Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Wisdom
Archetype:
Sage, Creator Deity
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Geshtu, Geshtu-E, Gestu, Llawela, We-Ila
Gestu had great intelligence.
Gods used his blood to create humans after killing him.
Consorts:
None Known
Children:
None Known
Gestu appeared as a wisdom figure.
His flesh produced a ghost after his death, symbolizing his enduring presence and memory.
The ghost acted as a living symbol of Gestu, preserving his intelligence beyond death.
Weapons:
None Known
Sacred Animals:
None Known
Symbolism:
Drumbeat – after sacrificing the god of intelligence and wisdom to create humankind, gods “heard drumbeat forever after”.
Ghost – a ghost of Gestu existed so as not to forget the slain god.
Celestial Associations:
None Known
Realms:
None Known
Worship Places:
No records exist of worship places or divination rituals connected to Gestu.
Rituals & Divinations:
Sumerians believed that every human has a connection to this god as his descendants.
Sacrifice stands out as a central theme.
Creation and First Humans: His death connected to the origin of humans.
A ghost from Gestu’s body preserved his memory and intelligence.
In the Atrahasis Epic, other gods sacrificed Gestu. They combined his blood with clay to form humankind.
Visit All Sumerian Gods & Goddesses
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- Multiple Authors, Geshtu-E (Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, November 15, 2023) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geshtu-E