Namma



Deity Overview

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Pantheon:

Sumerian 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


Known For

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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.


Parentage & Lineage

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Parents:

Ab – god of Wisdom

Ziku – goddess of Primordial Essence and Spirit In All Things

Siblings:

Abzu – god of the Underground Cavern of Sweet Water

In a single inscription, she appears as the wife of An.

Some assume that she usually was not believed to have a spouse.

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


Iconography & Artistic Depictions

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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.


Deity Attributes

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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 Practices

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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


Mythology Themes & Mentions

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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.


Explore Additional Details

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References

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  • 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/

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