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This article is from the Sumerian
Mythology FAQ, by Christopher Siren cbsiren@cisunix.unh.edu
with numerous contributions by others.
07 What Deities did they worship? Ninhursag (Sumerian Mythology)
* Ninhursag (Ki, Ninmah, Nintu)
Ki is likely to be the original name of the earth goddess, whose name
more often appears as Ninhursag (queen of the mountains), Ninmah (the
exalted lady), or Nintu (the lady who gave birth). (Kramer 1963
p. 122) Most often she is considered Enlil's sister, but in some
traditions she is his spouse instead. (Jacobsen p.105) She was born,
possibly as a unified cosmic mountain with An, from Nammu and shortly
thereafter, their union produced Enlil. (Kramer 1961 p. 74) In the
early days, as Ki, she was separated from heaven (An) and carried off by
Enlil. (Kramer 1961 pp. 37-41) It seems likely that she and An were
the progenitors of most of the gods. She later unites with Enlil and
with the assistance of Enki they produce the world's plant and animal life.
(Kramer 1961 p. 75)
"Enki and Ninhursag"
In Dilmun, she (as Nintu) bears the goddess Ninsar from Enki, who in
turn bears the goddess Ninkur, who in turn bears Uttu, goddess of
plants. Uttu bore eight new trees from Enki. When he then ate Uttu's
children, Ninhursag cursed him with eight wounds and dissapears. After
being persuaded by Enlil to undo her curse, she bore Enki eight new
children which undid the wounds of the first ones. (Kramer 1963
pp. 147-149; Kramer 1961 pp. 54-59)
Enki seats her (as Nintu) on the big side of the table in Nippur at the feast
celebrating his new house in Eridu. (Kramer 1961 p. 63)
"Enki and Ninmah"
She is the mother goddess and, as Ninmah, assists in the creation of
man. Enki, having been propted by Nammu to create servants for the
gods, describes how Nammu and Ninmah will help fashion man from
clay. Prior to getting to work, she and Enki drink overmuch at a
feast. She then shapes six flawed versions of man from the heart of
the clay over the Abzu, with Enki declaring their fates. Enki, in turn
also creates a flawed man which is unable to eat. Ninmah appears to
curse him for the failed effort. (Kramer 1963 pp. 149-151; Kramer 1961
pp. 69-72)
(See also Aruru, her Babylonian analog in the Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ)
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