The Battle between God and Satan: Part 11 - The Sumerian Gods; they ARE coming back!
Introduction to the Sumerian Gods.
According to what is written on ancient Sumerian clay tablets, Angels were known under the name of Anunna, or Anunnaki, or Anannage (great sons of Anu), and they were the founders of their culture. The Anunnaki were grandsons and great-grandsons of Anu, and there is a lot of confusion and misinformation regarding their history and who they were, but thanks to the Internet, we now have access to a wealth of information about them. The Sumerian gods have been written about throughout the entire history of the world, since the first known written language of Sumer was discovered, (which is why they are now called the Sumerian gods). There is also various things written about them scattered throughout the entire Bible, however you will never see the expression "Sumerian gods" used. I will be showing in these next few studies how the Sumerian gods were involved in the Bible's accounts of the creation of the heavens and the earth, the creation of mankind, Noah's flood, the tower of Babel, etc, and why it is guaranteed that they will return at the end of this age.
Because there is so much disinformation and misinformation regarding the Sumerian gods, I strongly urge anyone to please check as many sources as possible. Misinformation is accidental or erroneous information, and disinformation is false information that is purposely and publicly announced or planted in the news media, books, articles, websites, etc. For this reason, please carefully discern the writings of Zecharia Sitchin, Immanuel Velikovsky, and Erich von Däniken, who I strongly disagree with regarding some of their conclusions.
I want to first begin with a breakdown of the lineage of the Sumerian gods, starting from the top, and working down to show the sons and daughters of Anu, and some of his grandchildren. At the very top of the hierarchy we see Apsu and Tiamat. In order to best understand these deities, one must remember that these deities are completely primordial or primeval in nature, but they also possessed an intellect, with the capacity to feel and express emotions. Apsu was the deity (force of nature) that ruled over all the fresh (sweet) waters of our Universe (not any salty waters), and Tiamat was the deity that ruled over all the salty (bitter) waters of the Universe. There came a time when Apsu and Tiamat met, and after a mutual marriage agreement was established, they produce 2 offspring named Lahmu and Lahamu. It is amazing to find out that Apsu and Tiamat possessed what we consider "human" feelings like distress, anger, love, joy, peace, hatred, jealousy, etc.
LINEAGE OF THE SUMERIAN GODS:
Apsu (also spelled Abzu - 'sweet primal waters' - literally, ab='water' (or 'semen') zu='to know' or 'deep') - Apsu was a primal deity made of fresh water and a lover to another primal deity, Tiamat, who was a deity of salt water.
Tiamat - ('sea' or 'ocean'; also referred to as 'Dragon Queen' and 'Sea Serpent') - Tiamat was a chaos monster, a primordial goddess of the ocean, mating with Abzu (the god of fresh water) to produce younger gods. It is suggested that there are two parts to the Tiamat mythos, the first in which Tiamat is "creatrix", through a "Sacred marriage" between salt and fresh water, peacefully creating the cosmos through successive generations. In the second "Chaoskampf" Tiamat is considered the monstrous embodiment of primordial chaos. Although there are no early precedents for it, some sources identify her with images of a sea serpent or dragon.
In an ancient manuscript called the Enûma Elish (the epic of creation of ancient Mesopotamia), the account goes as follows:
"When above the heavens did not yet exist nor the earth below, Apsu the freshwater ocean was there, the first, the begetter, and Tiamat, the saltwater sea, she who bore them all; they were still mixing their waters, and no pasture land had yet been formed, nor even a reed marsh..."
The Enûma Elish specifically states that Tiamat gave birth to many dragons and serpents that are included among a larger and more general list of monsters, including scorpion men and merpeople, none of which imply that any of the children resemble the mother or are even limited to aquatic creatures. In the Enûma Elish, her physical description includes a tail, a thigh, "lower parts" (which shake together), a belly, an udder, ribs, a neck, a head, a skull, eyes, nostrils, a mouth, and lips. She has insides ("entrails"), a heart, arteries, and blood, (these body parts are the metaphysical representations of a primeval goddess that was made of atoms and molecules, however we are not able to accurately imagine her physical/spiritual nature with our limited human minds).
From the union between Apsu and Tiamat, twin deities were born: their first born son, Lahmu (meaning 'slimy' or 'muddy'), and their first born daughter, Lahamu (meaning "hairy"). Lahmu was a protective and beneficent deity who would one day be appointed the task of guarding the gates of the Abzu, the temple of his great-grandson, Enki in Eridu. According to legend, Lahmu and Lahamu were sometimes seen as a serpent, and sometimes as human. It is suggested that the pair were birthed by the silt of the sea-bed, where "mud" was the closest physical element resembling "earth", but not quite earth yet.
