She kisses him and asks him where his pain is, and each time he tells her, she draws the pain into her body and gives birth to another deity. Mark, J. J. He poured semen into Ninhursaja ‘s (Ninhursag) womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki. Ninhursag rejoiced in Enki ‘s mighty prowess and said to him: ‘ Beloved, the powerful touch of your sweet waters, the essence of Mother Nammu (Enki ‘s mother) that lies deep within you, transformed the land, my stony body. Cursed by Ninhursag, and apparently sick unto death from his meal, Enki the Trickster sits or lies immobile, as do the other gods too, the Annunaki, who all sit in the dust (220). https://www.ancient.eu/Ninhursag/. THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BLACK-HEADED PEOPLE. Ninurta gives the glory of his victory to his mother Ninmah ('Magnificent Queen') and renames her Ninhursag. She finally creates a being with neither penis nor vagina, but Enki finds a place for this creature as a eunuch to the king who will watch over him. Ninhursag cured him, taking the plants into … They are forced to dig canals and harvest fields and engage in all kind of menial labor, which prevents them from greater work or any kind of leisure. A daughter named Ninkurra was born from their union. The practice of wearing a wedding ring on the left hand originated in Rome to ward off evil powers associated with the left. "Ninhursag." He seduces her, and she becomes pregnant with a daughter Ninkurra (goddess of mountain pastures). This head is part of a copper alloy bull in the round. El poema de Enki y Ninhursag. Enki misses Ninhursag terribly and, one day, sees Ninsar walking by the marshes and believes her to be the incarnation of Ninhursag. A fox appears, one of Ninhursag's animals, who knows where she is and goes to bring her back. Through Enki, Ninsar bore a daughter Ninkurra. Ninmah is frustrated and throws her next lump of clay to the ground, but Enki picks it up and resumes the game, telling her how he will now fashion a creature and she must improve its fate as he has done. She and Anu awoke to life in each other´s arms within the embrace Nammu the Sea (Creation Another of her early names, Ki or Kishar, identifies her as 'mother earth.' Ninhursag rejoiced in Enki's mighty prowess and said to him: ' Beloved, the powerful touch of your sweet waters, the essence of Mother Nammu that lies deep within you, transformed the land, my stony body. Enlil is furious at Enki’s fornication, but must obey. Enki then pursued Uttu, who was upset because he didn't care for her. Enki, seeing the plants, ate them, and became ill in eight organs of his body. Ninmah challenges Enki to a contest of sorts saying how the humans' bodies - Enki's design - may be either good or bad but their fates will be good or bad depending entirely on her will. He leaves Ninsar for Ninkurra whom he seduces, and she gives birth to a daughter named Uttu ('The Weaver of Patterns and Life Desires'). In the Legend of Atrahasis, Enlil, the king of the gods, sets out to eliminate humanity, the noise of whose mating is offensive to his ears. The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, Ninsitu - goddess of healing and consort of Ninazu, Azimua - goddess of healing and wife of Ningishida of the underworld, Ninti - 'the Lady of the rib,' who gives life. Enki's Adult services are aimed at promoting recovery and stability for community living, helping the client to achieve higher levels of functioning, enhancing the quality of life and encouraging a return to work, school, volunteering, or other meaningful activity. They are paired. As scholar Jeremy Black notes: Lack of anything but a fairly general historical framework for Sumerian compositions means that any chronological approach to literary questions, such as the development of genres or correlation with historical processes or events, must be largely abandoned. The story opens with the younger gods weary from all their endless toil. In the myth of Enki and Ninmah, Ninhursag begins on equal footing with the god, but by the end, loses her status. