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?”
Category Archives: Ancient Mesopotamia
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”
CLAIRE SULOS 