Water in Sumerian Mythology Sumerian Mythology

and adaptations of mythological tales from histori­

cal periods, therefore, also makes a shared recon­
he earliest literary and mythological texts written struction of a hypothetical panhuman mythology in
Nicole Brisch
in the Sumerian language date to about 2600/2500 Witzel’s sense highly unlikely.
BCE. Found predominantly in what today is south­
ern Iraq, i.e. Tell Abū Sālābikh and Fara, these ol­
dest myths are still partly undeciphered; they were The Sumerian Term for Water
written in an orthographic system later discontinu­ hat there was a strong connection between water
ed and hence not intelligible to us2). It is necessary and fertility in Sumerian mythological tales can
to preface this paper with these remarks, because already be seen from philological evidence: the
A irst association that may come to mind when Mythological tales from ancient Mesopotamia be­ most of what we know about Sumerian mythology Sumerian word for water, a, was originally repre­
discussing water and mythology in the ancient long to the oldest such texts in world history. hey actually dates to the beginning of the second mil­ sented by a pictographic sign of waves, which later
Near East is the famous “Story of the Flood” known were written in the Sumerian language. Sumerian, lennium BCE and therefore to a time when Sume­ developed into a more abstract cuneiform sign. he
from the Bible. A recent comparative study of the a linguistic isolate, cannot be connected to any of rian had already died out as a spoken language word was possibly pronounced like /e/ or /aia/, but
origins of the world’s mythologies by the Indolo­ the currently known language families (Michalow­ and been replaced by Akkadian, a member of the this is not entirely clear. In addition to the meaning
gist Michael Witzel goes so far as to claim that the ski 2004). Attempts at establishing a genetic rela­ Semitic language family (to which Hebrew, Arabic, “water,” the word a was also used to refer to other
lood myth is “an early myth that is indeed pan­ tionship between Sumerian and other languages and Aramaic also belong). liquids, in particular semen, thus indicating a close
18 19
human and that belongs to the Pan­Gaean period, or language families are oten tenuous at best. semantic connection between water/liquids and fer­
before the expansion of Homo Sapiens out of East Although some of these attempts are more serious Myth as a concept is notoriously diicult to deine, tility. Derived from this, it was also used to indicate
Africa” (Witzel 2012, 355). From ancient Mesopo­ than others, they all appear increasingly desperate, and this is not the place to enter into discussions a general word for “ofspring” or “descendant.”
tamia we know of at least two lood myths that especially the continued eforts to link Sumerian to about deinitions, origins or functions of myths.
predate the Biblical story by hundreds of years: the the Kartvelian language family. It is more likely that I use the term here in the rather broad meaning
tale of Atram­hasis and an extremely fragmentary Sumerian was the only surviving member of a lan­ proposed by Segal (2004, 4–6) as a “story with some The God Enki3)
Sumerian lood myth1). However, as Chen (2013) has guage family that had died out already in antiquity, signiicance” to the society within which it was he close connection between water, fertility and
recently shown, the “primeval lood catastrophe” and the only reason we know of its existence is due produced. From what we currently know, mytho­ creativity is embodied in the Sumerian god Enki
that is known from these tales appears relatively late to it having been recorded in writing. Although the logies in ancient Mesopotamia underwent constant (Kramer and Maier 1989, 2). He was oten referred
within the Mesopotamian mythological tradition, death of Sumerian as a spoken language is still be­ shits and transformations. Stories were changed to as the “Lord of Wisdom,” which is connected
namely during the irst half of the second millen­ ing debated, no serious scholar believes that it was and invented, re­told, (re­)combined, re­fashioned, to his function as the main deity of incantations.
nium BCE. As shall be seen below, the lood myth spoken ater the middle of the second millennium or discontinued entirely. he so­called Babylonian In ancient Mesopotamia, in contrast to the Bible,
is in truth absent from the earliest mythologies BCE. It nevertheless continued on in written form Epic of Creation (Enūma eliš) is, perhaps, the best wisdom did not indicate a high degree of piety, as,
known from Mesopotamia. as a sacred language into the irst millennium BCE, example in this context, as it was an amalgama­ for example, in the Biblical story of Job, but referred
where it was primarily used in religious texts such tion of older myths from various areas within the to expertise in magic and incantations (Lambert
as cultic lamentations. ancient Near East (see Lambert 2013 with further 1996). Enki was one of the highest gods in the
literature). he evidence for the constant changes Mesopotamian pantheon and lived in a place called

