Ninhursag

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4 primary: Anu Enlil Ki Enki	3 sky: Ishtar Sin Sama

In Sumerian mythology, Ninhursag (NIN.URSAG or Ki (= Earth) was the Sumerian earth and mother-goddess she usually appears as the mother of Enlil (Lord air = North wind), Ninlil (Lady air = South wind) , Nanna (= Moon) and Utu (= Sun). They were all children of Ki and An (Hence they were called Anunaki.

Ninhursag means "lady of the mountain" (from Sumerian NIN "lady" and ḪURSAG (or ḪUR.SAG) "sacred mountain"). She had many names including Damkina, Damgulnana and Uriash. Her temple the E'Saggila (From Sumerian E = House, SAG = Sacred, Ila (Akkadian) = Goddess) was located on the Khur (Sacred mound) of Eridu, although she also had a temple at Kish.

In union with Enki she also bore Ninsar, goddess of the pasture(?).

The Legend of Enki and Ninhursag, whereby which the water or semen (the word "Ab" in Sumerian had both meanings) of Enki fertilises the barren stony ground of Ninhursag, to bring forth Lady Greenery (Ninsar), gives an indication of her previous importance.

Another version of the legend says: One day, Enki was very curious, so he ate Ninhursag's plants and became very ill in his rib (Sumerian = "ti" (also means "life"). Ninhursag healed him after intercession from the other gods.

Ninhursag became the earth Goddess also called Nintu (the lady who gave birth) and Ki (Earth) and Ninmah (the exalted lady), Dingirmah, Aruru, Uriash, and as wife of Enki was usually called Damgalnunna.

[edit] KI

Cuneiform KI (Borger 2003 nr. 737; U+121A0 𒆠) is the sign for "earth", but also "place location". It is also read as GI₅, GUNNI (=KI.NE) "hearth", KARAŠ (=KI.KAL.BAD) "encampment, army", KISLAḪ (=KI.UD) "threshing place" and SUR₇ (=KI.GAG). In Akkadian orthography, it functions as a determiner for toponyms and has the syllabic values gi, ge, qi and qe.