Mesopotamian Mythology · The Divine Atlas

01 — Cosmology

The shape of the world

The Mesopotamian cosmos is three-layered: the Heavens (An) above, the Earth (Ki) in the middle, and the Underworld (Irkallu/Kur) below. The 'Apsu' (the fresh water) and the 'Tiamat' (the salt water) are the two primeval waters that underlie the world [S1][S5]. This is a scholarly reconstruction from Sumerian and Babylonian texts [S5].

02 — The relationship graph

How the divine world is wired

Two ways to read the same data: the genealogy view layers generations top → bottom (partners side by side, children fanning from the union), while the relationships view shows the full web of typed relationships — filter by category, or click any node to open its profile. Line style encodes confidence: solid = attested, dashed = disputed, dotted = scholarly reconstruction.

View

hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side

Overlays

zoom 1.67× · medium

parentage
marriage ♥

far = primordials · medium = all · close = detail — scroll/pan, click a deity to focus

03 — Major myths

The stories

The Enuma Elish (the Babylonian Creation Epic)

The Enuma Elish is the great Babylonian creation epic, the 'New Year' (Akitu) festival text. In it, the gods (the 'Apsu' and the 'Tiamat' generations) are in conflict; the young gods (led by Marduk) are chosen to fight Tiamat. Marduk slays Tiamat with his bow, net, and 'rakasu' winds, splits her body in two to make the sky (upper half) and the earth (lower half), and from Kingu's blood (Tiamat's general) creates humanity. Marduk takes the 'Tablet of Destinies' and becomes the king of the gods [S1].

4 PARTICIPANTS · READ STORY →

The Sumerian Creation (An and Ki)

In Sumerian cosmology, An (the sky) and Ki (the earth) are the first pair — the 'parents' of the world. From their union (or from the separation of heaven and earth), the gods and the world emerge [S5]. The 'Apsu' (the fresh water) and the 'Tiamat' (the salt water) are the two primeval waters [S5].

4 PARTICIPANTS · READ STORY →

The Flood (Atrahasis / Gilgamesh)

In the Atrahasis and the Gilgamesh flood-story, the gods (led by Enlil) decide to destroy humanity with a flood (because humanity's noise/disturbance is too great). Enki (Ea) saves the flood-hero (Atrahasis in the Atrahasis; Utnapishtim in the Gilgamesh) by whispering to him to build a boat. The flood destroys all life, but the flood-hero (and his family) survive. The flood-hero is later made immortal (in the Gilgamesh) [S2][S3].

3 PARTICIPANTS · READ STORY →

Inanna's Descent to the Underworld

The great Sumerian myth of 'Inanna's Descent to the Underworld': Inanna descends to the underworld to attend the funeral of her sister Ereshkigal (the underworld-goddess). At the seven gates of the underworld, Inanna is stripped of her powers (her crown, her weapons, her jewelry) one by one. At the bottom, Ereshkigal kills Inanna (she is hung on a peg as a corpse). Enki (the wisdom god) is moved to pity and sends a being (the 'galatur' or the 'keshig') to bring Inanna back. Inanna is restored, but must send a 'stand-in' (her consort Dumuzi) to the underworld in her place [S4][S5].

4 PARTICIPANTS · READ STORY →

Inanna and Ereshkigal (the 'sisters' of the underworld)

Inanna (the 'light' goddess) and Ereshkigal (the 'dark' goddess of the underworld) are 'sisters' (in some accounts) or adversaries. The 'Descent' myth is the great conflict between the two: Inanna descends to the underworld and is killed by Ereshkigal [S4][S5]. The 'sisters' relationship is a 'light/dark' duality: Inanna is the 'light' (the morning star, the life-giver), Ereshkigal is the 'dark' (the underworld, the death-bringer) [S4][S5].