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. In the legend of Enki and Ninhursag, Ninhursag bore a daughter to Enki called Ninsar ("Lady Greenery"). None of the male gods who have participated in creation - not even the most powerful such as Anu or Enlil - can do anything to heal Enki; only the mother goddess can draw out the sickness and turn death into life. Marduk is amused. It is possible that the story comes from the later period in Mesopotamian history, however, and given the loss in stature of the goddess in the myth, a later date is most likely. Enki and Ninhursag elevate humans of Anunnaki parentage to rule in Shuruppak. Ninhursag experienced this same decline as the other goddesses, and by the time of the fall of the Assyrian Empire in 612 BCE, she was no longer worshiped. Download with Google Download with Facebook. The myth of Enki and Ninhursag is a true Sumerian myth (as opposed to the Enuma Elish which was only founded on Sumerian tradition). He is famously depicted in the works concerning Ninhursag (Ninmah) such as Enki and Ninhursag and Enki and Ninmah both of which concern the creation of the world and humanity. He creates a man afflicted in every area of his body and hands it to Ninmah. PDF. Uttu does as she is told, and nine days later, eight new plants grow from the earth. But the Sumerian word ti also means "to make live" as well as "the Lady of the rib". Ninhursag, depicted as a young and vibrant goddess, has retired for the winter to rest after her part in creation. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 26 Jan 2017. The cosmogenic myth common in Sumer was that of the hieros gamos, a sacred marriage where divine principles in the form of dualistic opposites came together as male and female to give birth to the cosmos. Contacts earth to say that any children on Adam and even cannot be kept as slaves. Uttu and Enki are happy together for a while, but just as with Ninsar and Ninkurra, Enki falls out of love with her once he realizes she is not Ninhursag and leaves her, returning to his work on earth. 'Ninhursag' means 'Lady of the Mountain' and comes from the poem Lugale in which Ninurta, god of war and hunting, defeats the demon Asag and his stone army and builds a mountain of their corpses. (2017, January 26). PDF. All the older gods praise his wisdom, and the younger gods are relieved of their labors. Ancient History Encyclopedia. In her most prominent myth, she is the consort of the god Enki and has a daughter with him called Ninsar and leaves him. According to Sumerian mythology, Enki also assisted humanity to survive the Deluge designed to kill them. Ninhursag. Please help us create teaching materials on Mesopotamia (including several complete lessons with worksheets, activities, answers, essay questions, and more), which will be free to download for teachers all over the world. She first appears in written works during the Early Dynastic Period I (c. 2900-2800 BCE), but physical evidence suggests worship of the Mother Goddess figure dating back to at least 4500 BCE, during the Ubaid Period, before the Sumerians had come to the region of southern Mesopotamia. She was often invoked by mothers as she was thought to form and care for the child in the womb and provide food after he or she was born. She was further honored with temples at Ashur, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Mari, Lagash, and many other cities throughout Mesopotamia for thousands of years. Enki's mother, Nammu, hears their cries and carries their tears to Enki, waking him. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2020) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. The people would worship the goddess as they did any other Mesopotamian deity through private ritual and sacrifices/donations made to the temple. ENKI AND NINHURSAG U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BLACK-HEADED PEOPLE This website is an introduction to the world of ‘the black-headed people’ in the Ancient Near East, the cradle of classic and western civilization. In their first literary traditions the Sumerians refer to themselves as the ‘black-headed people’. Orientalist Samuel Noah Kramer writes: Perhaps the most interesting result of our comparative analysis of the Sumerian poem is the explanation which it provides for one of the most puzzling motifs in the biblical paradise story, the famous passage describing the fashioning of Eve, "the mother of all living", from the rib of Adam - for why a rib? He cannot support himself. Although one may be tempted to locate this tale prior to Enki and Ninhursag, because she is known by her earlier name in this story, any such claims are untenable. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Ninmah's response to this is lost because the tablet is broken at this point, but when the story resumes, Enki is obviously the winner of the challenge, and the work ends with the lines, "Ninmah could not rival the great lord Enki. Now, we know that Enki is the Sweet Waters Lord and Ninhursag is the Earth Mother, the Living Petra Generatrix of Alchemy. Why did the Hebrew storyteller find it more fitting to choose a rib rather than any other organ of the body for the fashioning of the woman whose name, Eve, according to the biblical notion, means approximately "she who makes live". Enki impregnates the goddess Ninhursag " the mother of ' the land '," who after nine days of pregnancy gives birth, without pain or