Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses

Anu was the god of ______. the sky/heavens. He was a chief god in earlier times, the father of Ea and Enlil. His main cult city was Uruk. Cult centers for the gods were like sports franchises. Every major city had one.

Nanna/Sin was the god of _______. the moon. He governed the passing of the months. His sacred city was Ur, and his symbol was the crescent moon.

Nammu/Namma was __________. the Mother of the gods. She gave birth to An (heaven) and Ki (earth) along with the first gods. She and her son Enki created mankind out of clay. Mankind's sole reason for being was to assist the gods. Quite different from what was going on with the Egyptian gods and the main ones today.

Enki/Ea was the god of ___________. fresh water and rain. He was the Lord Earth and also the god of wisdom and magic. He instructed mankind in arts and crafts. His main cult center was in Eridu.

Dagon was the god of _________. grain and agriculture. He was the head of Ebla's city pantheon of about 200 deities. He's mentioned in the Bible since he was a major god of the enemies of the Israelites.

Utu/Shamash was the god of _________. sun and justice. As the sun He could see all things. Two chief centers of His worship were Sippar and Larsa. He is seen seated on the Stele of Hammurabi giving him the Law Codes.

Ishkur/Adad was the god of __________. storms. He was symbolized by a bull. In human form he is sometimes shown holding lightning. His main cult centers were Karkara and Assur.

Innana/Ishtar was the goddess of ___________. love and war. She was called a harlot in several ancient texts. She was spurned by Gilgamesh because most of her lovers came to bad ends. Sacred beast was the Lion. Her main cult centers were Uruk, Kish and Agade.

Enlil was the god of ___________. air and wind. He separated earth and heaven. He was the father of Nanna/Sin who was born in the Underworld. That's why his son is so pale. He was the patron diety of Nippur.