Mesopotamian Mythology · deity

Nanna (Sin)

Nanna

also: Sin (Akkadian) · Nanna (Sumerian)

deitythe moontimethe calendarfate (the moon-god decrees fates)attested

The moon god, the god of time, the calendar, and fate; his great temple was at Ur. In Sumerian tradition he is the son of Enlil; in Akkadian he is called Sin. Father of Utu (Shamash) and Inanna (Ishtar).

Votive stele from the temple of Sin (Nanna) · Dosseman · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · CC BY-SA 4.0

The account

Who they are

'Nanna' (Sumerian; 'Sin' in Akkadian) is the moon god, the god of time, the calendar, and fate [S5][S6]. His great temple was at Ur (the 'Ehursag') [S5][S6]. In Sumerian tradition, Nanna is the son of Enlil (and Ninlil) [S5]. In Akkadian, he is called Sin [S5]. Nanna is the father of Utu (the sun god, Akkadian 'Shamash') and Inanna (the love/war goddess, Akkadian 'Ishtar') [S5]. The moon-god decrees fates (the 'me') — the moon's phases are the measure of time [S5]. Nanna's 'time' role makes him the god of the calendar and of the measurement of the months [S5].

Worth knowing

The moon god, the god of time, the calendar, and fate [S5].
His great temple was at Ur (the 'Ehursag') [S5][S6].
Son of Enlil (and Ninlil) [S5].
Father of Utu (Shamash) and Inanna (Ishtar) [S5].

Uncertainties & variants

Nanna's parentage varies: in some texts he is the son of Enlil, in others he is a 'self-existing' god [S5].

Relationships (5)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFEnlil — Enlil (with Ninlil) is the parent of Nanna (the moon god).[S5]

PARENT_OFNinlil — Ninlil (with Enlil) is the parent of Nanna.[S5]

PARENT_OFUtu (Shamash) — Nanna (with Ningal) is the parent of Utu (the sun god).[S5]

PARENT_OFInanna (Ishtar) — Nanna (with Ningal) is the parent of Inanna (the love/war goddess).[S5]

Partners

PARTNER_OFNingal — Nanna and Ningal are a 'pair'.[S5]

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Their corner of the divine world

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Myths featuring Nanna (Sin)

1 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].

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Artworks

Depictions

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