Nanna also known as Suen or Sin or Nannar, the moon god, is an illegitimate son of Enlil.
His seed was planted in the womb of Ninlil between the Cane jungle and the Nippur River.
He is a significant deity within the Enlil family, but at one point, he was also associated with lunar worship in Neolithic times, linked to the mother goddess.
It’s essential to recognize that this shift from being a descendant of Enlil to not being a maternal deity (in the sense of a mother goddess or Inanna) represents a Sumerian theological upheaval against Neolithic traditions.
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| nanna son of Enlil and Ninlil |
Thus, it embodies the male-centric revolution during the Chalcolithic period, which extended into Sumer.
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| top panel: King Ur-Namma and giant god Nannar |
In the Mesopotamian valley, the moon god would become a source of unification attempts, similar to those undertaken by Abraham in Ur and Haran (both of which revered the moon). The last Babylonian king to attempt this unification was Nabonidus.
The god Nanna would continue the Enlil family tree, as we’ll see in subsequent generations. In Sumerian times, his symbol was a crescent moon curving upward, embracing a sun emblem composed of twelve rays—six of them straight and six triangular. This symbol signifies that the moon god embraces his son, the sun god."
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| Nannar’s Ancient Moon Crescent Symbol |
Just as Anu and his sons Enlil and Enki were associated in the first Sumerian trinity, Nanna was linked with his children Utu (the sun) and Inanna (Venus) in a second Sumerian trinity, celestial in nature. While the first trinity had a cosmic character, the second trinity was astronomical. Both trinities held significant importance in the later development of religious thought.
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| Utu-Inanna-children of Nannar |
Nanna’s sacred number is 30, signifying that his authority is half that of Anu, as he stands at the head of a secondary trinity. His sacred animal is the winged bull. His most important temples were in Ur, where his temple was called Ekišnugal (the ‘House of the Great Light’), and in Haran, where it was known as Echulchul (the ‘House of Joy’).
His consort is the goddess Ningal, also known as the Great Lady. Her notable titles include ‘Barque of the Bright Heavens,’ ‘Radiant Dawn,’ ‘Lord of the Wild Bull Enson,’ ‘Master of the Throne,’ ‘God of the New Light,’ ‘Young Bull of Enlil,’ and ‘The Father.’
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| goddess Ningal |
Now, let’s delve into the legend of Nanna’s journey to Nippur. We consider this myth one of three well-known tales that we can collectively call “Myths of the Gods’ Journeys to Cities.” Nanna, the son of Enlil, embarks on this journey. Simultaneously, Inanna travels to the city of Eridu to steal the treasures of civilization. Nippur was the sacred city of all Sumer, primarily because the national god of the Sumerians, Enlil, resided there. His central temple, known as Ekišnugal, held immense significance.
The myth begins with the moon god Nanna’s decision to visit Nippur. He stands before his father, Enlil, who addresses him by two other names: Sin and Ašikar Babbar (the guardian god of Ur). During his journey, Nanna carries various offerings—trees, plants, and animals—aboard his crescent-shaped boat. Along the way, he stops in five cities, where the local guardian deity warmly receives him, ensuring his safe passage to Nippur.
Upon reaching Nippur, Nanna docks his boat and instructs the gatekeeper to open Enlil’s house. The gatekeeper, filled with joy, opens the magical gate that he himself had created—the gate adorned with trees. Nanna joyfully reunites with his father. Then, Nanna requests several gifts from Enlil:
The story as mentioned in the clay tablet texts
Doorman, doorkeeper, open the house! Porter, open the house! Kalkal, open the house!
“I, Nanna-Suen, have gathered bulls for the cow-pen for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Acimbabbar, have collected (?) fattened sheep for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Nanna-Suen, shall purify the cow-pen for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Acimbabbar, shall feed meal to the goats for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Nanna-Suen, have gathered (?) little kuda birds for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Acimbabbar, have brought small ubi birds from the pond for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Nanna-Suen, have brought small azagun birds from the pond for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
“I, Acimbabbar, …… suhur carp for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Nanna-Suen, …… ectub carp for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Acimbabbar, shall pour the oil of rushes onto the water for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Nanna-Suen, have filled baskets with eggs for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
I, Acimbabbar, have caused old reed and fresh reed to thrive for the house of Enlil; porter, open the house.
“I, Nanna-Suen, have caused six hundred ewes to give birth to lambs for the house of Enlil,
for I have caused their rams to be let loose among them,
and I have distributed them along the banks of the Id-surungal; porter, open the house.
I, Acimbabbar, have caused six hundred she-goats to give birth to kids for the house of Enlil,
for I have caused their bucks to be let loose among them,
and I have distributed them along the banks of the Id-surungal; porter, open the house.
I, Nanna-Suen, have caused six hundred cows to give birth to calves for the house of Enlil,
for I have caused their bulls to be let loose among them,
and I have distributed them along the banks of the Id-surungal; porter, open the house.
“Porter, open the house! Kalkal, open the house!
I will give you that which is in the prow of the boat as a first offering,
and I will give you that which is in the stern of the boat as a last offering.”
Rejoicing, the porter rejoicing, the porter rejoicing opened the house.
Kalkal, the doorkeeper, rejoicing, the porter rejoicing opened the house.
Kalkal, in charge of the bolt-handle, rejoicing, the porter rejoicing, opened the house.
At the house of Enlil,……, Nanna-Suen made the offerings.
Enlil, rejoicing over the offerings, offered bread to Suen, his son.
Enlil rejoiced over Suen and spoke kindly:
“Give sweet cakes to my little fellow who eats sweet cakes.
Give sweet cakes to my Nanna who loves eating sweet cakes.
Bring out from the E-kur (Enlil‘s temple – residence) the bread allotment and first quality bread for him.
Pour out for him the finest beer, my pure …….
May the …… of the towering tilimda vessels, standing on the ground, …….
Order pure sweet cake, syrup, crescent (?) cake and clear water for him.”
Suen replied to his father who begot him:
“Father who begot me (Enlil), I am indeed satisfied with what you have given me to eat.
O Great Mountain, father who begot me, I am indeed satisfied with what you have given me to drink.
Wherever you lift your eyes, there is kingship.
O Enlil, your abundance is …….
Give to me, Enlil, give to me — I want to set off for Urim (Ur)!
In the river give me the carp-flood — I want to set off for Urim!
In the fields give me speckled barley — I want to set off for Urim!
In the marshes give me kuda carp and suhur carp — I want to set off for Urim!
In the reedbeds give me old reed and fresh reed — I want to set off for Urim!
In the forests give me the ibex and wild ram — I want to set off for Urim!
In the high plain give me the macgurum tree — I want to set off for Urim!
In the orchards give me syrup and wine — I want to set off for Urim!
In the palace give me long life — I want to set off for Urim!”
He gave to him, Enlil gave to him — and he set off for Urim.
In the river he gave him the carp-flood — and he set off for Urim.
In the field he gave him speckled barley — and he set off for Urim.
In the pond he gave him kuda carp and suhur carp — and he set off for Urim.
In the reedbeds he gave him old reed and fresh reed — and he set off for Urim.
In the forests he gave him the ibex and wild ram — and he set off for Urim.
In the high plain he gave him the macgurum tree — and he set off for Urim.
In the orchards he gave him syrup and wine — and he set off for Urim.
In the palace he gave him long life — and he set off for Urim.
My king, on your throne, for Enlil, may Nanna-Suen (Nannar / Sin) make you be born for seven days.
On your holy throne, for the great mother Ninlil,
may the lord Acimbabbar make you be born for seven days.
For those who prefer visual content, you can watch the video below that covers the same topic in detail.