2 PARTICIPANTS · READ STORY →

Enlil and the 'Erosion' of the World (the flood-decree)

In the Atrahasis and the Gilgamesh flood-story, Enlil (the king of the gods) decrees the flood because humanity's noise/disturbance is too great. The 'erosion' of the world (the flood) is Enlil's decree to destroy humanity [S2][S3]. Enki (Ea) saves the flood-hero against Enlil's will [S2][S3].

2 PARTICIPANTS · READ STORY →

The Enuma Elish (the Babylonian Creation Epic)

The Primeval Waters

Apsu (the fresh water) and Tiamat (the salt water) are the two primeval waters [S1].

The Conflict

The young gods (led by Marduk) are in conflict with Tiamat's army [S1].

Marduk's Challenge

Marduk is chosen to fight Tiamat [S1].

The Slaying of Tiamat

Marduk slays Tiamat with his bow, net, and 'rakasu' winds [S1].

The Creation of the World

Marduk splits Tiamat's body in two to make the sky and the earth [S1].

The Creation of Humanity

From Kingu's blood, Marduk creates humanity [S1].

The Tablet of Destinies

Marduk takes the 'Tablet of Destinies' and becomes king of the gods [S1].

Variant traditions (1)

Atrahasis (Old Babylonian)

In the Atrahasis, the creation of humanity is from Apsu's flesh (not Kingu's blood); the flood-hero is Atrahasis [S3].

Sources: [S1]

The Sumerian Creation (An and Ki)

An and Ki

An (the sky) and Ki (the earth) are the first pair [S5].

The Primeval Waters

The 'Apsu' (fresh water) and the 'Tiamat' (salt water) are the two primeval waters [S5].

The Emergence of the Gods

From the separation of heaven and earth, the gods emerge [S5].

Sources: [S5]

The Flood (Atrahasis / Gilgamesh)

The Decision

The gods (led by Enlil) decide to destroy humanity with a flood [S2][S3].

Enki's Warning

Enki (Ea) whispers to the flood-hero to build a boat [S2][S3].

The Flood

The flood destroys all life [S2][S3].

The Survival

The flood-hero (and his family) survive [S2][S3].

The Immortality

The flood-hero is made immortal (in the Gilgamesh) [S2].

Variant traditions (2)

Gilgamesh (Standard Babylonian)

In the Gilgamesh, the flood-hero is Utnapishtim (the 'faraway' one); the flood is part of Gilgamesh's quest for immortality [S2].

Atrahasis (Old Babylonian)

In the Atrahasis, the flood-hero is Atrahasis; the flood is part of the creation-of-humanity story [S3].

Sources: [S2] [S3]

Inanna's Descent to the Underworld

The Descent

Inanna descends to the underworld to attend Ereshkigal's funeral [S4].

The Seven Gates

At the seven gates, Inanna is stripped of her powers one by one [S4].

The Killing

At the bottom, Ereshkigal kills Inanna (she is hung on a peg) [S4].

The Restoration

Enki sends a being to bring Inanna back [S4].

The Stand-in

Inanna must send a 'stand-in' (Dumuzi) to the underworld in her place [S4].

Variant traditions (1)

Akkadian (Ishtar) version

In the Akkadian (Ishtar) version, the details vary (the 'stand-in' is sometimes not Dumuzi) [S4].

Sources: [S4] [S5]

Inanna and Ereshkigal (the 'sisters' of the underworld)

The 'Sisters'

Inanna and Ereshkigal are 'sisters' (in some accounts) [S4][S5].

The Light/Dark Duality

Inanna is the 'light'; Ereshkigal is the 'dark' [S4][S5].

The 'Descent'

Inanna descends to the underworld and is killed by Ereshkigal [S4].

Sources: [S4] [S5]

Enlil and the 'Erosion' of the World (the flood-decree)

The Noise

Humanity's noise/disturbance is too great [S2][S3].

The Decree

Enlil decrees the flood [S2][S3].

Enki's Intervention

Enki (Ea) saves the flood-hero against Enlil's will [S2][S3].

