One possible Interpretation of the Structure of the Early Sumerian Pantheon
Abstract
The paper tries to analyse some aspects of Early Dynastic Sumerian pantheon structure mostly based on the god-lists from Abu Salabikh and Fara. The primeval universe before the separation of An and Ki was seen as an embryonic entity containing different divine powers symbolized in the male-female pairs en-ki / nin-ki and en-an / nin-an – primeval creatures present in later female earth and male sky. Several other divine powers existed in this primeval universe including the god Enlil and his spouse. Adding them as
the second pair testifies that both god-lists are stemming already from the mythology seeing Enlil as the main deity of kingship and the “high god”. The ordering of the Abu Salabikh list does not differ much from the creation myths of Ukg. 15 and the Barton Cylinder when to consider the interpretation of the divine names ‘Lord / Lady Heaven’ for en-an / nin-an correct.
Downloads
References
Alberti, Amedeo. 1985. ‘A Reconstruction of the Abū Salābīkh God-List’. Studi Epigrafici e Linguistici Sul Vicino Oriente Antico.
Dijk, J. van. 1964. Le Motif Cosmique Dans La Pensée Sumérienne. Acta Orientalia 28.
Espak, Peeter. 2011. ‘Some Early Developments in Sumerian God-Lists and Pantheon’. Alter Orient Und Altes Testament 390 (1): 47–58.
Espak, Peeter. 2015a. The God Enki in Sumerian Royal Ideology and Mythology. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
Espak, Peeter. 2015b. ‘Was Eridu The First City in Sumerian Mythology?’ In Studia Orientalia Tartuensia, 53–70. Tartu: Tartu University Press.
Flückiger-Hawker, Esther. 1999. Urnamma of Ur in Sumerian Literary Tradition. Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis 166. Freiburg; Göttingen: University of Fribourg; Vanderhoeck & Ruprecht.
Lambert, Wilfred G. 1985. ‘A List of Gods’ Names Found at Mari’. In Miscellanea Babylonica: Mélanges Offerts à Maurice Birot. Paris: Recherche sur les civilisations.
Lisman, Jan J. W. 2013. Cosmogony, Theogony and Anthropogeny in Sumerian Texts. Alter Orient Und Altes Testament 409. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag.
Mander, Pietro. 1986. Il Pantheon Di Abu-Ṣālabīkh. Contributo Allo Studio Del Pantheon Sumerico Arcaico. Istituto Universitario Orientale, Dipartimento Di Studi Asiatici, Series Minor 26. Napoli.
Rubio, Gonzalo. 2013. ‘Time before Time: Primeval Narratives in Early Mesopotamian Literature’. In Time and History in the Ancient Near East: Proceedings of the 56th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at Barcelona 26-30 July 2010. Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns.
Wang, Xianhua. n.d. The Metamorphosis of Enlil in Early Mesopotamia. Alter Orient Und Altes Testament 385. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag.
