Mesopotamian Mythology · deity

Nergal

also: Nergal

deitythe underworldthe plaguethe 'lord of the netherworld'war (in some accounts)attested

The underworld god, the 'lord of the netherworld', the god of the plague; in some accounts he is Ereshkigal's consort. In the 'Nergal and Ereshkigal' myth, he 'rapes' (or marries) Ereshkigal and becomes her consort.

Parthian relief of the god Nergal · Unknown ancient Hatran relief sculptor · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain

The account

Who they are

'Nergal' is the underworld god, the 'lord of the netherworld', the god of the plague [S5]. In some accounts, he is Ereshkigal's consort [S5]. The 'Nergal and Ereshkigal' myth: Nergal 'rapes' (or marries) Ereshkigal, and becomes her consort and the lord of the underworld [S5]. Nergal is the god of the plague and the 'dark' power of the underworld [S5]. He is also a war-god (in some accounts) [S5]. Nergal's 'plague' role makes him a feared deity — his 'dark' power is the power of death and disease [S5].

Worth knowing

The underworld god, the 'lord of the netherworld' [S5].
The god of the plague [S5].
Ereshkigal's consort (in the 'Nergal and Ereshkigal' myth) [S5].

Uncertainties & variants

Nergal's 'raping' of Ereshkigal is a 'marriage' myth: the underworld-god and the underworld-goddess become a pair [S5].

Relationships (2)

Connections

Partners

PARTNER_OFEreshkigal — Ereshkigal and Nergal are a 'pair' (the 'Nergal and Ereshkigal' marriage myth).[S5]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDEreshkigal — (Mythic) In the 'Nergal and Ereshkigal' myth, Nergal 'rapes' (or marries) Ereshkigal.[S5]

Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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Overlays

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Artworks

Depictions

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