NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF PAKISTAN STUDIES

QUAID-E- AZAM UNIVERSTY ISLAMABAD

TITLE

BABYLONIAN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY.

SUBMITTED BY: ASHFAQUE AHMAD BHATTI

SUBMITTED TO: PROF, Dr. ARSLAN BUTT

COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO ARCHAEOLOGY

DATE: 28 December 2022

 CONTENTSaturday, 04 May 2024

1: INTRODUCTION.

2: EVOLUTION OF BABYLONIAN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGIES.

3: BELIEFS OF BABYLONIAN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGIES.

3.1: Enuma Elis.

3.2: Nisannu.
3.3: Sacrifices.
3.4: Astrological Signs.
3.5: Belief in seers and sages.

4: EPIC OF GILGAMESH.

5: MAJOR GODS AND DITIES.

6: TEMPLES OF BABYLONIA.

7: CONCLUSION.

8. REFERNCES.
1. INTRODUCTION

Babylonia is an old Mesopotamian civilization dated 2300 BC century. It is more than 4000
years old civilization. It is situated in Iraq and Syria of the present day. Pre-Babylonia, where
we found Sumerians, Assyrians and Akkadians civilizations which all shared a common
religion. However, every civilization has its own altered and evolved version of the religion.
In this assignment we will concentrate on Babylonian religion and mythologies. The
Babylonian religion and mythologies enlightens us with a wide view of the beliefs of the
people living in Babylon, we will discuss the characteristics of major gods and goddesses of
Babylonian religion and mythologies. Therefore, the creation of the universe and the other
deities’ stories, which the people of Babylon worshipped in order to make the gods and
goddess happy, in return the gods and goddesses help the people of Babylon to live a better
and a sufficient life. The religion and mythologies of Babylon are interesting to study, it
enables us to observe the civilization through a religious perspective; how the religion of
Babylon effected the politics and economy of its civilization. It gives us its own idea of the
creation of the universe and human beings. The Babylonian religion is polytheistic in nature,
it includes many gods and goddesses. However, the religion is mostly concentrated around
the major deities, who played important roles in the mythologies of Babylonian civilization.
The journey of Babylonian religion and mythologies is astonishing and knowledgeable.

2. EVOLUTION OF BABYLONIAN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGIES

Babylonian religion and mythologies are not the invention of Babylon itself. It is a work of
different civilization like, Sumerians, Assyrians, and Akkadian. It could be said that the
religion started with the Sumerians and ended with the Babylonians, but in between these two
civilizations there are other civilizations that altered the religion according to their own
perspective of beliefs. Mostly changed thing in the religion is seems to be the names of the
gods and goddesses, and their given powers and characteristics. Babylonian religion is highly
influenced by Sumerians. If we see in Sumerian, Assyrians, and Akkadian religious texts the
names of the gods and goddess are somewhat different from the Babylonian religious texts.
For example, Enki/Ea (Sumerian) is changed to Nudimmud, Ninhursag/Ninkharsag
(Sumerian) and Belitili (Akkadian) is change to Ninmah, Inanna is changed to Ishtar.

Sumerians and Akkadians believed that Anu is the supreme god of the universe, and the other
gods comes under neath Anu command, there is no mention of Bel Marduk in Sumerian
religion. On the other hand, Assyrians had their own supreme god who was Assur/Ashur or
Anshar and from Assur came Anu; Anu was the child of Assur. We can easily understand
that each civilization had its own supreme god. Same as this, other deities are also changed
where they found it necessary to change or altered some characteristics, they have altered it to
match their own beliefs.

3. BELIEFS OF BABYLONIAN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGIES

Babylon religion and mythology have their own set of belief, which the practiced. People of
Babylon believed in creation of the universe and the earth (Enuma Elis), the new year festival
(Nisannu), sacrifices, and astrological signs.

3.1 Enuma Elis (The creation of universe and earth),

Enuma Elis means the creation of the universe and earth. Enuma Elis have
seven tablets, recovered by an English archaeologist Austin Henry Layard, in which the story
of creation of the universe and earth is written. The story begins with Apsu (God of fresh
water) and Tiamat (God of salt water) were the entities that existed before anything was
created. Apsu and Tiamat begotten Lahmu and Lahamu, after that Lahmu and Lahamu
brought forth their child Assur (Anshar) and Kishar from Anshar came Anu, then Anu gave
birth to Nudimmud also known as Ea. However, after the episode of birth all these Gods
Apsu and Tiamat wanted to demolish all that, they had created, but Nudimmud (Ea) listened
Apsu and Tiamat plans to destroy what they created by using his magic powers. None the
less, Apsu went towards Nudimmud to kill him, but Nudimmud put her to sleep using his
magical spell. He then tore apart Apsu and dwell on her. Tiamat after hearing that her
husband was killed, she indignant and wanted to kill Nudimmud.

