In my historical fantasy world, stories about the Anzu’s theft were already well known during the Sargonic period. Representations of lion-headed eagles adorned temples dedicated to Ninurta as well as Enlil. In the holy city of Nippur, the E-Kur Temple itself displayed images of the Anzu, as described in Inanna’s Bargain: The entrance gate featuredContinue reading “The Entrance Gate”
Author Archives: clairesulos
Celebrating Spring
With the recent warm weather, I’ve developed a touch of ‘spring fever’. I find myself stepping outdoors at odd times of the day, clipping dead branches in my garden, taking walks around my neighborhood, and thinking about the turn of seasons. After a winter of harsh snows, and a year of pandemic restrictions, I’m particularlyContinue reading “Celebrating Spring”
The Anzu’s Theft?
Hybrid creatures have appeared in the stories and artworks of many cultures, often with intriguing correlations between texts and images. In ancient Mesopotamia, the lion-headed eagle known as the Anzu became notorious for stealing the Tablet of Destinies from Enlil. The story about the Anzu’s theft and his dramatic defeat by the Sumerian storm godContinue reading “The Anzu’s Theft?”
Deities Within
Where is God? Humans have long pondered this concept, envisioning deities as exalted beings residing in the Heavens and the Underworld, as well as omnipotent forces present everywhere and within all of us. In Inanna’s Bargain, I made this latter idea more tangible with my protagonists. The following excerpt is from Chapter 24: “I’ve oftenContinue reading “Deities Within”
Review by Sad Sunday
Many thanks to Sad Sunday for my first Instagram book review, with more to come on Goodreads!
Fantastic Usmu
Usmu appears in my historical fantasy world as a truly liminal deity, with the ability to shift his physical appearance and assume both male and female guises. As I developed his fictitious character, I was inspired by the gender-bending attributes of Inanna/Ishtar, and by Enki’s creation of sexless beings who could cross the borders ofContinue reading “Fantastic Usmu”
Two-Faced Gods
The oldest known two-faced god was a Sumerian/Akkadian deity named Isimud/Usmu, who served as the chief minister of Enki/Ea, the Mesopotamian creator god of waters, wisdom, crafts, and magic. In the Sumerian myth of Inanna and Enki, he functioned as a high-level attendant and messenger, greeting Inanna at the gate of Enki’s temple, and laterContinue reading “Two-Faced Gods”
Myths of Enki
Myths of Enki, The Crafty God, by Samuel Noah Kramer and John Maier, presents Sumerian myths, prayers, chants, and incantations highlighting the importance of Enki (later known as Ea) in ancient Mesopotamia. This book was out of print for many years but has recently been republished. I have relied on library loans in the past,Continue reading “Myths of Enki”
Lost Works Imagined
In deciphering ancient history, scholars must rely on the relatively few artifacts preserved today in museums and private collections, including copies and interpretations of earlier lost works. Clay tablets featuring inscriptions and translations of important literary texts, for example, often harken back to even earlier lost models. The Old Babylonian version of the flood story,Continue reading “Lost Works Imagined”
The Willow Grove
Phenomenologically, we know the world through the sensory experiences of our bodies. And yet, the light from outside the cave invites us to consider different kinds of awareness. Usmu asks, “Does the beauty of the garden exist separate from your sensory perception of it?” Kianu responds by expressing his desire for a sublime union withContinue reading “The Willow Grove”
CLAIRE SULOS 