The Neo-Assyrian Birth Legend of Sargon of Akkad, known since the mid-19th century, was loosely interpreted for popular audiences in an early serial publication, The Story of the Greatest Nations (1913). The authors elaborated on the famous legend with a rather fanciful description of Sargon’s encounter with the goddess: “A legend grew around him, tellingContinue reading “Sargon, The Gardener’s Lad”
Category Archives: Ancient Mesopotamia
Sargon and Gardening
Sargon of Akkad was a great Mesopotamian king and conqueror, reigning c. 2334-2279 BCE. Though his origins and early life remain obscure, he has long been associated with gardening. The Sumerian King List, dating from the Ur III period (c. 2100 BCE), described Sargon’s father as a gardener or, more precisely, a ‘date grower.’ ThisContinue reading “Sargon and Gardening”
The Neo-Assyrian Birth Legend
The Neo-Assyrian Birth Legend expanded on the literature about Sargon of Akkad’s humble origins, drawing from biographical traditions as well as folklore themes including the infant exposure motif. In this ‘pseudo-autobiographical’ text, likely composed during the reign of Sargon II (722-706 BCE), Sargon described his early life as foundling raised by a gardener, who becameContinue reading “The Neo-Assyrian Birth Legend”
The Sumerian Sargon Legend
The Sumerian Sargon Legend presents a dramatic tale involving omens, intrigue, and divine destiny. The story begins when the supreme gods An and Enlil decide to end Ur-Zababa’s rule over the city of Kish. The young Sargon of Akkad, then serving as the king’s cupbearer, has a prophetic dream in which the goddess Inanna submergesContinue reading “The Sumerian Sargon Legend”
Romantic Love
Today I am celebrating romantic love in honor of my wedding anniversary. To all my followers, I hope that you find joy and happiness in your amorous relationships. May your love shine forth like the goddess Inana on the day she married Dumuzid. “At her mother’s bidding, Inana bathed in water and anointed herself withContinue reading “Romantic Love”
‘She Who Wrote’
Enheduanna, the first named author in world history, was a remarkable woman who lived around 2300 BCE. She was the daughter of Sargon of Akkad, who appointed her as high priestess of the Nanna Temple in Ur. Her writings include the Exaltation of Inanna, the Temple Hymns, Inanna and Ebih, and other attributed works. EnheduannaContinue reading “‘She Who Wrote’”
Sharur
Sharur (Car-ur) was the magical battle-mace of Ninurta, the Mesopotamian warrior god of winds and storms. As an animated mythological weapon, Sharur served as a fierce protector as well as a trusted advisor, messenger and spy. The battle-mace played an important role in the late third millennium BCE Sumerian Exploits of Ninurta, gathering military intelligence,Continue reading “Sharur”
Judgment of the Bird-Man
Akkadian cylinder seals depicting the Judgment of the Bird-Man have often been viewed in light of later texts, such as the Neo-Sumerian Ninurta’s Pride and Punishment and the Akkadian OB/SB Epic of Anzu. These mythological narratives portrayed the Anzu/bird-man as a divine thief, conquered by the warrior god Ninurta—though the stories differed on whether heContinue reading “Judgment of the Bird-Man”
Inanna’s Father?
Who was Inanna’s father? One of the Sumerian creator gods: An, Enki, or Enlil? Or the moon god Nanna? By the late third millennium BCE, different genealogical traditions had developed concerning Inanna’s parentage. The location of her cult center next to the ancient White Temple in Uruk reinforced her early associations with the sky godContinue reading “Inanna’s Father?”
“I am Inana!”
“My father gave me the heavens and he gave me the earth. I am Inana! Which god compares with me?” “Enlil gave me the heavens and he gave me the earth. I am Inana! He gave me lordship, and he gave me queenship. He gave me battles and he gave me fighting. He gave me the stormwind andContinue reading ““I am Inana!””
CLAIRE SULOS 