Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Land, Artisans, Sculptors
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Lady of The Land, Ninkur, Ninkura, Ninkurra, Ninkurru
Ninkurru was known as the “Lady of the Land.”
She was associated with craftsmanship, particularly as a sculptor.
In some myths, she was connected with the mountains and the underworld.
Ninkurru’s narratives involved complex family relationships.
Parents:
Enki – god of Water, Fish, Justice, Wisdom, Magic, Shipmenders, Crafts, Healing, Fertility, Art, Exorcism
Ninsar – goddess of Plants
Siblings:
None Known
Consorts:
None Known
Children:
Uttu – goddess of Plants, Weaving, Earth
Ninkurru, known as “Lady of the Land,” was the daughter of Enki and Ninsar.
She was the goddess of mountains.
Ninkurru functioned as a deity of artisans and sculptors.
She worked with earth and mountainous materials like stones or limestone.
Weapons:
None Known
Sacred Animals:
None Known
Symbolism:
Sculpting Instruments
Ninkurru was symbolized as a mother and a sculptor. Thus, representing creation and craftsmanship.
Celestial Associations:
None Known
Realms:
Ninkurru was associated with the earth and land, as indicated by her title “Lady of the Land.”
She was also connected to the underworld in some myths, playing a role in the afterlife.
Worship Places:
Ninkurru was worshiped in southern Mesopotamia.
A temple in Emar and a gate and street named after her suggest places of worship.
Rituals & Divinations:
Rituals in worship included laying down Ninkurru’s statue and making offerings, possibly related to her underworld connections.
Festivals:
The kissu festival in Šatappi involved Ninkurru, indicating a special ritual.
While specific details on the Kissu Festival are sparse. The festival likely involved rituals that commemorated the cyclical aspects of life and death. Or perhaps it celebrated the renewal of the earth and fertility.
In the story of “Enki and Ninhursag,” Ninkurra was the daughter of Enki. She later gave birth to a daughter Uttu from her union with Enki.
As a craftsman deity, Ninkurra was depicted in myths as a divine sculptor. She shaped materials like stones or limestone, highlighting her creative and transformative powers.
In underworld narratives, Ninkurru was portrayed as a goddess of the underworld. Thus, suggesting her role in the cycle of life and death and her authority over the afterlife.
Visit All Sumerian Gods & Goddesses
- 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, Ninkurra (Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia, August 13, 2023)
- Samuel Noah Kramer, Sumerian Mythology: A Study of Spiritual And Literary Achievement in the Third Millenium B.C. (General Press, 2021)