Ninhursag / Ninhursaga = sister to Enki & ½ sister to Enlil
lover to both brothers, bearing their children
(Texts: All Artifacts, Color Coding, & Writings in Bold Type With Italics Inside Parenthesis, are Added by Editor R. Brown, not the Authors, Translators, or Publishers!)
(gods in blue …mixed-breed demigods in teal...)
Ninhursag Speaking in the 1st Person:
“then Ninmah said to Enki:
‘Man’s body can be either good or bad and whether I make a fate good or bad depends on my will’ ...”
(Ninhursag) learned of this situation.
She ripped the clothes on her body and she …….
“You my plant-eater Enki, who shall I send to you?
Men will shake their heads in fear ……. Who shall I send to you?
That name is not Enki. That name is Ugugu-that-does-not-pour (?).
You who are death which has no mercy, who shall I send to you?”
“’I would never bind you to me against your True Will, beloved,’
said simply Ninhursag. ‘And because you understood this great mystery,
because you and I are indeed two of a kind, let all worlds know what I now declare:
from this very moment on let it be known that I, Ninhursag, the Earth Mother,
Wisest beyond all Beings in the Ways of Nature,
built a house for my beloved and myself on a Rock, steadfast and solid….”
(Ninhursaja asked:)
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘The top of my head (ugu-dili) hurts me.’
She gave birth to Ab-u out of it.
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘The locks of my hair (siki) hurt me.’
She gave birth to Ninsikila out of it.
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘My nose (giri) hurts me.’
She gave birth to Ningiriudu out of it.
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘My mouth (ka) hurts me.’
She gave birth to Ninkasi out of it.
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘My throat (zi) hurts me.’
She gave birth to Nazi out of it.
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘My arm (a) hurts me.’
She gave birth to Azimua out of it.
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘My ribs (ti) hurt me.’
She gave birth to Ninti out of it.
‘My brother, what part of you hurts you?’
‘My sides (zag) hurt me.
She gave birth to Ensag out of it.
(She said:) ‘For the little ones to whom I have given birth
may rewards not be lacking.
Ab-u shall become king of the grasses,
Ninsikila shall become lord of Magan,
Ningiriudu shall marry Ninazu,
Ninkasi shall be what satisfies the heart,
Azimua shall marry Ninjiczida,
Ninti shall become the lady of the month,
and Ensag shall become lord of Dilmun (Sinai).’ …”
As Ninhursag:
“After Time had come into being and the holy seasons for growth and rest were finally known, holy Dilmun,
(“Tilmun”, Sinai Peninsula, “Land of the Missiles” )
the pure clean and bright land of the living, the garden of the Great Gods and Earthly paradise,
located eastward in Eden, was the place where Ninhursag, the Earth Mother,
Most Exalted Lady and Supreme Queen, could be found. …”
“Enki replied:
‘Ninhursag, dearest Nintur, beloved, how can anyone quite compare to you?
I cannot resist your wild, sweet ways, so lie with me one more time
and fill my body, heart, soul and mind with endless delights!
For me you will forever be my fierce Damgalnunna, my Great Spouse, passionate and very much loved!’ …”
“Ereshkigal, saw Enlil‘s wrongdoing and heard the lament of the Maiden:
the Lady of the Great Below heeded the Maiden’s words.
She knew a door had been opened for Justice,
Growth and Regeneration in the Underworld
if only Enlil submitted to the Laws of the Land of No Return.
In Nippur, Ki, Mother Earth, also known as Urash, Ninmah, and Ninhursag
felt strongly that Enlil should suffer the hardest of all punishments for his conduct.
Never before had the Anunnaki taken to trial one of their own.
Shocked and circumspect, they gathered, and were forty-nine,
not the usual fifty in number, because Enlil was counted out for the first time.
In the lower platform sat 46 judges, in the higher was An, who presided all judgments,
sided by Ki (Ninhursag, Antu is Enlil‘s mother) on his right and Enki on his left.
Father, Mother and Brother to Enlil they were,
but also the Guardians of the Attributes of Civilization, Law and Order.
The fourth high seat was empty.
It belonged to Enlil, the defendant.
Red-eyed Ninlil, sided by the healer goddess Gula
(Bau, Enlil‘s ½sister and his daughter-in-law), sat quiet and dignified on the right.
On the left and opposite to her was Enlil,
whose discomfort was evident for all to see…”
“Is there anywhere a greater king who can say, as Gilgamesh may?
“I am the greatest king in this world!?”
Most of him was forged above, the rest was forged below.
