Enlil: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Ancient Mesopotamian god}} | {{short description|Ancient Mesopotamian god}} | ||
{{about|the Mesopotamian deity|the fictional character in the video games ''[[The Conduit]]'' and ''[[Conduit 2]]''|Enlil (The Conduit)}} | {{about|the Mesopotamian deity|the fictional character in the video games ''[[The Conduit]]'' and ''[[Conduit 2]]''|Enlil (The Conduit) |solar wind model|Enlil (heliospheric model)}} | ||
{{redirect|Elil|the Fall of Efrafa album|Elil (album)}} | {{redirect|Elil|the Fall of Efrafa album|Elil (album)}} | ||
{{good article}} | {{good article}} | ||
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{{SpecialChars|1=article|misc=See the font packages listed in the [[Unicode cuneiform]] article to display these characters}} | {{SpecialChars|1=article|misc=See the font packages listed in the [[Unicode cuneiform]] article to display these characters}} | ||
'''Enlil''' | '''Enlil''' ([[Sumerian language|Sumerian]]: {{linktext|π|π|π€}} ''<sup>[[Dingir|d]]</sup>''EN-LΓL){{efn|{{langx|sux|{{cuneiform|4|[[:wikt:πππ€|πππ€]]}}}} {{lang|sux-Latn|<sup>[[dingir|d]]</sup>[[EN (cuneiform)|EN]].LΓL}}, "Lord [of the] Wind"{{sfn|Halloran|2006}}{{sfn|Holland|2009|page=114}}{{sfn|Nemet-Nejat|1998|page=182}}}}, later known as '''Elil''' and '''Ellil''', is an [[List of Mesopotamian deities|ancient Mesopotamian god]] associated with wind, air, earth, and storms.{{snf|Coleman|Davidson|2015|page=108}} He is first attested as the chief deity of the [[Sumerian pantheon]],{{snf|Kramer|1983|pages=115β121}} but he was later worshipped by the [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadians]], [[Babylonian Empire|Babylonians]], [[Assyrian Empire|Assyrians]], and [[Hurrians]]. Enlil's primary center of worship was the [[Ekur]] temple in the city of [[Nippur]], which was believed to have been built by Enlil himself and was regarded as the "mooring-rope" of heaven and earth. He is also sometimes referred to in Sumerian texts as '''Nunamnir'''. According to one Sumerian hymn, Enlil himself was so holy that not even the other gods could look upon him. Enlil rose to prominence during the twenty-fourth century BC with the rise of Nippur. His [[Cult (religious practice)|cult]] fell into decline after Nippur was sacked by the [[Elam]]ites in 1230 BC and he was eventually supplanted as the chief god of the Mesopotamian pantheon by the Babylonian [[national god]] [[Marduk]]. | ||
Enlil plays a vital role in the [[ancient near eastern cosmology]]; he separates [[Anu|An]] (heaven) from [[Ki (goddess)|Ki]] (earth), thus making the world habitable for humans. In the Sumerian [[flood myth]] [[Eridu Genesis]], Enlil rewards [[Ziusudra]] with immortality for having survived the flood and, in the Babylonian flood myth, Enlil is the cause of the flood himself, having sent the flood to exterminate the human race, who made too much noise and prevented him from sleeping; the cuneiform tablets of [[Atra-Hasis]] report on this connections in a comparatively well-preserved state. The myth of ''[[Enlil and Ninlil]]'' is about Enlil's serial seduction of the goddess [[Ninlil]] in various guises, resulting in the conception of the moon-god [[Sin (god)|Nanna]] and the [[Ancient Mesopotamian Underworld|Underworld]] deities [[Nergal]], [[Ninazu]], and [[Enbilulu]]. Enlil was regarded as the inventor of the [[mattock]] and the patron of agriculture. Enlil also features prominently in several myths involving his son [[Ninurta]], including ''[[AnzΓ»]] and the [[Tablet of Destinies (mythic item)|Tablet of Destinies]]'' and ''Lugale''. | Enlil plays a vital role in the [[ancient near eastern cosmology]]; he separates [[Anu|An]] (heaven) from [[Ki (goddess)|Ki]] (earth), thus making the world habitable for humans. In the Sumerian [[flood myth]] [[Eridu Genesis]], Enlil rewards [[Ziusudra]] with immortality for having survived the flood and, in the Babylonian flood myth, Enlil is the cause of the flood himself, having sent the flood to exterminate the human race, who made too much noise and prevented him from sleeping; the cuneiform tablets of [[Atra-Hasis]] report on this connections in a comparatively well-preserved state. The myth of ''[[Enlil and Ninlil]]'' is about Enlil's serial seduction of the goddess [[Ninlil]] in various guises, resulting in the conception of the moon-god [[Sin (god)|Nanna]] and the [[Ancient Mesopotamian Underworld|Underworld]] deities [[Nergal]], [[Ninazu]], and [[Enbilulu]]. Enlil was regarded as the inventor of the [[mattock]] and the patron of agriculture. Enlil also features prominently in several myths involving his son [[Ninurta]], including ''[[AnzΓ»]] and the [[Tablet of Destinies (mythic item)|Tablet of Destinies]]'' and ''Lugale''. | ||