Nudimmud and Damkina (wife of Nudimmud) gave birth to Marduk, Tiamat was also
ragging with the angry and created eleven monsters to battle against Gods. One of the
monsters named Kingu was made leader of the monster when Kingu married Tiamat. Most
gods were against Tiamat and were ready to go to war against Tiamat. Therefore, they need a
warrior to defeat Tiamat, all the gods nominated a young powerful god named Marduk son of
Nudimmud to fight Tiamat. However, Marduk had its own conditions in order to fight
Tiamat. The conditions were that he will be the supreme god of all gods. Marduk and Tiamat
went against each other on one-on-one dual, Marduk defeated Tiamat. The gods and monsters
that were in support of Tiamat were imprisoned. Marduk tore Tiamat apart into two to create
the universe; with one part he created the sky, and the other half was used to create earth.

Marduk divided the gods into two groups, above and below. Three hundred gods were sent in
heaven and three hundred on earth. Marduk created night and day, moon, and stars, he
created clouds which brought rain. The water from rain made the river Tigris and Euphrates.
He then was about to create human by sacrificing Kingu and mixing it with the earth soil and
human being were created to worship the gods.

Enuma Elis is recited in the festival of creation of the universe and earth. It is basically the
festival of Marduk, in Enuma Elis the power and sovereignty of Marduk is vividly show and
his supremacy is told to be the highest.

3.2 Nisannu (new year festival),

Nisannu is the new year festival of Babylonian people, the new year for
Babylonian people comes around April and May. In Nisannu people gather around and recite
Enuma Elis and pray to Marduk and Ninhursag for the crops.

3.3 Sacrifices,

In Babylonian religion the liver of an animal (usually sheep) was the important
part to be sacrificed. They believed that the liver is the heart of soul, the study of an animal
liver was the study of an animal soul. The god’s soul was attuned with the animal liver and
they ate it to get the power from gods to work and plan events for the futures.

3.4 Astrological signs,

Babylonian civilization was famous for its astrological knowledge. The people
of Babylon believed that the star gave them signs and indication. It was used for
communication between gods and Babylonians.

3.5 Belief in seers and sages,

 Sages in Babylonian religion and mythologies were known as Ummanu.
Ummanu (Apkallu) meaning was “wise”, “sage”, They provided knowledge to humans.
There were seven Ummanu is Babylonian religion and mythologies.

1. Uanna: finished the plans for heaven and earth.

2. Uannedugga: had comprehensive intelligence.
3. Enmedugga: he was allotted with good fate.
4. Enmegalamma: he was born in a house.
5. Enmebulugga: he grew upon pastureland.
6. A-Enlilda: he was the magician of the city of Eridu.
7. Utuabzn: he went to heaven.

4: Epic of Gilgamesh,

Gilgamesh was a king of Uruk, which was in a search of immortality. Epic of

Gilgamesh is a story of how Gilgamesh struggled to achieve the immortality from the Gods.
Gilgamesh was opposed by a wild man named Enkidu. They fought each other and showed
their warrior skills to each other. They as enemies until they respected each other and became
friends. After that, Gilgamesh and Enkidu went to kill the Monster Huwawa however, Enlil
killed Enkidu because Huwawa was the part of Enlil security. Gilgamesh was overwhelmed
with sadness when he knew that Enkidu was killed. So, he went on to a journey to achieve
Utnapishtim (a gift of immortality from the Gods). Gilgamesh had heard that the plant of
immortality if found in the depth of the sea, he reached the place and took the plant. While he
was at rest a serpent ate the plant and became immortal, Gilgamesh return to Uruk empty
handed without any means to revive his friend’s life. Nonetheless, Ishtar gave Gilgamesh
some advice that you should live your life in the earth as the Gods Granted you this life do
not go after a life you think should be best for you, what the Gods gave you, you should
cherish it in earth.

5. Major Gods and Deities,

There are many gods in Babylonian religion ang mythology because of its
polytheistic nature. However, beside Marduk (the Supreme God of Gods) there are seven
major gods who mostly are present in the Enuma Elis and other stories.