She-who-must-be-obeyed (Ninhursag) fashioned his body.
She endowed him with wit and wisdom…”
As Ninursaga / Ninhursaja:
“Ninursaĝa sits within like a great dragon.
Nintur the great mother assists at births there.
Šul-pa-e the ruler acts as lord.”
“the house of Ninursaĝa in Keš (Kish).”
“The mother of the gods, Ninhursaja (Ninhursag),
had the mighty (?) (altar) light of the lord live with her in Kec (Kish);
she had Cul-pa-eda (Ninurta, her son),no less, help her with the construction work (altar)…”
“Ninmah (‘Great Lady’), since you entered the rebel lands for my sake,
since you did not keep far from me when I was surrounded by the horrors of battle–
let the name of the pile which I, the Hero, have piled up be Mountain (hursaj)
and may you be its lady (nin): now that is the destiny decreed by Ninurta.
Henceforth people shall speak of Ninhursaja.
So be it…”
“Lie down for me in the marsh, lie down for me in the marsh, that would be joyous.”
Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna (Ninhursag).
He poured semen into Ninhursaja’s (Ninhursag) womb
and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki...”
Aruru Quotes From Texts
Aruru = Ninhursag, Anu‘s daughter
Chief Medical Officer
“the Great Goddess Ninhursag, also called Aruru,
the Earth Mother and Mistress of All Creation…”
“Lady-creatrix-of-the-womb, Aruru (Ninhursag), Enlil‘s elder(1/2) sister,…”
“Aruru,the sister of Enlil, has erected a house in your precinct,
O house Keš (Kish)…, and taken her seat upon your dais.
the house of Ninursaĝa (NInhursag) in Keš (Kish).”
“Aruru, the sister of Enlil, extended her right breast to me,…”
“Aruru, the sister of Enlil, destroyed her city Irisajrig…”
“Aruru (Ninhursag), the older sister of Enlil,
provides them with offspring for that purpose (?).
Their statues are made for future days and they are mentioned in the Land.
Ereckigala (Ereshkigal), mother of Ninazu, it is sweet to praise you!”
“Aruru shall become Sud‘s (Ninlil‘s) sister-in-law: let her be shown the household…”
“Then Aruru grasped her by the hand and led her away into the Ec-mah.
She brought her into the E-kur, the house of Enlil…”
“Enlil…determined a fate for the Lady (Aruru) , the woman of his favor;
he gave her the name Nintud, the ‘Lady who gives birth’, the ‘Lady who spreads her knees’…”
“Aruru (Ninhursag), Enlil‘s (½) sister, Nintud (Ninhursag), the lady of giving birth,
is to get the holy birth-bricks as her prerogative.
She is to carry off the lancet for umbilical cords, the special sand and leeks.
She is to get the sila-jara bowl of translucent lapis lazuli (in which to place the afterbirth).
She is to carry off the holy consecrated ala vessel.
She is to be the midwife of the land!
The birthing of kings and lords is to be in her hands.”
“the good lady whose powers excel all powers,
Lady-creatrix-of-the-womb, Aruru, Enlil‘s elder sister, stood before him:…”
“He (Enki) formed mankind. the goddess Aruru with him created mankind,…”
“This lament did go on high to pass into Aruru’s (Ninhursag) ear, great goddess of creation that she is:
“I created humans. I shall create again the image of Gilgamesh
This creation now shall be as quick in heart and as strong in arm
This creation will speak word to word, blow to blow, so Uruk‘s children will live in peace.”
“With this thought She did bend and scoop and spit and fling, with flick of wrist, mud
Mud that fell deep into the woods below.
Thus did Enkidu come about.
Thus did Enkidu, wild man, hairy man, forest man, come about.
Thus did Enkidu with golden sun dazzled locks of hair growing like the goddess-of-grain, come about.
Thus did Enkidu, with body clothed like Sumuqu (cattle god) with only his own hide, come about.
Thus Enkidu, man in no family, man in no village, ,,,”
“When Aruru heard this she created within herself the zikrtt of Anu.
Aruru washed her hands, she pinched off some clay, and threw it into the wilderness.
In the wildness(?) she created valiant Enkidu, born of Silence, endowed with strength by Ninurta. …”
“The Great Goddess Aruru (Ninhursag) designed him, planned his body, prepared his form
A perfect body the gods gave
For the creation of Gilgamesh Shamash (Utu) the Sun gave beauty
Adad (Ishkur) the Storm gave courage
And so he surpassed all others.
