Mother of the Sumerian Gods: Who is Nammu?

Some information can be gained by looking at Nammu's Babylonian counterpart, Tiamat. Since Tiamat is better known in written sources, by comparing the two goddesses, researchers can partially unravel the ancient mythology surrounding the goddess Nammu.

Although Nammu (also spelled Namma) does not appear as a main character in any of the known Sumerian myths, she is referenced in a few of them. Much of what we know about this ancient goddess is gleaned from these references to her. For example, in the myth called "Enki and Ninmah", it was mentioned that Nammu was the "ancient mother who gave birth to the great gods".

Nammu Creates People

Again, in the “Enki and Ninmah” myth, Nammu is presented as the creator of the human species. The myth begins with a description of the lifestyles of the gods before the creation of the human species. During this period, the gods had to work: "The gods were digging canals and collecting the resulting dust in Harali."

Nammu was a Mesopotamian goddess regarded as a creator deity in the local theology of Eridu. It is assumed that she was associated with water. She is also well attested in connection with incantations and apotropaic magic. She was regarded as the mother of Enki, and in a single inscription she appears as the wife of Anu, but it is assumed that she usually was not believed to have a spouse.

While the big gods were watching, the little ones were doing the hard work. Unhappy with their harsh lives, the gods began to complain and place the blame on Enki, a dominant Sumerian god. However, Enki was fast asleep “in the underground waters, a place unknown to any other god,” and was therefore unaware of the displeasure of the other gods.

Nammu, who collects the tears of the other gods and brings them to her son, says: “Are you really sleeping there and… not waking up? The gods are destroying your creatures... My son, get up from your bed! Please use the skill that comes from your wisdom and create a deputy for the gods so that they can be relieved from their difficult work.”

This awakens the god, who begins to think about the issue his mother mentioned. Finally, Enki decides that Nammu herself should create the beings that Nammu suggested to him, “the creature you have designed will truly come into existence. Make him carry the baskets. From the top of the Abzu, you must knead clay; The birth-goddess will trim the clay, and you must bring this form to life.” This is how humans are created.

Although her importance as a goddess diminished over time, she continued to be highly revered by the ancient Mesopotamians. For example, Ur-Nammu, the founder of the Sumerian Third Dynasty of Ur, was named after him.

Comparison with Tiamat

Nammu's counterpart in Babylon is the goddess Tiamat. Tiamat is best known for her appearance in the Babylonian creation epic Enûma Eliš. Like Nammu, Tiamat is the mother of the first generation of gods. However, unlike Nammu, Tiamat conflicted with the gods she created.

The gods murdered her lover Apsu, and Tiamat started a war against her children to avenge this death. However, the gods prevailed and Tiamat was killed by the god Marduk. Tiamat's body was also used to create the world.