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Enlil was the patron god of the Sumerian city-state of [[Nippur]]{{snf|Hallo|1996|pages=231β234}} and his main center of worship was the [[Ekur]] temple located there.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|pages=74 and 76}} The name of the temple literally means "Mountain House" in ancient Sumerian.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} The Ekur was believed to have been built and established by Enlil himself.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} It was believed to be the "mooring-rope" of heaven and earth,{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} meaning that it was seen as "a channel of communication between earth and heaven".{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=53}} A hymn written during the reign of [[Ur-Nammu]], the founder of the [[Third Dynasty of Ur]], describes the E-kur in great detail, stating that its gates were carved with scenes of [[Imdugud]], a lesser deity sometimes shown as a giant bird, slaying a lion and an eagle snatching up a sinner.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} | Enlil was the patron god of the Sumerian city-state of [[Nippur]]{{snf|Hallo|1996|pages=231β234}} and his main center of worship was the [[Ekur]] temple located there.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|pages=74 and 76}} The name of the temple literally means "Mountain House" in ancient Sumerian.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} The Ekur was believed to have been built and established by Enlil himself.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} It was believed to be the "mooring-rope" of heaven and earth,{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} meaning that it was seen as "a channel of communication between earth and heaven".{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=53}} A hymn written during the reign of [[Ur-Nammu]], the founder of the [[Third Dynasty of Ur]], describes the E-kur in great detail, stating that its gates were carved with scenes of [[Imdugud]], a lesser deity sometimes shown as a giant bird, slaying a lion and an eagle snatching up a sinner.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=74}} | ||
The Sumerians believed that | The Sumerians believed that humanity's sole purpose was to serve the gods.{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}}{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=123}} They thought that a god's statue was a physical embodiment of the god himself.{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=94}}{{sfn|Nemet-Nejat|1998|page=186}} As such, [[Cult image|cult statues]] were given constant care and attention{{sfn|Nemet-Nejat|1998|pages=186β187}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=94}} and a set of priests was assigned to tend to them.{{sfn|Nemet-Nejat|1998|pages=186β188}} People worshipped Enlil by offering food and other human necessities to him.{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}} The food, which was ritually laid out before the god's cult statue in the form of a feast,{{sfn|Nemet-Nejat|1998|pages=186β187}}{{sfn|Black|Green|1992|page=94}} was believed to be Enlil's daily meal,{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}} but, after the ritual, it would be distributed among his priests.{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}} These priests were also responsible for changing the cult statue's clothing.{{sfn|Nemet-Nejat|1998|page=186}} | ||
The Sumerians envisioned Enlil as a benevolent, fatherly deity | The Sumerians envisioned Enlil as a benevolent, fatherly deity who watches over humanity and cares for their well-being.{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=119}} One Sumerian hymn describes Enlil as so glorious that even the other gods could not look upon him.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=76}}{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=121}} The same hymn also states that, without Enlil, civilization could not exist.{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=121}} Enlil's [[epithet]]s include titles such as "the Great Mountain" and "King of the Foreign Lands".{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=76}} Enlil is also sometimes described as a "raging storm", a "wild bull", and a "merchant".{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=76}} The Mesopotamians envisioned him as a creator, a father, a king, and the supreme lord of the universe.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=76}}{{sfn|Kramer|1963|pages=119β121}} He was also known as "Nunamnir"{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=76}} and is referred to in at least one text as the "East Wind and North Wind".{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=76}} | ||
Kings regarded Enlil as a model ruler and sought to emulate his example.{{snf|Grottanelli|Mander|2005|page=5,162a}} Enlil was said to be supremely just{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=120}} and intolerant towards evil.{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=120}} Rulers from all over Sumer would travel to Enlil's temple in Nippur to be legitimized.{{snf|Littleton|2005|pages=480β482}} They would return Enlil's favor by devoting lands and precious objects to his temple as offerings.{{snf|Littleton|2005|page=482}} Nippur was the only Sumerian city-state that never built a palace;{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}} this was intended to symbolize the city's importance as the center of the cult of Enlil by showing that Enlil himself was the city's king.{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}} Even during the Babylonian Period, when [[Marduk]] had superseded Enlil as the supreme god, Babylonian kings still traveled to the holy city of Nippur to seek recognition of their right to rule.{{snf|Littleton|2005|page=482}} | Kings regarded Enlil as a model ruler and sought to emulate his example.{{snf|Grottanelli|Mander|2005|page=5,162a}} Enlil was said to be supremely just{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=120}} and intolerant towards evil.