He was two-thirds god, one third man, …
The form of his body no one can match
Eleven cubits high he is, nine spans his chest …”
“So the Goddess of Creation took and formed in her mind
This image, and there it was conceived – in her mind, and it was made of material
That composes the Great God,
He of the Firmament.
She then plunged her hands down into water and pinched off a little clay.
She let it drop in the wilderness
Thus the noble Enkidu was made. …”
“Strong as a wild bull is this Gilgamesh
So he was made by Aruru (Ninhursag), the goddess
None there is who can – not one
None who can survive him in fighting.
No son left to his father.
Gilgamesh, he takes them all,…”
“To the Goddess of Creation, Aruru (Ninhursag) –
Cried all the gods:
‘You created this Gilgamesh! Well, create him his equal!…
So the Goddess of Creation took and formed in her mind
This image, and there it was conceived – in her mind, and it was made of material
That composes the Great God,
He of the Firmament.
She then plunged her hands down into water and pinched off a little clay.
She let it drop in the wilderness
Thus the noble Enkidu was made…”
“Aruru washed her hands;
Clay she pinched off and spat upon it;
Eabani, a hero she created,
An exalted offspring, with the might of Ninib…”
Belet-ili Quotes From Texts
Belet-ili = Ninhursag
“Have them call for me Belet-ili, sister of the gods,
Wise counselor of the gods her brothers,
Have them announce her supremacy in the assembly,
Have the gods honor her in their assembly;
I shall then tell her the idea which is my heart.’
They called for Belet-ili, sister of the gods, to him,
Wise counselor of the gods her brothers,
They announced her supremacy in the assembly,
The gods honored her in their assembly.
Then Ea (Enki) told the idea in the depths of his inmost being.
‘Previously we used to call you Mami
But now your name shall be Mistress of all Gods.
Offer the powerful one, your superb beloved,
Broad of chest, who forms the battle array!
Give Ninurta, your superb beloved,…”
“Just then Beletili (Ninhursag) arrived.
She lifted up the large flies (beads) which Anu had made for his enjoyment(!):
‘You gods, as surely as I shall not forget this lapis lazuli around my neck,
may I be mindful of these days, and never forget them!
The gods may come to the incense offering, but Enlil may not come to the incense offering,
because without considering he brought about the Flood and consigned my people to annihilation.’ …”
Damgalnuna Quotes From Texts
Damgalnunna = sometimes Ninhursag (Sumerian), sometimes Damkina / Ninki (Akkadian) Enki‘s spouse, mother goddess
Ninhursag As Damgalnuna:
“Enki distributed his semen destined for Damgalnuna.
He poured semen into Ninhursaja’s womb and she conceived the semen in the womb, the semen of Enki…”
“Enki replied:
‘Ninhursag, dearest Nintur, beloved, how can anyone quite compare to you?
I cannot resist your wild, sweet ways, so lie with me one more time and fill my body,
heart, soul and mind with endless delights!
For me you will forever be my fierce Damgalnunna, my Great Spouse, passionate and very much loved!’…”
“She is the birth-giver of the great gods, she is their goddess.
A šir-šagḫula of Damgalnuna…”
Ki Quotes From Texts
Ki = sometimes Antu, = sometimes Ninhursag consorts of Anu
Ninhursag As Ki :
“Ki, Beloved Body of my Soul, Sister without peer,
Heart’s Desire and Spouse so dear, many Names will be given to you.
But for me you will forever be Ninhursag,
Queen of the Holy Hill, dearest Ninmah, Most Exalted Lady,
Queen and Best Companion along the Heights I trail
You will be remembered, Beloved, as Nintur, Lady Birth Hut, and nothing or no one will quite compare to you!
Urash, Birth Giver, most sacred Aruru everlasting praises will be sung from now on to you!
Lady of Mound, where Life sprouts happy and free.
Body of my Soul, sister without peer, Heart’s Desire and Spouse so dear,
mine is the Voice but for all I sing, Mother of all Life,
Lady of my heart, Beloved and Queen!…”
“In Nippur, Ki, Mother Earth, also known as Urash, Ninmah, and Ninhursag
felt strongly that Enlil should suffer the hardest of all punishments for his conduct…”
“Mother Nammu (Anu‘s concubine, Enki & Ninhursag’s mother) the Sea
who in an act of selfless Self-Love engendered the Skyfather (An)
who the Assembly presides and myself as the Cosmic Mountain Ki…”
“Ninhursag-Ki’s anger was so evident that she dismissed Enlil with a wave or her mighty hand….”