1) he Babylonian lood myth was discussed most recently by I. Finkel 2) he texts were written in the “UD.GAL.NUN” orthography, 3) Earlier assertions that Enki’s name consisted of the Sumerian words
(2014) in his bestseller he Ark Before Noah. which has not been deciphered yet, and was possibly a case of scribal en “lord” and ki “earth” and should be translated as “Lord of the Earth”
experimentation. cannot be substantiated. he full form of his name shows that it ended in
the consonant /g/ (Enki.g), whereas the Sumerian word for “earth” does
not. Currently the meaning of Enki’s name is unclear.
 Nicole Brisch Water in Sumerian Mythology

Uruk, one of the oldest cities in Mesopotamia. here and the reed beds, perhaps to impress the mother
are some indications that the very oldest and as yet goddess, and then proposes to have intercourse
undeciphered mythologies revolved around Enki with her. She becomes pregnant and gives birth
and fertility, yet until the texts are adequately deci­ to a daughter ater nine days. When Enki sees his
phered this remains uncertain. A few of the Sume­ daughter, he becomes so enamoured with her that
rian mythological tales surrounding Enki survived he seduces her. he story tells us that this continues
into the early second millennium BCE, where they over several generations of goddesses, with whom
were used as texts in the higher education of scribes. Enki continues to commit incest. he incest culmi­
nates in his raping his great­great­grand daughter
Uttu, the goddess of weaving. At this point, the
The Myth of “Enki and Ninhursanga” mother goddess interferes and removes Enki’s
he connection between water and fertility can be semen from her granddaughter’s womb. She then
Figure 1. Cylinder seal of Adda, ca 2300–2200 BCE, Mesopotamia. The seal depicts the god Enki with streams of water coming seen in the myth called “Enki and Ninhursanga” plants his semen in the earth, but Enki eats the
out of his shoulders. Fish are also swimming in the water streams. Enki can be identified as a major deity by the multiple horned (Kramer and Maier 1989, 22–30; also see Black et al. plants, which are ultimately his ofspring, and be­
crown that he wears. © The Trustees of the British Museum.
1998–2006; ETCSL no. 1.1.1. http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac. comes sick. Finally, the mother goddess has reached
uk/cgi­bin/etcsl.cgi?text=t.1.1.1#). Ninhursanga, a her limit and curses Enki, and then the myth is a bit
the Abzu, a large underground body of water that the epithet “Lord of Wisdom”. hus, Enki is oten goddess whose name literally means “Queen of the fragmentary again. In the end, the mother goddess
20 21
the Mesopotamians imagined to have been inhabi­ invoked in incantation, but he also had other func­ Mountains”, was one of several mother goddesses heals Enki and all is well.
ted by ish (Lambert 2000). he Abzu was a key tions, for example as the creator of humanity. In the in early Mesopotamia. In the beginning the tale
part of Mesopotamian cosmic geography and was Babylonian lood story of Atram­hasis, Enki, whose mentions both Sumer, i.e. is the southern part of It is not clear when and by whom the myth was com­
mentioned in literary texts from the earliest peri­ Akkadian name was Ea, fulils his role as helper of Mesopotamia, and Dilmun, possibly to be identiied posed. Most of Sumerian literature and mythology is
ods until the latest. It has oten been said the Abzu mankind by telling Atram­hasis about the secret with the island of Failaka or the island of Bahrain, anonymous and oten not even a date of composition
should be interpreted as a cosmic equivalent of plan of the gods to wipe out humanity by sending or both. he myth tells us that the island had no can be veriied. he form in which it has come to us
ground water; however, the texts themselves actual­ the Flood4). Enki then provides Atram­hasis with rivers, no ields on which agriculture could have dates to sometime in the 18th century BCE, though
ly never mention this. As shall be seen later on, the a plan to save himself, and instructs him to build a been practiced, and probably no harbours or quays it is possible that it was composed earlier and only
Abzu also played an important role in the creation boat. However, Enki’s role in the earlier Sumerian on which ships could dock (the tale is rather frag­ copied and re­copied until that time. Kramer and
of humanity. mythology was very diferent from this: instead of mentary here). he goddess Ninhursanga, to whom Maier (1989, 22) called this myth “A Sumerian Para­
being the helper of humankind, he is depicted as the island had been given, complains to Enki about dise Myth,” a title that is diicult to reconcile with
In cylinder seals Enki is oten depicted with waves a transgressor and as one who rapes women and this unsatisfactory state. Enki quickly improves the representation of Dilmun here, or with Enki’s
of water coming out of his shoulders, and in some commits incest. the situation by turning Dilmun’s salty waters into transgressions, which the myth discusses at length.
cases ish can be seen swimming around in the sweet waters and by giving it proper anchorage so
waves (Figure 1). In mythological tales Enki is oten Enki’s worship was concentrated on the city of Eridu that Dilmun could become a successful trading A Danish expedition to the island of Bahrain was
depicted as the helper of humankind, which is in southern Mesopotamia, near the southern marsh­ port. Enki celebrates his successful fertilization able to excavate and study thoroughly a temple
related to his expertise in magic and is expressed in es and the Persian Gulf. Eridu is, next to Ur and of Dilmun by digging his phallus into the dykes structure in the city of Barbar (Mortensen 1986;

