Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Flood, Justice, Grain, Scribal Arts, Writing, Accounting, Surveying, Wisdom
Group:
Anunnaki
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Lady of wisdom, Nanse, Nanshe, Nina, Nisaba, Nissaba, Nunbarsegunu, Professor of Great Wisdom, Unsurpassed Overseer
Nunbarshegunu, also known as Nisaba, was famous for her wisdom and writing skills.
Wisdom and education were major themes for Nunbarshegunu in Sumerian texts.
People believed she gave wisdom to rulers and helped scribes learn their craft.
She took care of grain and farming.
She linked agriculture, particularly grain, with knowledge and writing.
Her symbols, like the lapis lazuli tablet and golden stylus, represented her authority in both farming and scholarly activities.
Parents:
Ki – goddess of Earth
An – god of Sky, Heaven
Her parentage is not regarded as fixed in ancient traditions, in some accounts she is confirmed to be the daughter of An.
Siblings:
If her parents are An and Ki then her siblings would be:
Enki – god of Water, Fish, Justice, Wisdom, Magic, Shipmenders, Crafts, Healing, Fertility, Art, Exorcism
Enlil – god of Air, Earth, Storms, Wind, Agriculture
Gatumdug – goddess of Fertility, Healing
Ninhursag – goddess of Earth, Animals, Wildlife, Birth, Fertility
Consorts:
Haia – god of Storehouses, Scribal Arts, Grains, Doorkeeper
Children:
Ninlil – goddess of Grain, Air, Healing
Nunbarshegunu was another name for Nisaba, a Sumerian goddess.
She was shown with plants or grain, symbolizing her connection to agriculture. Artifacts, like a vase fragment from Girsu, depicted her crowned with vegetation, indicating her agricultural aspect.
Her symbols included a lapis lazuli tablet and a golden stylus, reflecting her role in writing and accounting.
Nunbarshegunu’s imagery and attributes suggest a dual nature, encompassing both the agricultural and the scholarly or administrative aspects of ancient Sumerian society.
Weapons:
None Known
Sacred Animals:
None Known
Symbolism:
Nunbarshegunu’s symbols were a lapis lazuli tablet and a golden stylus.
These symbols represent wisdom, writing, and accounting.
Celestial Associations:
None Known
Realms:
Nunbarshegunu was connected to the realm of agriculture, especially grain.
She was also tied to the realm of wisdom and writing, overseeing these aspects in ancient Sumerian society.
Worship Places:
People worshiped Nunbarshegunu in the city of Eresh and later in Nippur.
Her main temple was called E-mulmul in Eresh.
Rituals & Divinations:
Scribes ended their writings with praises to her, showing respect and worship.
She was believed to possess a lapis lazuli tablet inscribed with “heavenly writing.” This tablet was linked to the practice of consulting constellations for agricultural purposes.
In later texts, Nisaba was often seen as the deification of grain but retained her association with wisdom. She also gained a new association with exorcisms.
Festivals:
Festivals in her honor marked the calendar, aligning with the agricultural cycle to celebrate the harvest and the sowing of seeds.
During these times, the community came together to offer grains and other products of the earth, seeking her blessings for bountiful harvests and the spread of knowledge.
In myths, Nunbarshegunu acted as a scribe and accountant for the gods.
She played a key role in the story of Enlil and Sud, helping Enlil marry her daughter Sud, who was later known as Ninlil.
She was often depicted in a nurturing role, closely connected to her daughter and agricultural fertility.
Samuel Noah Kramer highlighted Nanshe’s (aka Nunbarshegunu or Nisaba) role in ethical and moral conduct. Advocating for justice, caring for orphans and widows, and judging mankind.
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, Nisaba (Wikipedia.com, November 30, 2023) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisaba
- Samuel Noah Kramer, The Sumerians Their History, Culture, and Character (The University of Chicago Press, 1963)
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Nissaba (Britannica Encyclopedia, April 01, 2016) https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nissaba