Apsu and Tiamat produced 2 more gods, Mummu and Kingu: Mummu (meaning 'maker', 'form', 'mold', 'matrix'), was a god of mist and a craftsman god. Kingu (meaning 'unskilled laborer'), was a dragon god. Besides being Apsu's vizier, Mummu is the mold, or the undifferentiated substance, from which things are made. Mummu's power was necessary for the achievement of birth-creation.
When we see primeval gods that come together and give birth to other primeval gods, it is a bit difficult to imagine these things, just as it is impossible to imagine gods creating the Universe and life within the Universe.
After the murder of his father Absu, Kingu became the consort to his mother Tiamat, who wanted to establish him as ruler and leader of all gods before she was slain by Marduk. Tiamat gave Kingu the 3 Tablets of Destiny, which he wore as a breastplate and which gave him great power. She placed him as the general of her army. However, like Tiamat, Kingu was eventually slain by Marduk, and his blood was used by the gods to mix with the clay of the earth and mold the first human beings.
Twins were then born from the union between Lahmu and Lahamu. The first twin was named, Anshar, who represented the 'ends of the heavens', and Kishar, who represented the 'earth'. Anshar (sky father - from an = heaven, shár = horizon, end); Kishar (earth mother). Anshar and Kishar are believed to have met at the horizon (where heaven meets earth), and produced the first non-primeval gods, their firstborn son, Anu (supreme god of heaven), and a daughter, Ki (earth mother). It is said that Anshar and Kishar were formed more mighty (or powerful) than the others.
Anu the Patriarch of the Anunna (i.e. Anunnaki):
Anu, (meaning "sky' or 'heaven') was a sky-god, the god of heaven, lord of constellations, king of gods, spirits and demons, and dwelt in the highest heavenly regions. Because Anu was not a primeval god, he became the 'Senior god' of the Sumerian pantheon, and is the patriarch of all the Anunna. He sits at the highest seat of the Heavenly Council as Supreme Justice and began to judge those who had committed crimes. It is said that he created the stars as soldiers to destroy the wicked. His attribute is the royal crown and he is his parent's only heir.
Anu had two consorts (wives), one was his sister Ki - Earth Mother (who is not a primeval goddess), and the other was a Nammu (who is a primeval goddess - she is the Great Mother of the sky and Goddess of Watery Deep). Ki would later become the grandmother of Gilgamesh, who was a demigod (half god half human – Nephilim - Giant).
The Anunna (Anunnaki):
The name Anunna was derived from Anu's name; thus "Anunna" means, "princely offspring" or "offspring of Anu". Some of the Anunna were conceived in the sky by Anu's union with Nammu, and some were conceived by Anu's union with Ki, the Great Earth Mother, thus the Anunna conceived on the earth have the name "Anunnaki" (Anunna - meaning offspring of Anu + ki - meaning earth). It unclear how many Anunna were born to Anu, but there is a break down that goes as follows: "the Anunna of Eridu are fifty in number; there are seven gods of future fate and dicisions; there are seven judges of the netherworld; the 300 Anunna of the sky; and 600 Anunnaki of the earth. The Anunna are the sons of god mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 6:2-4, Job 1:6, Job 2:1, and Job 38:7. It is also believed the Anunna appear as winged beings, or Seraphim, and that some of them may have the title of "Archangel". The Anunna are also known to convene in Council meetings, which is described in the Bible in Job 2.
Job 2:1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
From Anu's union with Nammu, he sired his image, Enki (also known as Ea and Nudimmud). Enki's name means, 'image fashioner'. Enki's title is the Lord of Earth, and Prince of Eridu (the Garden of Eden). Enki' name breaks down as follows: En (a play on the name "An" or "Anu") + ki (which means Earth). According to the Enûma Elish, Enki (Nudimmud) was the master of his father. Enki is the Prince of Eridu, and his temple is known as the Abzu, (house of the cosmic waters), located at the edge of a swamp.
"This Nudimmud (Ea) was the master of his father,
Of broad wisdom, understanding, mighty in strength,
Mightier by far than his grandfather, Anshar.
He had no rival among the gods, his brothers."
