Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Primordial Salt Waters
Archetype:
Primordial Salt Waters
Chaos
Mother Goddess
Group:
Creator of Anunnaki
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Nama, Nammu, Namnamu, Nannama
Other Pantheons:
Syrian = Tauthe
Babylonian = Tiamat
Namma was known as the primeval mother goddess.
She created the cosmos and all the gods.
She was associated with water, the primeval sea of salt water.
Consorts:
Abzu – god of the Underground Cavern of Sweet Water
Children:
Gestu – god of Wisdom
An – god of Sky, Heaven
Ki – goddess of Earth
In some sources, she is reported to be the mother of Enki or Enlil.
Enki – god of Water, Fish, Justice, Wisdom, Magic, Shipmenders, Crafts, Healing, Fertility, Art, Exorcism
Enlil – god of Air, Earth, Storms, Wind, Agriculture
Namma was shown as a mother goddess.
She appeared as the creator of gods and the world.
She was linked with water, shown as a sea or a source of salt waters.
In myths, she made humans from clay, with help from other goddesses.
Weapons:
None Known
Sacred Animals:
None Known
Symbolism:
Engur – Goddess’s name is written with sign for “(cosmic) subterranean waters” (Sumerian: engur)
Salt Water – Namma symbolized creation and primeval salt waters.
Chaos – She was also associated with Chaos which existed before creation.
Celestial Associations:
No planetary associations were ascribed to Namma. She created the cosmos including all of the planets and constellations.
Realms:
Namma was connected to the cosmic or primeval sea.
She was associated with the realm of creation and birth.
Worship Places:
A temple for Namma existed in the city of Ur.
Namma was also worshiped in Eridu and Nippur.
Shrines named kius-Namma, “footstep of Nammu”, existed in Ekur in Nippur and in Esagil in Babylon
Rituals & Divinations:
Texts dealing with the study of calendars (hemerologies) indicate that the twenty-seventh day of the month was regarded as a festival of Nammu.
Festivals:
None Known
Creation: Creation was a key theme associated with Namma.
Primeval Chaos: She represented primeval chaos.
In the “Enki and Ninmah” myth, Namma helped alleviate the gods’ burdens by creating humans. She woke Enki to create humans. As such, she played a vital role in the creation of mankind and gods.
Visit All Sumerian Gods & Goddesses
- Nammu: A Forgotten Tale of the Sumerian Mother of Gods (AncientOrigins.net, May 13, 2018) https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/nammu-forgotten-tale-sumerian-mother-gods-0010041
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- Matt Clayton, Sumerian Mythology: Captivating Myths Of Gods, Goddesses, And Legendary Creatures of Ancient Sumer and Their Importance To The Sumerians (Captivating History, 2019)
- Multiple Authors, Nammu (Wikipedia.com, October 5, 2023) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nammu
- Nicole Brisch, Namma (Oracc.Museum.Upenn.Edu, 2013) http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/amgg/listofdeities/namma/index.html
- Saugat Adhikari, Top 10 Sumerian Gods and Goddesses (AncientHistoryLists.com, September 2, 2022) https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/mesopotamia-history/top-sumerian-gods-goddesses/