What gods did the Mesopotamians believe in?
Mesopotamian religion was polytheistic, with followers worshipping several main gods and thousands of minor gods. The three main gods were Ea (Sumerian: Enki), the god of wisdom and magic, Anu (Sumerian: An), the sky god, and Enlil (Ellil), the god of earth, storms and agriculture and the controller of fates.
When did Mesopotamian mythology start?
Mesopotamian Mythology. Mesopotamian mythology is the collective name given to Sumerian (ca. 5300 – 2334 BC), Akkadian (ca. 2334 – 2218 BC), Assyrian, and Babylonian mythologies from the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq.
Who is Enki?
The god Ea (whose Sumerian equivalent was Enki) is one of the three most powerful gods in the Mesopotamian pantheon, along with Anu and Enlil. He resides in the ocean underneath the earth called the abzu (Akkadian apsû), which was an important place in Mesopotamian cosmic geography.
Did Mesopotamians believe in afterlife?
Afterlife. The ancient Mesopotamians believed in an afterlife that was a land below our world. It was this land, known alternately as Arallû, Ganzer or Irkallu, the latter of which meant “Great Below”, that it was believed everyone went to after death, irrespective of social status or the actions performed during life.
Who is the oldest god in mythology?
Inanna is among the oldest deities whose names are recorded in ancient Sumer. She is listed among the earliest seven divine powers: Anu, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna.
Who were the 7 Gods of Mesopotamia?
Seven planetary deities. The number seven was extremely important in ancient Mesopotamian cosmology. In Sumerian religion , the most powerful and important deities in the pantheon were the “seven gods who decree”: An, Enlil, Enki, Ninhursag, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna.
Who are the main gods and goddesses of Mesopotamia?
Inanna, later known as Ishtar, is “the most important female deity of ancient Mesopotamia at all periods.”. She was the Sumerian goddess of love, sexuality, prostitution, and war.
What was the religion in ancient Mesopotamia?
About Ancient Mesopotamia The Ancient Mesopotamian Religion is the oldest religion on record and is based around a polytheistic belief system. This means that they believe in not just one God, but multiple God’s. The Ancient Mesopotamian’s were polytheistic, which means they believe in multiple Gods.
What are some myths about Mesopotamia?
Other Mesopotamian myths include the story of Atrahasis, a wise man who was saved from the Flood after being warned by one of the gods to build a ship to save himself. The myth of Ishtar’s Descent and return from the underworld was evidently connected to the cycle of fertility.