Enki/Ea's sister is named Nin-khursag, (also known as Ninmah - Lady of Earth and Lady of Life). Ninmah is Anu's highest ranking daughter, and she is the "Motherly" source of all life on Earth. Ea, along with his sister Nin-mah, and Ea's brother Enlil, as Anu's 3 highest ranking offspring, have since their conception always ruled the Universe as Supreme Creators throughout several Ages (or generations) of the Universe. Enki, Enlil, and Ninmah are different than the lower level Anunna. Enki, Enlil and Ninmah are much higher level gods that rule Supremely over the Universe, whereas the Anunna are a hiararcy of Angels and Archangels. Some say there are 7 Archangels, and some say 12. Archangels are powerful angels that were given the task of overseeing and governing not only other angels, but also countries and nations on the Earth). In the following passage from The Enûma Elish, we can see that the Anunna gods revere Enki, and that he is both omnipotent and omni-present, where they say he is "foremost everywhere above and below...". In the passage below, where you see the word "me", a Me is a decree of the gods that grants a specific trait to that person or city. The Mes were originally collected by Enlil and then handed over to the guardianship of Enki who was to broker them out.
"The great prince who had drawn near to his land,
the Anunna-gods speak with affection:
'Lord who rides the great me,
the pure me,
who stands watch over the great me,
the myriad me,
who is foremost everywhere above and below,
at Eridu, the pure place,
the most precious place
where the noble me have been taken in -
'O Enki, lord above and below, praise!'"
"My father, ruler above and below,
made my features blaze above and below.
My great brother, ruler of all the lands,
gathered all the me together,
placed the me in my hands.
From the Ekur, house of Enlil,
I passed on the arts and crafts to my Abzu, Eridu.
I am the true offspring, sprung from the wild ox.
I am a leading son of Anu.
I am the great storm the breaks over the 'Great Below':
I am the great lord over the land.
I am the first among the rulers.
I am the father of all the lands.
I am the big brother of the gods,
the hegal is perfected in me.
I am the seal-keeper above and below.
I am cunning and wise in the lands.
I am the one who directs justice alongside Anu, the king,
on the dais of Anu.
I am the one who having gazed upon the Kur,
decrees the fates alongside Enlil:
he has placed in my hands the decreeing of fates
at the place where the sun rises.
I am the one Nintu really cares for:
I am the one Ninhursag gave a good name.
I am the leader of the Anunna-gods.
I am the one born a leading son of Anu."
After the lord had proclaimed his loftiness,
after the great prince had pronounced his own praise,
the Anunna-gods stood up in prayer and supplication:
"Lord who stands watch over the arts and crafts,
expert at decisions, adored one -
'O Enki, praise!"
-- from The Enûma Elish, --
Enlil (God of breath, wind, loft and breadth (height and distance):
From Anu's union with his sister Ki, Enlil was born (a serpent god). Enlil's titles are: "Lord of Command" and "Lord of Air". It is said that when Enlil was a young god, he was banished from Ekur in Nippur (home of the gods), to Kur, the underworld, for seducing and raping the goddess Sud. As punishment for raping her, Enlil was exiled to the underworld kingdom of Ereshkigal (Queen of the Underworld). Sud followed Enlil into the underworld where her name was change to Ninlil, and she bore him their first child, the moon god Sin (also called Nanna or Suen). Enlil later seduced Ereshkigal and offered her the Earth as a dowry, and she bore him a son named Nergal, the god of plague and death - King and Governor of the Netherworld - father of Ninazu by Ereshkigal and grandfather of Ningiszida (Qetzalquatl). Enlil then disguised himself as the man of the river of the netherworld and impregnated Ereshkigal again and she bore him another son named Ninazu. Enlil again disguised himself, this time as the man of the boat of the netherworld, impregnated Ereshkigal again, and she bore him another son named Enbilulu – god of rivers and canals). In an exchange for his, Ninlil's and Sin's release and ascension from the Underworld, Enlil and Ninlil bore 3 more children, Ninurta (also called Ningirsu – god of war – portrayed as a winged lion), Nisaba - goddess of grain), and Namtar, mothered by Ereshkigal. After this Enlil, Ninlil, and Sin were allowed to return to the Ekur.
It is also said that one day Nanurta fought several monsters to obtain The Tablets of Destiny and delivered them to Enlil. The Tablets of Destiny are clay tablets inscribed in Sumerian Cuneiform writing that were impressed with cylinder seals, which serve as a legal document that conferrs upon the holder of the tablets supreme authority as ruler of the universe.