4) Lambert and Millard (1999). he lood story that can be found in the
eleventh tablet of the Epic of Gilgamesh has a similar if not identical story
line. On the Epic of Gilgamesh see George (2003).
 Nicole Brisch Water in Sumerian Mythology

Andersen and Høylund 2003; Magee 2014, 158–161). Order” (Kramer and Maier 1989, 38–56; Black et al to the growing richness and abundance in Sumer: test; she tells him that she will create a human being
It was suggested that this temple was dedicated to 1998–2006 (ETCSL 1.1.3) http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/ Enki decrees the fate for Sumer, Ur, Meluhha, and and that she will decide their fate. However, Enki
the god Enki, and that a water pool that was part of cgi­bin/etcsl.cgi?text=t.1.1.3#), a long composition Dilmun, for the Mesopotamian heartland as well as replies: “Whichever destiny you decide [for the hu­
the temple may have represented the Abzu, Enki’s consisting of almost 500 lines. It begins with exten­ some of its important trading partners. One should mans], let me weigh… (whether) it’s good or bad8).”
abode (Andersen 1986, 176; Andersen and Høylund sive praise of Enki, followed by two monologues, also note that here water is used in the production
2003, 330). As tempting as these theories may be, it in which he praises himself some more. Enki then of two elementary foodstufs in Mesopotamia: beer To create the irst human, Ninmah uses a bit of clay
should be emphasized that the Abzu is a mythical gives his blessings irst to the land of Sumer, then and grain. from the Abzu and fashions it into a person. All of
place that does not necessarily have to be mirrored to Meluhha, a term that probably designates the the humans that Ninmah creates have some bodily
in the archaeological evidence. It is part of Mesopo­ area of India during this time, followed by blessings defect. For example, her second creation is blind,
tamia’s cosmic geography, but whether there was an for Dilmun. Enki’s blessings are a prerequisite for Enki and Ninmah and so Enki determines his destiny to be that of a
actual place that (symbolically or otherwise) was a fertility and prosperity in these lands. Although he last Enki myth to be discussed here is referred singer. his continues until inally it is Enki’s turn
reiication of the Abzu is unclear. Enki’s sexuality is not emphasized like in the myth to by modern scholars as “Enki and Ninmah”. It is to create a human being, and he fashions the irst
“Enki and Ninhursanga,” a connection between probably one of the earliest creation stories from baby, by the name of Umul, a being that cannot
Another possibility should be considered. he be­ water, semen, and abundance can be found in the ancient Mesopotamia and begins in primordial stand, sit, or eat, nor support itself (Kilmer 1976).
ginning of the myth identiies the main goddess of following passages: times7). Enki is described as sleeping in his Abzu Unfortunately, the text becomes rather fragmentary
Dilmun as Ninsikila, and only later on in the text is while the other gods have to work hard for their ater that. It seems that ultimately the irst baby
her name replaced with that of Ninhursanga. his is 250 Ater he looked away, livelihood. heir work consisted of digging canals in grows up successfully to do the work of the gods
22 23
quite common in Mesopotamian mythology, where 251 Ater Father Enki looked at the Euphrates, order to clear out the silts that notoriously conges­ and thus is also a symbol of humanity’s ability to
deities are oten merged. In this case, the name of 252 He stood ready like a rampant wild bull, ted them; irrigation was a key aspect of agriculture reproduce (Kilmer 1976, 265).
Ninsikila has been interpreted as a Sumerian form 253 He raises his penis and ejaculates6), in southern Mesopotamia due to the climate, which
of Meskilag, the main goddess of Dilmun and the 254 He illed the Tigris with lowing water. did not provide enough rain. In these primordial Although the connection between water and fertili­
wife of Inzak, the main god of Dilmun. hus, one … times it was the gods who were forced to fulil this ty is less overt in this myth, it is clear that the Abzu
could entertain the possibility that the Barbar 258 he Tigris rejoiced like a great wild bull, … cumbersome work of keeping the irrigation canals as the underground body of water played a key role
temple was dedicated to the two main gods of [broken] clear, and this was of course unacceptable. in the creation of humankind. It is, perhaps, owed
Dilmun, Meskilag and Inzak, and not to distant 259 It brought water, lowing water indeed, its to a distinctly Mesopotamian sense of humour that
Mesopotamian gods. However, due to the lack on beer will be sweet. Enki’s mother, the goddess Namma, inally wakes humans were created by the gods when they were
inscriptional material from the temple, it cannot 260 It brought grain, lax indeed, the people will him up and urges him to create a substitute that drunk, but this is just a side note.
be decided with any degree of certainty who the eat it. could labour hard instead of the gods. She also sug­
temple was dedicated to5). gests to him to involve the mother goddess Ninmah he life­giving aspects of water can also be found in
On the one hand, the myth connects water and in creating this substitute. Enki then organizes a other myths. As mentioned above, Enki was the god
fertility with the god Enki; he ills the Tigris with banquet to which he invites his mother and Ninmah. of magic and incantations. In ancient Mesopotamia,
The Myth of “Enki and the World Order” water and creates abundance for the land of Sumer. hey drink beer and, as the text states, their hearts incantations were predominantly used for ‘defen­
A second myth surrounding the god Enki is the On the other hand, the myth also connects Enki to become very joyful; in other words: they get drunk. sive’ magic that was designed to protect a person
story that Sumerologists call “Enki and the World regions of Mesopotamia and beyond that contribute he mother goddess then challenges Enki to a con­ from illness or other evils (such as demons, angry