{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=120}} Rulers from all over Sumer would travel to Enlil's temple in Nippur to be legitimized.{{snf|Littleton|2005|pages=480β482}} They would return Enlil's favor by devoting lands and precious objects to his temple as offerings.{{snf|Littleton|2005|page=482}} Nippur was the only Sumerian city-state that never built a palace;{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}} this was intended to symbolize the city's importance as the center of the cult of Enlil by showing that Enlil himself was the city's king.{{sfn|Janzen|2004|page=247}} Even during the Babylonian Period, when [[Marduk]] had superseded Enlil as the supreme god, Babylonian kings still traveled to the holy city of Nippur to seek recognition of their right to rule.{{snf|Littleton|2005|page=482}} | ||
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Enlil first rose to prominence during the twenty-fourth century BC, when the importance of the god [[Anu|An]] began to wane.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=58}}{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=118}} During this time period, Enlil and An are frequently invoked together in inscriptions.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=58}} Enlil remained the supreme god in Mesopotamia throughout the Amorite Period,{{snf|Schneider|2011|pages=58β59}} with Amorite monarchs proclaiming Enlil as the source of their legitimacy.{{snf|Schneider|2011|pages=58β59}} Enlil's importance began to wane after the Babylonian king [[Hammurabi]] conquered Sumer.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} The Babylonians worshipped Enlil under the name "Elil"{{snf|Coleman|Davidson|2015|page=108}} and the [[Hurrian religion|Hurrians]] syncretized him with their own god [[Kumarbi]].{{snf|Coleman|Davidson|2015|page=108}} In one Hurrian ritual, Enlil and Apantu are invoked as "the father and mother of [[IΕ‘αΈ«ara]]".{{sfn|Archi|1990|page=114}} Enlil is also invoked alongside Ninlil as a member of "the [[Anunnaki#Hurrian and Hittite|mighty and firmly established gods]]".{{sfn|Archi|1990|page=114}} | Enlil first rose to prominence during the twenty-fourth century BC, when the importance of the god [[Anu|An]] began to wane.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=58}}{{sfn|Kramer|1963|page=118}} During this time period, Enlil and An are frequently invoked together in inscriptions.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=58}} Enlil remained the supreme god in Mesopotamia throughout the Amorite Period,{{snf|Schneider|2011|pages=58β59}} with Amorite monarchs proclaiming Enlil as the source of their legitimacy.{{snf|Schneider|2011|pages=58β59}} Enlil's importance began to wane after the Babylonian king [[Hammurabi]] conquered Sumer.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} The Babylonians worshipped Enlil under the name "Elil"{{snf|Coleman|Davidson|2015|page=108}} and the [[Hurrian religion|Hurrians]] syncretized him with their own god [[Kumarbi]].{{snf|Coleman|Davidson|2015|page=108}} In one Hurrian ritual, Enlil and Apantu are invoked as "the father and mother of [[IΕ‘αΈ«ara]]".{{sfn|Archi|1990|page=114}} Enlil is also invoked alongside Ninlil as a member of "the [[Anunnaki#Hurrian and Hittite|mighty and firmly established gods]]".{{sfn|Archi|1990|page=114}} | ||
During the Kassite Period ({{circa}} 1592β1155 BC), Nippur briefly managed to regain influence in the region and Enlil rose to prominence once again.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} From around 1300 BC onwards, Enlil was syncretized with the Assyrian national god [[Ashur (god)|AΕ‘Ε‘ur]],{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=38}} who was the most important deity in the Assyrian pantheon.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=37}} Then, in 1230 BC, the [[Elamites]] attacked Nippur and the city fell into decline, taking the cult of Enlil along with it.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} Approximately one hundred years later, Enlil's role as the head of the pantheon was given to [[Marduk]], the [[national god]] of the Babylonians.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} | During the Kassite Period ({{circa}} 1592β1155 BC), Nippur briefly managed to regain influence in the region, and Enlil rose to prominence once again.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} From around 1300 BC onwards, Enlil was syncretized with the Assyrian national god [[Ashur (god)|AΕ‘Ε‘ur]],{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=38}} who was the most important deity in the Assyrian pantheon.{{snf|Black|Green|1992|page=37}} Then, in 1230 BC, the [[Elamites]] attacked Nippur and the city fell into decline, taking the cult of Enlil along with it.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} Approximately one hundred years later, Enlil's role as the head of the pantheon was given to [[Marduk]], the [[national god]] of the Babylonians.{{snf|Schneider|2011|page=59}} | ||
==Iconography== | ==Iconography== | ||
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[[Category:Mesopotamian gods]] | [[Category:Mesopotamian gods]] | ||
[[Category:Mythological rapists]] | [[Category:Mythological rapists]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Mythological shapeshifters]] | ||
[[Category:Sky and weather gods]] | [[Category:Sky and weather gods]] | ||
[[Category:Thunder gods]] | [[Category:Thunder gods]] | ||