Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Underground Cavern of Sweet Water
Archetype:
Primordial Sweet Waters
Group:
None Known
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Absu, Abyss, Abzu, Apason, Apsu, Rishtu, Zigarun
Other Pantheons:
Egyptian = Nun
Babylonian = Apsu-Rushtu
Abzu represented underground fresh water.
He was the father and predecessor of early gods.
Abzu mixed waters with Namma to create gods.
Siblings:
Namma – goddess of Primordial Salt Waters
Consorts:
Namma – goddess of Primordial Salt Waters
Abzu represented an underground water cavern.
He was a god of fresh water and symbolized the source of all fresh water.
In myths, Abzu was a primal water being.
Temples linked to Abzu featured water tanks.
He was visualized as part of the creation epic.
Weapons:
None Known
Sacred Animals:
None, as he existed before the creation of any animals.
Symbolism:
Water was a key symbol for Abzu, representing life and creation.
Abzu’s domain, the underground freshwater ocean, symbolized the source of all life.
Celestial Associations:
None Known
Realms:
Abzu was connected with the underground freshwater realm also called by the same name.
He represented the primeval freshwater sea beneath the earth.
Kur, the Sumerian Underworld was located beneath Abzu.
In some sources, Abzu was identified with the river Hubur. This was the river souls had to cross to reach the Underworld.
Worship Places:
Abzu was linked to the Eridu temple, known as E.ABZU, at the edge of a swamp. E.ABZU means – house of deep waters.
Some believe that once Abzu was defeated, this temple was dedicated to Enki.
Rituals & Divinations:
Tanks of holy water in religious washing were also called Abzu (Apsu).
The rituals related to water and cleansing can be found in different religious texts to this day.
These rituals are similar to Judaism’s mikveh, Islamic washing pools, and Christian baptismal.
Festivals:
None Known
Abzu was one of the few primordial deities that existed before the creation itself.
In the Enuma Elish, Abzu and Namma’s waters birthed early gods.
Abzu plotted to destroy these gods but was defeated. He was either put into a long sleep or killed by these gods.
His death led to the rise of new deities and order.
Visit All Sumerian Gods & Goddesses
- Abzu (AncientNearEast.net, ) https://www.ancientneareast.net/
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- Jimmy Joe, Abzu God: The Mysterious Ancient Deity That Resided Beneath the Earth (TimelessMyths.com, ) https://www.timelessmyths.com/mythology/abzu-god/
- Multiple Authors, Abzu (Wikipedia.com, January 4, 2024) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abzu
- Joshua J. Mark, Eridu (Worldhistory.org, July 20, 2010) https://www.worldhistory.org/eridu/