Marduk: he was the God of Gods, the supreme God, the creator of heavens and earth. The
other Gods made Esagila (the temple of Marduk). His symbol is shown in (FIG:1).
1. Anu: is one of the supreme God, who used to have control over the universe before
Marduk. He divided the universe into three; one he kept for himself and the other were
distributed among his two sons, Enlil (Elil) and Nudimmud (Enki/Ea). Anu was the ancient
God of heaven. Eanna was the temple of Anu located in Uruk. Symbol of Anu is shown in
(FIG:2).

2. Enlil: was a Babylonian God of wind, air, earth, and storms. After Anu Enlil was the
supreme God of Gods. He is also known as Lord of wind or Lord of air. There is also a myth
of Enlil’s partner (Inanna/ Ishtar) rape in the underworld, the earth went through a great
scarcity of crops. Enlil temple was located in the city of Nippur, Ekur was the name of the
temple. Enlil is symbolized by horned crown. (See in FIG:3)

3. Nudimmud (Enki/Ea): God of creation, intelligence, crafts, and water. Nudimmud mostly
known as Ea. The meaning of “En” is lord and ‘ki” meaning is earth, together they mean
Lord of the earth. Marduk is the son of Nudimmud (Enki/Ea). Nudimmud was the keeper of
the divine power called “Me” meaning the gift of civilization. the temple of Nudimmud was
called E-abzu meaning “house of water”, at Eridu. He was symbolized by goatfish (See in
FIG:4)

4. Ninhursag (Ninkharsag): is also known as Ninmah, she was basically the god of fertility
and the mother Goddess of mountains. People of Mesopotamia believed that rulers were
nourished by Ninhursag. Ninhursag means “the lady of sacred mountains”. Her symbol
resembles the Greek symbol of omega. (See in FIG:5).

5. Sin (Nanna): the God of moon and planets, also known as Lord of wisdom. Inanna and
Utu are daughter and son of Sin. Sanctuary at Ur named E-gish-shir-gal mean “house of the
great light”, there is a sanctuary at Harran also. A moon God of same name was worshipped
in south Arabia also. Sin is represented by the symbol of a crecent. (See in FIG:6).

6. Inanna (Ishtar): before her entry of underworld, she was the Goddess of fertility, but she
is mostly known by the Goddess of sex, love, war, justice, and political power. She is also
called Ishtar. Inanna literally means “the lady of heaven”. Her temple is found in Nippur,
Lagash, Shurupak, Zabalam, and Ur. Inanna twin brother is Utu (Shamash). Her symbol is an
eight-pointed star. (See in FIG:7).

7. Shamash (Utu): was the God of sun, justice, morality, and truth. He mostly rode in its sun
chariot. His wide was Sheida (Goddess of beauty). Shamash’s temple at Sippar and Larsa, his
temple is called “Ebabbar” meaning “White House”. Symbol of Shamash is shown in
(FIG:8).

6. TEMPLES OF BABYLONIA

We can find temple all around Babylon, which were built for their Gods and
Goddesses. The temples were mostly built like pyramid shapes, for example, ziggurat; they
were made up of bricks and stones, they were mounds and at the top of the ziggurats there
were built rooms for the Gods and Goddesses. At the top only the priest could go and present
them food, this would give the humans the idea that gods a live. Ziggurat is shown in (FIG:9).

7. CONCLUSION

Babylonian religion and mythologies are myths like other religions had, Greek
myths, Norse mythologies, and Egyptian mythologies. These myths were once practiced by
the people of Babylon. Babylonian civilization was a rich and great civilization of its period,
which was famous for its astrological explanation and the structure of the Babylonian empire.
Babylonian religion and mythologies are not taught in many institutions, because of this we
are losing information about old cultures and religions that once were practiced in
Mesopotamia.

(FIG:1)
 (FIG:2)

(FIG:3)

(FIG:4)
(FIG:5)

(FIG:6)

(FIG:7)
(FIG:8)

(FIG:9)
(Map of Babylonian empire).

8. REFERENCES

I. (Heidel, Alexander. (1942). “The Babylonian Genesis: the story of creation”. The university of
Chicago Press. Chicago & London. 1-17.
II. (Matthews, Warren. (2013). “World Religions, seventh edition”. Wadsworth. Canada. 222-228.
III. (Morgenstern, Julian and Breasted, James and Luckenbill, Daniel. (1912). “Babylonian religion and
literature”. The Chicago Journals. 450-456.
IV. (Burns, Edward and Ralph, Philip. (1974). “World civilizations, fifth edition, volume I”. W.W. Norton
& Company. INC. New York. 53-66.
V. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_religion#:~:text=Babylonian%20religion%20is%20the
%20religious,written%20in%20Sumerian%20or%20Akkadian.
VI. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Enlil.