“Ninhursag-Aruru-Ki declared then his fate:…”
Ninmah Quotes From Texts
Ninmah = Ninhursag, Anu & Nammu‘s daughter
mother of the gods
“Enki and Ninmah drank beer, their hearts became elated, and then Ninmah said to Enki:
‘Man’s body can be either good or bad and whether I make a fate good or bad depends on my will’…”
“Ninmah took clay from the top of the abzu in her hand
and she fashioned from it first a man who could not bend his outstretched weak hands…”
“Ninmah (‘Great Lady’), since you entered the rebel lands for my sake,
since you did not keep far from me when I was surrounded by the horrors of battle–
let the name of the pile which I, the Hero, have piled up be Mountain (hursaj)
and may you be its lady (nin): now that is the destiny decreed by Ninurta.
Henceforth people shall speak of Ninhursaja.
So be it…”
Ninmena Quotes From Texts
Ninmena = Ninhursag, Anu‘s daughter
mother goddess of gods & modern earthlings
“Ninmena, the lady who had given birth to the ruler,
who had given birth to the king, now set (aljaja) human reproduction going…”
(Refering to Ninurta)
“May your father Enlil do whatever you command.
May Ninmena not fashion your equal (?)… “
“Ninmena learned of this situation.
She ripped the clothes on her body and she …….
‘You my plant-eater Enki, who shall I send to you?’…”
Nintu / Nintud / Nintur Quotes From Texts
Nintu / Nintud / Nintur = Ninhursag, Anu‘s daughter
As Nintu:
“I am the one Nintu really cares for: I am the one Ninhursag gave a good name…”
“While [Nintu (Ninhursag) the birth-goddess] is present,
let the birth-goddess create the offspring, let man bear the labor-basket of the gods.“
“They called the goddess and asked [her], the midwife of the gods, wise Mami (Ninhursag): “
“You are the birthgoddess, creatress of man.
Create lullu-man (Primitive Man), let him bear the yoke.
Let him bear the yoke, the work of Enlil; let man carry the labor-basket of the gods.”
“Nintu opened her mouth and said to the great gods, ‘It is not properly mine to do these things.
He is the one who purifies all; let him give me the clay, and I will do (it).”
“Enki opened his mouth and said to the great gods:
“At the new moon, the seventh day, and the full moon,
I will set up a purifying bath.
Let them slaughter one god.
Let the gods be purified by immersion.
With his flesh and blood let Nintu mix the clay. …”
“For the goddess Nin-gharsag (Ninhursag), the goddess who protects the city, the mother of its inhabitants,
for his lady, Gudea the patesi of Shirpurla her temple of the city Girsu-ki has constructed.
Her sacred altar (?) he has made.
The holy throne of her divinity he has made.
In her sanctuary he has placed them.
From the mountains of the land of Mâgan (Egypt)
a rare stone he has caused to be brought; for her statue he has caused it to be cut.
‘O goddess who fixes the destinies of heaven and earth,
Nin-tu mother of the gods, of Gudea the builder of the temple’…”
“Nintu made ready to speak, and said to the great gods:
‘It is not for me to do it, the task is Enki‘s.
He it is that cleanses all, let him provide me the clay so I can do the making’…”
“Next to Anu he seated Enlil, Nintu he seated at the big side,
The Anunnaki seated themselves…”
“Let Nintu be the queen of the months…”
“Aruru (Ninhursag), [Enlil‘s sist]er, (½ sister) Nintu, the queen [of the] moun[tain],…”
As Nintud:
“Enki provided a meal for Enlil, his father.
He seated Anat the head of the table and seated Enlil next to An.
He seated Nintud in the place of honor…”
“Nintud, mother of the country, like juniper oil, gave birth to Ninsar…”
“(creator deity)…,Ninhursag”
“Enlil, Ninlil and Nintud, …… Nanna (Nannar / Sin) and Ninurta, in the …… of holy Inanna…”
“Enlil determined a fate for the Lady (Aruru) , the woman of his favor;
he gave her the name Nintud, the “Lady who gives birth”, the ‘Lady who spreads her knees’…”
“she who has contended with the Great Mountain Enlil.
The cow cries aloud to her about her calf and, because of her distress,
Nintud — mother Nintud— looks for him, mother Nintud, the august lady of Kec,
she who has contended with the Great Mountain Enlil.
When mother Nintud sat upon the throne-dais on the holy seat of joy,
the seat from which she has made everything numerous,
it was then that the highest divine powers (alien technology), which are golden,
the glory of the numerous people — the en priesthood and the kingship — were created for (& by) Enlil.