An angelic rebellion involving all the Sumerian gods is described in detail in the The Enûma Elish. I believe the offensive behavior described here is from angelic activity coming mostly from the 1,000 Anunna. Here is the account from The Enûma Elish: (note: Mummu was a son of Apsu)
The divine brothers banded together,
They disturbed Tiamat as they rushed here and there,
Indeed, they distraught and tormented Tiamat
By their boisterous mirth in the dwelling of Heaven.
Apsu could not diminish their clamor
And Tiamat was dumbfounded at their ways.
Their doings were loathsome to him.
Offensive and overbearing were their ways.
Then Apsu, the begetter of great gods,
Cried out, addressing Mummu, his vizier:
“0 Mummu, my vizier, who rejoices my spirit,
Come hither and let us go to Tiamat!”
They went and sat down before Tiamat,
Exchanging counsel about the gods, their offspring.
Apsu, opening his mouth,
Said unto radiant Tiamat:
“Their ways are truly abominable unto me.
By day I find no relief, nor repose by night.
I will destroy, I will wreck their ways,
That quite may be restored. Let us have rest!”
As soon as Tiamat heard this,
She was troubled and called out to her husband.
She cried out, as she raged all alone,
Injecting woe into her mood:
“What? Should we destroy that which we have produced?"
--- from the Enûma Elish ---
As the account continues, despite Tiamat's objections, Apsu and Mummu plot to do away with the younger gods. However, the clever Enki overhears them and concocts a plan to defeat them. Enki makes and recites a magic spell that puts Apsu to sleep and Mummu into a daze. Enki then takes Apsu's insignia of power, his belt, his crown, and his "mantle of radiance," and puts them on himself. He holds Apsu down and kills him. Then he ties up Mummu and laid across him. He set up his dwelling on top of Apsu and grasped Mummu, held him by a nose-rope (meaning he has enslaved him). When he had overcome and slain his enemies, Enki set up a triumphal cry over his foes. Then he rested very quietly inside his private quarters, which he names Apsu, and assigned chapels, founded his own residence there. Even though Enki was Lord of Earth, he loved water.The word Absu (also spelled Abzu) literally means, ab='water' (or 'semen') and zu='to know' or 'deep'. After Enki killed his great-great-grandfather Apsu, he took over lordship of the fresh waters he once ruled over to become the God of the Living Waters. Abzu is also the name for fresh water from underground aquifers that was given a religious fertilizing quality in Sumerian and Akkadian mythology. Lakes, springs, rivers, wells, and other sources of fresh water were thought to draw their water from the abzu. Enki's "private quarters or house" are a combination temple and house that he built over the sweet waters he controlled after Apsu's death, and it is here in the Abzu, that Enki's only son Marduk was born by the goddess Damkina.
--- From the book "Sumerian Mythology" (1988) by Samuel Noah Kramer ---
After the water of creation had been decreed, after the name hegal (abundance) born in heaven; like plant and herb had clothed the land. The lord of the Abzu, the king Enki, Enki the Lord who decrees the fates, built his house of silver and lapis lazuli; it is silver and lapis lazuli, like sparkling light. The Father fashioned fittingly in the Abzu. The creatures of bright countenances and wise, coming forth from the deep, stood all about the lord Nudimmud (Ea); The pure house he built; he ornamented it greatly with gold. In Eridu he built the house of water-bank, its brickwork, word-uttering, advice-giving. It is like an ox roaring; the house of Enki, the oracles uttering.
When Enki rises, the fish rise; the deep stands in wonder. In the sea, joy enters. Fear comes over the deep; terror holds the exalted river, the Euphrates. The South Wind lifts it in waves.
Enki seats himself in his boat and first arrives in Eridu itself where he slaughters many oxen and sheep. He then proceeds to Nippur where immediately upon arrival he prepares drinks for the gods, and especially for Enlil.
Enki in the shrine Nippur, gives his brother Enlil bread to eat. In the first place he seated Anu (the Skyfather), next to Anu he seated Enlil; Nintu (Nin-mah) he seated at the big side; The Anunna seated themselves one after the other. Enlil says to the Anunna: 'Ye great gods who are standing about; My brother has built a house, the king Enki; Eridu, like a mountain, he has raised up from the earth; In a good place he has built it. Eridu, the clean place, where none may enter; The house built of silver, adorned with lapis lazuli; The house directed by the seven lyre-songs given over to incantation, with pure songs....The Abzu, the shrine of the goodness of Enki, befitting the divine decrees; Eridu, the pure house having been built, O Enki, praise!"
--- from the book "Sumerian Mythology" (1988) by Samuel Noah Kramer ---