Sources: [S2] [S3]

04 — Sources & archaeology

When it was written, not when it began

⚠ The date of a source is not the date of the myth it preserves.

c. 3500-2000 BCE

period

Sumerian period

The Sumerian period. The gods An, Enlil, Enki, Nanna, Utu, and Inanna are worshipped. The great temples at Nippur (Enlil), Eridu (Enki), Ur (Nanna), and Uruk (Inanna) are built. The evidence is archaeological and cuneiform (Sumerian texts).

c. 2334-2154 BCE

period

Akkadian period

The Akkadian period. The Sumerian gods are assimilated into the Akkadian pantheon (An becomes Anu, Enki becomes Ea, Nanna becomes Sin, Utu becomes Shamash, Inanna becomes Ishtar). Enlil becomes the king of the gods.

c. 2000-1600 BCE

period

Old Babylonian period

The Old Babylonian period. Marduk rises to be the king of the gods (as Babylon rises to power). The Atrahasis and the early flood-stories are composed.

c. 1200-1000 BCE

period

Standard Babylonian period

The Standard Babylonian period. The Enuma Elish (in its standard form) and the Epic of Gilgamesh (in its Standard Babylonian version) are composed. Marduk is the supreme god.

c. 626-330 BCE

period

Neo-Babylonian / Achaemenid period

The Neo-Babylonian and Achaemenid (Persian) period. Marduk is the supreme god (Neo-Babylonian); under the Persians, his supremacy declines. The great temple at Babylon (the Esagila) is still a center of worship.

05 — Historical artworks

The visual record

24 pieces, all from open-license or public-domain collections. Attribution is always visible; nothing is scraped.

Enlil and Ninlil, after a mural from Susa — Enlil and Ninlil — Enlil and Ninlil · Paul Bedson · undated · Louvre Museum · Public domain

Ninlil, consort of Enlil, after a mural from Susa — Ninlil — Ninlil · Paul Bedson · undated · Louvre Museum · Public domain

Ninhursag (bull-man with palmtree), ancient relief — Ninhursag (bull-man with palmtree) — Ninhursag (bull-man with palmtree) · Unknown artist Unknown artist · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain

06 — Where scholars disagree

Honest uncertainties

We preserve disagreement rather than inventing answers. Each entry lists the competing positions and how this Atlas presents them.

The 'supremacy' of the gods over time

Sumerian

An is the supreme god

Akkadian/Babylonian

Enlil is the king of the gods

Babylonian (later)

Marduk is the king of the gods

PRESENTED AS: We present the 'supremacy' as a political/theological development over time, not as a mythic event. We do NOT flatten the pantheon into one 'supreme god'.

Inanna and Ereshkigal

S4

In some accounts they are 'sisters'; in others they are adversaries

PRESENTED AS: We store both versions and note the variation.

The flood-story

Atrahasis

The flood-hero is Atrahasis; the flood is part of the creation-of-humanity story

Gilgamesh

The flood-hero is Utnapishtim; the flood is part of Gilgamesh's quest for immortality

PRESENTED AS: We present both versions (Atrahasis and Gilgamesh) and note the differences.

The 'Descent' myth

Sumerian (c. 1900-1700 BCE)

The 'Descent' in its Sumerian form

Akkadian (Ishtar) version

The details vary (the 'stand-in' is sometimes not Dumuzi)

PRESENTED AS: We present the Sumerian version as the primary and note the Akkadian variant.

The dating of the myths

Sumerian

The Sumerian texts are c. 3500-2000 BCE

Babylonian

The Babylonian texts (Enuma Elish, Gilgamesh) are c. 1800-1000 BCE

PRESENTED AS: We make clear that the Sumerian religion is much older than the Babylonian texts that preserve it.

The 'creation' of humanity

Enuma Elish

From Kingu's blood (Tiamat's general)

Atrahasis

From Apsu's flesh (the primeval fresh water)

PRESENTED AS: We present both versions and note that they are distinct creation-accounts.