Summary page for Neti, the Sumerian god of the underworld, scribe, and messenger to the queen of the dead, Ereshkigal.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Gates of the Underworld, Scribe, Messenger to Ereshkigal
Archetype:
Underworld Guardian: Protected the realm and enforced its laws. He guarded the access to the underworld and carried out the commands of Ereshkigal.
Group:
Chief of the Gatekeepers of the Netherworld: Led the guardians of the underworld’s gates.
Anuna Gods of the Netherworld: Mentioned alongside these powerful deities.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Bidu, Bitu, Nedu, Neti
Other Pantheons:
Akkadian Equivalent: Nedu, who served the same role as Neti in Akkadian mythology.
Gatekeeper of the Underworld: Controlled access and guarded the seven gates.
Enforcer of Underworld Laws: Upheld strict rules for souls entering the afterlife.
Divine Messenger to Ereshkigal: Announced arrivals and relayed messages to the queen.
Figure in Funerary Rites: His name was mentioned in prayers and rituals for the dead.
Parents:
None Known
Siblings:
None Known
Consorts:
None Known
Children:
None Known
Limited Artistic Depictions: No known Sumerian or Akkadian visual representations.
Hybrid Form in Assyrian Texts: Described as part lion, bird, and human.
Lion’s Head: Symbolized power and authority in the underworld.
Bird’s Feet: Represented a spiritual or otherworldly connection.
Human Hands: Implied intelligence and role as a gatekeeper.
Weapons:
No Known Weapons: No records mention Neti using or wielding a weapon.
Regulatory Authority: He enforced underworld laws through control, not force.
Sacred Animals:
No Direct Sacred Animals: No specific creatures sacred to Neti.
Hybrid Form Symbolism: The combined traits of a lion and a bird reflected his role as a gatekeeper.
Symbolism:
Seven Gates of the Underworld: Represented barriers between life and death.
Number 7: Symbolized cosmic order, transition, and completeness.
Lapis Lazuli: Associated with divine authority and passage between realms.
Lapis Lazuli Mountain: Marked the sacred geography of the underworld.
Celestial Associations:
No Celestial Associations: No known links to stars, planets, or cosmic elements.
Realms:
The Underworld: Was Neti’s primary domain, where he guarded the seven gates.
Palace Ganzer: A fortified underworld structure, where Neti controlled entry.
Lapis Lazuli Mountain: A possible boundary of the underworld, guarded by Neti.
Worship Places:
No Known Temples or Cities: No records mention dedicated worship sites for Neti.
Rituals & Divinations:
Funerary Offerings: Neti received gifts in death rituals to aid spirits’ passage.
Spirit Binding & Exorcism: Was also invoked in spells to banish ghosts and demons.
Festivals:
No Known Dedicated Festivals: No records mention specific celebrations for Neti.
Mythology Themes
Descent to the Netherworld: He controlled entry to the underworld, enforcing the seven-gate ritual.
Barriers Between Life and Death: Represented restrictions on mortals and gods entering the afterlife.
Spirit Binding and Control: Ensured ghosts and demons remained in the underworld.
Mythology Stories With Mentions of Neti
The Descent of Inanna: He was the gatekeeper who enforced Inanna’s passage through the underworld.
The Death of Gilgamesh: Received offerings as an honored underworld deity.
Nergal and Ereshkigal: Was listed as the first of seven underworld gatekeepers.
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, Bitu (god) (Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, 20 January 2025)
- Joshua J. Mark, The Mesopotamian Pantheon (World History Encyclopedia, 25 February 2011)
- Samuel Noah Kramer, The Sumerians Their History, Culture, and Character (The University of Chicago Press, 1963) Pages 134, 214, 261
- Multiple Translators, Inana’s descent to the nether world (The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, 2003)
- Multiple Translators, The death of Gilgameš (The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, 2003)