu tree, later known as the Tree of Life, originated in the netherworld. Ereshkigal gave Enki the seed as a symbol of her vision: the tree was to serve as a portal between the netherworld, earth, and heaven, and, when fully grown, enable chosen souls to attain eternal life. Enki planted it near Eridu....
Inanna – Sumerian Goddess
Inanna (akkad. Ishtar) was one of the most powerful deities in the Sumerian pantheon—goddess of sexual desire and war, patron saint of Uruk. Her complex personality ranged from seductive lover to vengeful warrior. She became famous for mythological coups such as stealing the divine powers (Me) from Enki and establishing the “sacred marriage” as a...
Lilith – Sumerian Demon
Lilith is an invisible demon who can probably take the form of a young woman. Her name is derived from “lil” (wind/invisible force). She lived in the Huluppu tree, which serves as a gateway to the netherworld, and probably lured people there through deception—presumably so that gods could take over their bodies. In the Etana...
Nanna – Sumerian God
Nanna is the firstborn son of Enlil and Ninlil and belongs to the second level of the Anunnaki. As the moon god, he travels with the moon at night and synchronizes life cycles with the phases of the moon. He influences humans through dreams—rewarding obedience with beautiful dreams and punishing transgressions with nightmares. From his...
Ninhursag – Sumerian Goddess
Ninhursag belongs to the Anunnaki and is one of the most powerful Sumerian goddesses. As the goddess of the earth and “mother of all life,” she regulates life processes from fertility to the development of consciousness. Her titles include Ki (Earth), Aruru (Creator), Belet-ili, and Mami (Mother Goddess). In mythology, she created the conditions for...
Usumgallu – Sumerian Demon
The Usumgallu serpent (“strong demon”) is a demonic serpent or dragon-like hybrid creature that guards sacred places. There was more than one Usumgallu demon. One of them is the incorruptible guardian of the Huluppu tree. Around 2600 BC, Gilgamesh killed the serpent when he cut down the Huluppu tree.
Utu – Sumerian God
Utu is the son of Nanna and Ningal and belongs to the second level of the Anunnaki. As the sun god and god of justice, he travels across the sky every day and watches over the earth. His main task is to administer justice between humans and gods. He is particularly close to humans and...