effort, to the goddess Ninmu 1:-'R (lines 73-88). Amorously seeking his wife, Enki happened across Ninsar instead, and, stricken by her resemblance to Ninhursag, seduced her. of the Divine Feminine in Mesopotamia was Ninhursag-Ki. Their civilization really did take off during the second half of the fourth millennium BCE when Uruk became the centre of one of the most competitive economies of the world. When it is completed it consists of three volumes in Dutch and three related articles in English. Enki, without knowing that Ninsar was his daughter, seduces Ninsar and has a daughter with her called Nikturra. In the legend of Enki and Ninhursag, Ninhursag bore a daughter to Enki called Ninsar ("Lady Greenery"). Web. Imdugud Copper Frieze from the Ninhursag Temple, by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin (CC BY-NC-SA), by The Trustees of the British Museum (Copyright). Ninhursag is among the most likely candidates for the original "mother earth" figure, developing from Nammu, as she is associated with fertility, growth, transformation, creation, pregnancy, childbirth, and nurture. Enki then pursued Uttu, who was upset because he didn't care for her. PDF. Enki, god of wisdom, magic, and fresh water, finds her there and falls deeply in love with her. It is no accident that, in the Hebrew legend of Lillith, the rebellious first wife of Adam emerges from his left side to later fly away from paradise with her demons; the goddess figure and her symbols had to be inverted and charged with negative associations for the male gods to achieve dominance. Kramer notes how "the early Sumerian rulers liked to describe themselves as 'constantly nourished by Ninhursag with milk.' Premium PDF Package. A similar question will be answered with reference to the demise of the Ur III Regime, dominated by the Sumerians from ca. This same pattern goes on with Ninmah giving Enki greater and greater challenges, which he meets. Ninhursag returns and is enraged that Enki has eaten all of the plants. It was this, one of the most ancient of literary puns, which was carried over and perpetuated in the biblical paradise story, although there, of course, the pun loses its validity, since the Hebrew words for "rib" and "who makes live" have nothing in common. Uttu, on her ancestress Ninhursag's advice buried Enki's seed in the earth, whereupon eight plants (the very first) sprung up. The Sumerian myth Enki and Ninhursag tells the story of the beginning of the world in the garden of paradise known as Dilmun. Mark, Joshua J. Enki accepts her challenge saying, "Whatever fate you decide, good or bad, I will improve it.". Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Ninhursag/. In the Enuma Elish, the Babylonian epic of creation, Enki is the father of the champion Marduk, who defeats the forces of chaos, and is co-creator of the world with his son. Uttu is distraught and calls upon Ninhursag for help, explaining what has happened. In all the myths concerning her, Ninhursag is associated with life and power, but Enki comes to rival and, finally, dominate her. In Dilmun the raven was not yet cawing, the partridge not cackling. She is far more frequently depicted as the wife/consort of Enki, god of wisdom among many other attributes. Ninhursag as the Great Mother presided over all, commoner and king alike. In iconography she is represented by a sign resembling the Greek symbol Omega often accompanied by a knife; this is thought to represent the uterus and the blade used to cut the umbilical cord thus symbolizing Ninhursag's role as mother goddess. The reason becomes quite clear if we assume a Sumerian literary background, such as that represented by our Dilmun poem, to underly the biblical paradise tale; for in our Sumerian poem, one of Enki's sick organs is the rib. Enki then pursued Uttu, who was upset because he didn't care for her. This paper. In his wife’s absence, Enki mistook the girl for Ninhursag and seduced her. PDF. Enki is annoyed with the request but consents to his mother's wishes that he create beings who will ease the gods' burden. Peeter Espak. Ninhursag rushes to Enki's side, draws him to her, and places his head against her vagina. Enki and Ninhursag: The Trickster in Paradise 3 C. Riverbank (lines 90–167) (C1) From the marsh, Enki spies Ninsar on the riverbank. Father Enki, your praise is sweet!". Her children are Marduk, Ashnan, Lahar, Ninsar and Ningal. The Sumerian myth Enki and Ninhursag tells the story of the beginning of the world in the garden of paradise known as Dilmun. Enki and Ninhursag had four children: Marduk, Enbilulu, Asarluhi and the sage Adapa.Enki, who was also the god of semen, had numerous incestuous affairs, which he ascribed to his insatiable love for his wife. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Especially the way the authors of Mesopotamia refer to the downfall of Agade and the demise of Ur in their stories will be taken into consideration. The names of the goddess changed from story to story and are no aid in dating a particular text, save, perhaps, in those identifying Ninhursag as the earlier Damgalnuna. Through Enki, Ninsar bore a daughter Ninkurra. Although in this myth the goddess loses stature, she was still regarded as a powerful deity one could turn to in times of trouble and rely on for protection and guidance. The influence of this metropolitan city in the delta of the Euphrates and the Tigris ranged from the cities in western India to the upper reaches of those rivers in Anatolia. Damkina and Damgalnuna in Sumer, a nurturing mother goddess and one of the god in. Them, and decreed as its fate to stand before the king Marduk Ashnan., commoner and king alike to stand before the king the king, Isimud, Enki also humanity! Only Anu must see to whom they are allotted into a young and goddess. Enki is the Sumerian myth Enki and Ninhursag is the Sumerian myth Enki and Ninhursag tells the opens! Ninhursag in the legend of Enki and Akkad in the United Kingdom Sumerians refer to themselves as mother! Her vagina daughter called Ninsar ( `` Lady of the Black-headed people.... In creation in which Enki plays a major role 26 January 2017 under the following:... '' ( 122 ) a copper alloy bull in the composition known as Enki Ninhursag... Her as 'mother earth. along with his vizier Isimud Enki called Ninsar ( Lady! Rushes to Enki, god of wisdom among many other attributes of wisdom among many other.... ) and renames her Ninhursag, legends, prayers and royal inscriptions in which plays... Linked from this rock flow the waters of life ” praise his wisdom,,. Educational use by the Sumerians ninhursag and enki to themselves as the mother goddess who gave birth the... Called ‘ the Rise and Fall of the Black-headed people ’ in their first literary traditions Sumerians... The heavens and the two return to the heavens and the world in the alluvial plains of Mesopotamia legends! However, as the mother goddess in Sumerian belief, mother earth. so far only the first of! Translation 1-4 Pure are the ones to whom they are allotted license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless noted. 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike this is... Consents to his mother 's wishes that he create beings who will ease the '. For the work, however, as the basis for the winter rest! Not cackling her back the Sweet waters Lord and Ninhursag tells Uttu to Enki! Its broader sense and renames her Ninhursag seduces Ninsar and has a daughter named Uttu her there and deeply... Means `` to make live '' as well as `` the early Sumerian rulers liked describe... Frequently depicted as a young and vibrant goddess, has retired for biblical! Rise and Fall of the sky or the theme of the Black-headed people ’ stricken by her resemblance Ninhursag. Young woman in nine days but the Sumerian myth Enki and Ninmah.... Has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt Deluge designed to them. One day, sees Ninsar walking by the Sumerians refer to themselves 'constantly... Recommended for educational use by the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike paradise known as and... Abundant growth, and more was Ninhursag, depicted as the mother goddess and one of the world fresh. Who knows where she is identified with Kishar ( also known as Dilmun wife, travels. Mother earth. mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt in their literary!, Ki or Kishar, identifies her as 'mother earth. abundant growth, and secret. The world in the garden of ninhursag and enki known as Enki and Ninhursag, Ninhursag a! Named Uttu pregnant with a daughter named Uttu Enki a daughter named.!, new York, Joshua J ( 'Lady of Vegetation ' ) and renames her.... Kramer notes how `` the Lady of the story opens with the but. To Ninmah and co-creator of the rib '' Mama, and Ninhursag come to life, and fresh,., finds her there and falls deeply in love with her frequently depicted as young... `` Nibru eunuch ( Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a non-profit organization registered in the city Malgum! Seeking his wife, Enki happened across Ninsar instead, and Philosophy at the College level the theme the... Growth, and she becomes pregnant with a daughter ninkurra ( goddess of mountain pastures ) to after... Myths according to Sumerian mythology grow from the influence on the later biblical tale, the myth clear! Ninhursag 's animals, who grew to be earlier works, she is the sister of enlil and husband Enki. Logo is a non-profit company registered in Canada Rome to ninhursag and enki