The Tel Halaf culture refers to an archaeological culture from the Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age (approximately circa 6000–3500 BCE) that was centred in what is now north-eastern Syria, in the region of the Khabur River.
Category: Mesopotamian mythology
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Jan 07
The Waxing and Waning of the Divine Feminine Through Time
In this article, I want to highlight some of those feminine heroes, and the sacrifices they made, and how they became the feminine heroines of their time.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-waxing-and-waning-of-the-divine-feminine-through-time/
Jul 14
The God Marduk
Marduk was a prominent god in ancient Mesopotamian religion, particularly revered in the city of Babylon. Initially, a god of thunderstorms, he rose to become the chief deity of Babylon and was later known simply as Bel, meaning “Lord”.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-god-marduk/
Jul 14
The Deified King Lugalbanda
Lugalbanda was a legendary Sumerian king of Uruk, often considered a hero in Mesopotamian mythology. He is known for his adventures and heroic deeds, and is also notable for being the father of the famous hero Gilgamesh, as mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh. His consort was Ninsun, a goddess, and he was later deified and worshipped in various Mesopotamian cities.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-deified-king-lugalbanda/
Jul 13
The Goddess Ninsun
Ninsun, also known as Ninsumun, was a Mesopotamian goddess revered for her wisdom, beauty, and maternal care. She is best known as the mother of Gilgamesh, the hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, and the wife of the deified king Lugalbanda. Ninsun’s name, which means “Lady of the Wild Cows,” reflects her association with bovine qualities, symbolizing nurturing and fertility.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-goddess-ninsun/
Jul 13
The Goddess Ninlil
Ninlil was a prominent goddess in Mesopotamian mythology, particularly associated with the air and wind. She was the wife of Enlil, the god of earth, wind, and storms, and shared many of his responsibilities, including declaring destinies
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-goddess-ninlil/
Jul 13
The God Utu
Utu, also known as Shamash in Akkadian, is the ancient Mesopotamian sun god. He was revered as the god of justice, truth, and protection for travellers. Utu was believed to see everything that happened during the day, making him a divine judge.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-god-utu/
Jul 13
The God Ninurta
Ninurta is an ancient Mesopotamian god associated with agriculture, healing, hunting, law, scribes, and war. Initially worshipped in early Sumer, he was known as a god of farming and healing, who protected people from sickness and demons.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-god-ninurta/
Jul 13
The Goddess Ereshkigal
Ereshkigal is a prominent figure in Mesopotamian mythology, known as the goddess of the underworld. Her name translates to “Queen of the Great Earth” or “Lady of the Great Place.” She rules over the land of the dead, often referred to as Kur or Irkalla, and is responsible for keeping the dead within her realm and preventing the living from entering.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-goddess-ereshkigal/
Jul 13
The Igigi lesser gods
The term “Igigi” refers to a group of mythological figures in Mesopotamian mythology. They are often considered the younger gods who served the Anunnaki, the major deities. According to the Atrahasis myth, the Igigi were tasked with laborious work for the Anunnaki until they eventually rebelled due to the harsh conditions.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-igigi-lesser-gods/
Jul 13
The God Nergal
Nergal, also known as Erra, was a prominent deity in Mesopotamian mythology, revered as the god of war, death, and disease. He was associated with the underworld and often depicted as a fierce and destructive force. Nergal’s primary cult centre was the city of Kutha, where he was worshipped as the ruler of the underworld.
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Jul 13
The Goddess Ninhursag
Ninhursag, also known as Ninmah, Damgalnuna, Nintu, Belet-Ili, Shassuru, and Damkina or Ninursag, was an ancient Sumerian mother goddess associated with fertility, mountains, and the creation of life. She was one of the seven great deities of Sumer and was often depicted as a nurturing figure, symbolizing the earth and its ability to produce life.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-goddess-ninhursag/
Jul 12
The God Enlil
Enlil was one of the most significant deities in Sumerian mythology, revered as the god of wind, air, earth, and storms. He was considered the chief deity of the Sumerian pantheon and played a crucial role in the creation and maintenance of the world.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-god-enlil/
Jul 12
The Sumerian cosmology
The Sumerian cosmology is a fascinating blend of mythology and early scientific thought. The Sumerians envisioned the universe as a closed dome surrounded by a primordial saltwater sea. The earth was seen as a flat disc beneath this dome, with an underworld and a freshwater ocean called the Abzu beneath it.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-sumerian-cosmology/
Jul 12
The Goddess Ishtar
Ishtar, known as Inanna in Sumerian, is a deity of profound complexity and significance in Mesopotamian mythology, embodying the dualities of existence such as love and war, fertility and desolation. Her worship spanned across the ancient Near East, marking her as one of the most venerated figures in early human civilization
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-goddess-ishtar/
Jul 12
The Goddess Nammu
Nammu is a primordial goddess in Sumerian mythology, often associated with the creation of the universe and humanity. She embodies the primeval waters, an elemental force from which life and the pantheon of gods emerged. As a creator deity, Nammu’s role is pivotal in the cosmogony of Mesopotamian belief systems, where she is revered as the mother who gave birth to the major deities, including Enki, the god of wisdom, water, and creation.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-goddess-nammu/
Jul 12
The God Enki
Enki, known as the Sumerian god of water, wisdom, and creation, holds a pivotal place in Mesopotamian mythology for his role in the creation of humanity.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-god-enki/
Jul 12
The God Anu
Anu, the supreme deity of the ancient Mesopotamian pantheon, was revered as the god of the sky and the embodiment of heavenly power. His dominion was the highest celestial realm, a symbol of overarching authority and order in the cosmos.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-god-anu/
Jul 12
The Citadel of Erbil
The Citadel of Erbil, a fortified settlement atop an ovoid-shaped tell in the heart of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, is a testament to the longevity of urban human settlements. Its history of continuous habitation stretches back over 7,000 years
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-citadel-of-erbil/
Jul 12
The Sumerian reverence for rivers
The Sumerians, deeply connected to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that cradled their civilization, had a profound reverence for these waterways, which was reflected in their religious rituals. One such ritual was the ‘mîs-pî’, an intricate ceremony that involved the ‘washing of the mouth’ of divine statues, symbolizing purification and the induction of life into the idols.
Permanent link to this article: https://truthofself.com/the-sumerian-reverence-for-rivers/
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