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Mesopotamian Art

Mesopotamian Gods

The Mesopotamian culture was very superstitious. There were hundreds of gods who were responsible for everything in the world, from rivers and trees to making bread and pottery. Here are some of the more popular ones.


Clay figure of Dagon found at Nineveh


Sumerian or Assyrian Terra Cotta Relief of Lilitu (Lilith)

Adad (Ishkur)god of storms, responsible for the "Great Flood"
Amurrugod of nomadic peoples (later god of the Amorites)
Anusky god
Apsuan old god who went to sleep and became the ocean
Ashimariver god (Ashmaya River) (2 Kings 17:30)
Ashurmain god of Assyrians (Joshua 24:15)
Bel (Baal) sage of gods, sometimes means Lord (Jeremiah 50:2)
Buriash god of storm and weather
Dagan (Dagon)god of fertility, the plow, and grain harvest (Judges 16:23)
Dumuzishepherd god, god of harvest season and underworld
Dutturgoddess of sheep and flocks
Eagod of the fresh waters, wisdom, farming, building, magic and arts and crafts
Ellilthe most powerful god
Enbiluluriver god, divine master of the Tigris-Euphrates
Enkigod of the watery abyss, wisdom, keeper of the divine law, and created man from clay
Enkidugod of the forests and wildlife
Enkimdugod of dikes, canals, furrows and irrigation
Enlilgod of air and head of other gods
Ereshkigalgoddess of the underworld
Gestinannagoddess of dreams
Gibilgod of fire
Gulagoddess of healing, and doctors, helped breathe life into mankind after the "Great Flood"
Humbangod of masculinity
Inannagoddess of rain and harlots
Ishharagoddess of love
Ishtarmorning and evening star (the planet we call Venus), and the goddess of love and war
Isumgod who prevents night-mares
Lamagoddess for protection
Lilitu (Lilith)goddess of sexual dysfunction, madness and owls (Isaiah 34:14)
Mardukcity god of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:2)
Nabugod of scribes, writing and wisdom
Nahhuntegod of justice and law
Nanna-Suen (Sin)god of the moon
Nergalwarrior and underworld god (2 Kings 17:30)
Ninhursagmother of the gods
Ninkargoddess of brewing
Ninurtagod of war, weaponry and tilling the soil
Pienenkirgoddess of fertility
Shamashgod of the sun, truth and justice
Sinmoon god
Tiamatangry goddess, who trys to destroy the other gods; her corpse was used to form the earth

 
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