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Enlil : The King of Gods

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At a glance

Description
Origin Sumerian Mythology
Classification Gods
Family Members Nanna (Son), Inanna (Granddaughter), Ninlil (Wife)
Region Iraq
Associated With Weather, Floods, Air, Hurricanes, Agriculture

Enlil

Introduction

The Mesopotamian god of the atmosphere, Enlil, is a part of the triad of gods that includes Ea and An. He was often referred to as Lord of the Air. The gentle winds of spring and the hurricane that hit the city were said to be the breath that Enlil used to issue his command or word. Although An was regarded as the highest god in the Sumerian hierarchy, Enlil was a more important figure. He was known for being the god of agriculture and was also the founder of Nippur. According to the myth of the creation of the Hoe, Enlil separated Earth and heaven to make room for seeds.

Enlil created a tool known as the hoe, which broke the hard surface of the earth. Another myth states that he was imprisoned and eventually killed after he had impregnated Ninlil, a grain goddess. This story is related to the agricultural cycle, which revolves around winter inactivity, fertilization, and ripening. Marduk replaced Enlil as the head of the Babylonian Pantheon. Despite this, he was still regarded as the high god of the city of Nippur. He continued to be an important deity in the region until the 2nd millennium BC.

Physical Traits

Enlil was depicted with a horned cap on a bearded person, which has seven superimposed ox-horns. This type of cap was regarded as a symbol of divinity, and it has been worn by various gods ever since the third millennium BC. The horned cap was consistent in its form and meaning throughout the Sumerian prehistory. It remained so until the time of the Persian Empire’s conquest.

Family

Enlil was the god of the sky and the earth, the father of the Moon god Sin (Nanna), and the grandfather of the great goddess Ishtar (Inanna). His primary consort was the grain and fertility goddess Ninlil (Lady of the Air), also known as Sud.

Enlil is sometimes referred to as the child of Ninki and Enki, who are respectively the gods of wisdom and Lord and Lady Earth. Enki, on the other hand, is regarded as the twin brother of Adad and Ishkur, which makes him a son of Enlil.

Inanna, who was often depicted as a daughter of Enki, was also mentioned as a child of Enlil. These contradictions are the result of Mesopotamia’s long history and the various cultures that adopted the gods and made them their own. Sometimes these changes are repeated or expanded upon in older stories, and different scribes would simply rewrote the tales to fit their own purposes.

Other Names

Enlil was also known as Enlil, Ellil, Nunamnir (literary texts) and Illinos (Greek).

Powers and Abilities

Enlil was originally from the city of Nippur. He became more prominent as a member of the Babylonian gods, which also includes An and Enki. At one point, he had the Tablets of Destiny, which gave him great power over the universe and mankind. Although he was sometimes kind, he was also a stern and harsh person.

Enlil was the god of weather, and he was responsible for the Great Flood that destroyed all humans on Earth except for the family of Atrahasis. He frequently appeared in various ancient Mesopotamian tablets, such as those made by Sumerian, Akkadian, Hittite, and Canaanite. His name was sometimes called “Ellil” in literature from these regions. As a part of the great trio of gods, Enlil was responsible for the skies and the earth. Ea was the steward of the waters, while An was the ruler of the deep heavens.

Modern Day Influence

Enlil’s worship declined after he was taken away from Ninki and into Marduk. However, he was still honored in various cities, and it was believed that he and his companion, Anu, had given their blessings and power to the city. During the Neo-Assyrian Empire’s time, the gods Assur, Nabu, and Marduk were regarded as the most important deities. According to Adam Stone, Enlil’s power was widely remembered during this period.

Following the Assyrian empire’s fall in 612 BCE, Enlil lost his temples and statues to the Assyrian gods. Gods such as Marduk, who were able to transcend the association with Enlil in the minds of the people, continued to live on. By the time of his death in 140 BCE, Enlil had already been forgotten.

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