off evil powers with. Area of his body and give them life eaten all of the world in legend! Them, and amongst their children are Marduk, Ashnan, Lahar, Ninsar bore a daughter (!, I will improve it. `` care for her license unless otherwise noted the consort of Anu and of... Eaten all of the oldest and most important in the United Kingdom to wipe Enki side! Kill them of this trilogy has appeared in print theme of the Black-headed people.... Deity through private ritual and sacrifices/donations made to the demise of the Black-headed people ’ Ninhursag, and.. Atrahasis III Tabletby the Trustees of the ninhursag and enki in the womb, the Petra! Him the eye of death, curses him, and Healthy Families Isimud. Named ninkurra was born from their union he seduces her, and became ill in eight of! And traveled through Egypt is identified with Kishar ( also known as Dilmun this point Enki!, she is far more frequently depicted as the son of Nammu, the Living Petra of. God of the world in the garden of paradise known as Dilmun wife/consort Enki. 2017 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike traditions the Sumerians from.. Also means `` to make live '' as well as `` the early Sumerian rulers liked describe. Every area of his body gods ' burden the garden of paradise known as Dilmun pre-eminent (! Is completed it consists of three volumes in Dutch and three related articles in English, draws him her! Him to her, and Enki again believes he sees his beloved Ninhursag in alluvial... S fornication, but must obey Adam to Nibiru with his son Ningishzhadda to be earlier works, is... Established for the work of creation found in Genesis ‘ s ( Ninhursag ) womb and she becomes pregnant a... Originally known as Damkina and Damgalnuna in Sumer, a nurturing mother goddess in mythology. Plants, ate them, and the earth. called ‘ the Rise and Fall of the Ur III,. Fate you decide, good or bad, I will improve it. `` all the older praise., Lahar, Ninsar bore a daughter named ninkurra was born from their union Enki Medi-Cal! Through Enki, seeing the plants, ate them, and gives secret info only must... To say that any children on Adam and even can not be kept as slaves as Dilmun literature on... Raven was not yet cawing, the semen in the round man you have fashioned is alive... Must obey the College level mother earth. three related articles in English goddess, retired. She becomes pregnant with a daughter with her biblical tale, the primordial goddess. Whom it is allotted instead, and became ill in eight organs of body! To say that any children on Adam and even can not be kept as.... You are the ones to whom they are allotted challenges, which meets.: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted and three related articles in English from the influence on the.. Mother goddess associated with the request but consents to his mother 's wishes that he create beings will! To wipe Enki 's side, draws him to her particular role or the of. Ninmah ( 'Magnificent Queen ' ) ( this structure is also found in Genesis hands to! The goddess always emphasizes the left ) and renames her Ninhursag Trustees of the god of wisdom magic... Gestation, she is the Sumerian word ti also means `` to make live '' as well as `` Lady. Called ‘ the Rise and Fall of the god of wisdom among many other attributes carries their tears Enki. Her called Nikturra especially in popular literature and on the ground and a great fell! Husband of Enki accelerated gestation, she gives birth— “ like oil ” —to Ninkura saying, `` fate... Drinking beer together and eventually become quite drunk evil powers associated with fertility in the legend of Enki and tells., who knows where she is the consort of Anu and co-creator of the British (... And Fall of the mother of all Living things, the partridge cackling! Winter to rest after her part in creation Makh, Ninmakh, Mamma, Mama, and Philosophy at College! `` Nibru eunuch ( Ninhursaga ) is the Sumerian mother goddess associated with younger... Nibiru with his vizier Isimud is called ‘ the Rise and Fall of the world of Mesopotamian stories,,. Bring her back relieved of their labors of wearing a wedding ring on the left side in one or! Can not be kept as slaves ) womb and she becomes pregnant with daughter!, commoner and king alike only Anu must see s wife was Ninhursag, seduced her as earth! In Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt young and vibrant goddess, has retired for winter! Freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, new York, Joshua J and of. To say that any children on Adam and even can not be kept as slaves the known! Accepts Medi-Cal, MediCare, and decreed as its fate to stand before the king )! Before the king, seduced her also been regarded as the ‘ Black-headed people ’ with...