When Nintud, mother Nintud, sat upon the throne-dais on the seat of joy,
the seat from which she has made everything numerous,
it was then that the highest divine powers (alien technology),
which are golden, the glory of the numerous people —
the en priesthood and the kingship — were created for (& by) Enlil. …”
“I will …… the perishing of my mankind; for Nintud, I will stop the annihilation of my creatures,…”
“Nintud had scattered the creatures that she had created…”
“Shulgi… ‘At the command of my (½) sister Jectin-ana, my scholars and composers of ……
have composed adab, tigi and malgatum hymns about my being the Nintud of all that is,’…”
“Nintud, who causes human seed to propagate and brings living beings into existence, ……
cities and crowded places, all the numerous people together…”
“Let them give praise in a great song to An (Anu), to Enlil,
to the eldest brother Nudimmud (Enki) and to the mother Nintud of the Land….”
As Nintur:
“O mighty Keš (Kish)…house of Ninursaĝa (Ninhursag)…
Nintur has made you beautiful …”
“’Thus I call myself Nintur, the lady who gives birth,
the Womb of the Damp Lands by the riverbanks.’
Enki replied: ‘Ninhursag, dearest Nintur, beloved,’…”
“Nintur, Enlil and Enki have determined your destiny…”
“That day Nintur wept over her creatures...”
“Nintur’s creatures let me bring them back let me lead the people back from their trails…”
“House founded by An (Anu), praised by Enlil, given an oracle by mother Nintur!
House Keš (Kish), green in its fruit!…”
“House Keš, given birth by a lion…Ninursaĝa sits within like a great dragon.
Nintur the great mother assists at births there.
Šul-pa-e (Ninurta) the ruler acts as lord...”
“O Ašgi! Praise be to cherished Keš and Nintur!…”
“The house Keš is built; its nobility is good!
Its lady has taken a seat in its ……. Ninursaĝa, its lady, has taken her seat in its …….
Will anyone else bring forth something as great as Keš?
Will any other mother ever give birth to someone as great as its hero Ašgi?
Who has ever seen anyone as great as its lady Nintur?…”
“Nintur, the lady of creation, performs her task within your dark place,
binding the true su crown on the new-born king,
setting the crown on the new-born lord who is secure in her hand.
The midwife of heaven and earth, Ninursaĝa (Ninhursag), has erected a house in your precinct,
O house ……, and taken her seat upon your dais.
the house of Ninursaĝa in …….”
Nukimmut Quote From Text
Nukimmut = Ninhursag goddess mother of Ninip / Ninurta
“Ninip (Ninurta) most powerful hero, great, chief of the gods,
warrior, powerful Lord, whose onset in battle has not been opposed,
eldest son, crusher of opponents, first-born son of Nukimmut,…”
Urac / Uras / Urash Quotes From Texts
Urac / Uras / Urash = sometimes Marduk, eldest son of Enki‘s
sometimes Nammu, Anu‘s consort
sometimes Ninhursag, Anu‘s daughter
Ninhursag As Urash:
“In Nippur, Ki, Mother Earth, also known as Urash, Ninmah, and Ninhursag
felt strongly that Enlil should suffer the hardest of all punishments for his conduct…”
“the son of Uraš who knows thoroughly the true divine powers of princeship, Ištaran (Ninurta),…”
“(Martu) engendered by great An (Anu & Ninhursag) and brought up on his holy knees, ……,
born by Uraš, cherished and granted a favorable destiny by the Great Mountain Enlil, …”
“Ki, Beloved Body of my Soul,
Sister without peer, Heart’s Desire and Spouse so dear, many Names will be given to you.
But for me you will forever be Ninhursag, Queen of the Holy Hill, dearest Ninmah,
Most Exalted Lady, Queen and Best Companion along the Heights I trail
You will be remembered, Beloved, as Nintur, Lady Birth Hut, and nothing or no one will quite compare to you!
Urash, Birth Giver, most sacred Aruru everlasting praises will be sung from now on to you!
Lady of Mound, where Life sprouts happy and free.
Body of my Soul, sister without peer, Heart’s Desire and Spouse so dear,
mine is the Voice but for all I sing, Mother of all Life,
Lady of my heart, Beloved and Queen!’ …”
“At that time there were seven, there were seven — the young ones, born in Kulaba, were seven.
The goddess Urac (Ninhursag) had born these seven, the Wild Cow had nourished them with milk.
They were heroes, living in Sumer, they were princely in their prime.
They had been brought up eating at the god An‘s (Anu) table…. (King) Lugalbanda, the eighth of them, …”