5) See Magee (2014), 161 with further references. 6) Cooper (1989, 87) translates lines 253–4: “He masturbates 7) For the most recent edition see Lambert (2013), 330–345. 8) In Lambert’s edition (2013), 338 this is line 20 of section II.
(lit. “stimu lates the penis”) and ejaculates, He illed the Tigris (sic!) he line is partly fragmentary and diicult to translate.
with (ever) lowing water.”
 Nicole Brisch Water in Sumerian Mythology

gods, or witchcrat). Although Enki himself is not a life is again the above­mentioned word a, which Other, less overt connections between water and save humanity from destruction or oblivion. Fer­
healing god, he possesses the knowledge of speaking indicates predominantly water but can refer to other fertility were alluded to in the myth of “Enki and tility and abundance was a git from the gods, and
correct and efective spells that can heal the sick or liquids as well. Ninmah,” in which the Abzu played an important without Enki there would be no Tigris, no agricul­
even revive a dead goddess. role in the creation of humanity. Some scholars have ture, no beer, and no food for the people.
argued that this myth, together with some later tales
In the Sumerian tale of “Inanna’s Descent to the Conclusion in which Enki is responsible for creating humanity,
Netherworld,” Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of Although only a highly selective review of water indicates that male gods took over functions that Bibliography
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world and to take over the realm of her sister, Eresh­ one can see that the god most closely connected to particular to the mother goddesses. Tikva Fry­ architecture and interpretation”, Bahrain hrough the
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24 25
vant to go to Enki when she will be unreachable in time between 1800–1700 BCE). It is possible that it logy in Mesopotamia to be rewritten to relect the Chen, Yi Samuel: he Primeval Flood Catastrophe. Origins
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Ater Inanna dies in the netherworld, her servant opotamia, i.e. early in the second millennium BCE, he reasons for this are not entirely clear, but in my Finkel, Irving: he Ark Before Noah. Decoding the Story
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the goddess is revived, and normal life can resume Ninhursanga,” fertility and abundance are connect­ complexities and perhaps also his role as the helper
on earth. he Sumerian word for the “potion” of ed with Enki’s “raw sexuality” (Cooper 1989, 89). of humanity. On more than one occasion did Enki
 Nicole Brisch

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