Great Sumerian God Enki: Creator, Protector of Humanity, Brilliant Scientist & Patron of Craftsmen & Artisans
by A. Sutherland on May 09, 2017, from AncientPages Website
EN.KI ("Lord of Earth"), was the Sumerian water god of Eridu, located in the southern wetlands of what is today Iraq.
He was also the god of wisdom, creator, protector of humanity and the patron of craftsmen and artisans.
Enki was known under other names, such as the Akkadian-Babylonian, Ea ("Whose House Is Water") or NU.DIM.MUD (Nudimmud),
"He Who Fashions Things"
He was wise and skillful at all crafts; he was a brilliant:
- scientist
- geneticist
- engineer
Enki with two streams of water erupting from his shoulders from a cylinder seal.
Emerging from the mountain's depths is the Sumerian sun-god Utu (Akkadian Shamash)
holding his saw-sword.
Above in the air hovers Inanna (Akkadian Ishtar) the lady of heaven
(p. 19. John Gray. Near Eastern Mythology London, Hamlyn House Ltd. 1969).
Along with Anu, the god of heaven, his brother Enlil, the god of air, and Ninhursag, the earth mother, Enki was one of the most powerful gods of the Sumerian pantheon.
Anu, Enki & Enlil – Library of Rickandria
Anu, Enki & Enlil – Library of Rickandria
In myths found on Sumerian texts, Lord Enki is described as:
"He of exceptional knowledge, who knows the divine powers in heaven and earth, who from his own dwelling already knows the intentions of the gods…"
Enki is associated with the city of Eridu in the southern Mesopotamia.
Eridu - Wikipedia
In Sumerian mythology, Eridu (E.RI.DU - 'Home in the Faraway Built') was one of the earliest and most sacred cities of the Sumerians.
Enki was worshiped at Eridu and there he had his his temple, E-abzu ('house of the abzu'), which was also known as E-engur-ra ('house of the subterranean water').
In Mesopotamian art Enki is represented as a seated god with long beard, who wears a cap with horns and a long robe.
Eridu - Wikipedia
In Sumerian mythology, Eridu (E.RI.DU - 'Home in the Faraway Built') was one of the earliest and most sacred cities of the Sumerians.
Enki was worshiped at Eridu and there he had his his temple, E-abzu ('house of the abzu'), which was also known as E-engur-ra ('house of the subterranean water').
In Mesopotamian art Enki is represented as a seated god with long beard, who wears a cap with horns and a long robe.
Streams of water flow from his arms to the ground, sometimes with fish swimming along the flow, which symbolizes the subterranean waters of the abzu.
According to the Babylonian creation epic, the 'Enûma Elish', taken from the library of Assurbanipal (c 630 BC), Enki lived in abzu (Akkadian apsû) with mythical creatures, such as the seven meditators who were created to teach humanity and Isimud (Ismus), a messenger god with two faces looking in opposite directions, who was the servant of Enki.
ENUMA ELISH - The Epic of Creation (bibliotecapleyades.net)
ENUMA ELISH - The Epic of Creation (bibliotecapleyades.net)
The abzu, which was a magic place full of divine powers, was frequently visited by gods who wanted to steal some of Enki's powers.
The great god Enki was not a ruler himself but gave rulers what they needed most - knowledge and intelligence and he divided the speech to humans.
Humanity’s History & Ancient Civilizations – Library of Rickandria
The great god Enki was not a ruler himself but gave rulers what they needed most - knowledge and intelligence and he divided the speech to humans.
Humanity’s History & Ancient Civilizations – Library of Rickandria
And so, the ancient Sumerian texts say:
"Enki, the Lord of abundance, of trustworthy commands,
The Lord of wisdom, who understands the land,
The leader of the gods,
Endowed with wisdom,
the Lord of Eridu
Changed the speech in their mouths,
[brought] contention into it,
Into the speech of man,
that had previously been one…"
Enki created fertile lands and cities of Mesopotamia.
He created fish in rivers and wild animals in the steppes.
He provided seeds of:
- wheat
- bean
- barley
and raised corn on the fields. He created sheep and cowsheds, brought civilization to humankind and taught humans how to construct canals and plan temples,
'Putting their foundation pegs in the right places.'
Enki is mentioned in a great number of ancient myths that originate from Southern Iraq to the Levantine coast; we mention only a few of them.
In the myth:
"Adapa and the South Wind"
(or 'Adapa and the South Wind - Language Has the Power of Life and Death'), Enki (Ea) helps humanity keep the gift of magic and incantations and according to the Sumerian epic poem entitled "Inanna and Enki", he was the one who dedicated the art of writing to the people of earth and he was the keeper of the divine powers called "Me", the gifts of civilization and he controlled them.
Magic or Magick? – Library of Rickandria
In the Sumerian myth "Enki and The World Order," Enki is said to have fixed national boundaries and assigned gods their roles.
Christian Demons: The Pagan Gods of Hell – Library of Rickandria
It is also mentioned that the Anunnaki several times, they:
'Do homage' to the god Enki and sing his praise, they 'take up their dwellings' in the midst of the people of Sumer, in the cities and in the countryside and twice it is said that they 'decree the fates of mankind…'