{"id":4352,"date":"2026-04-27T10:35:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:35:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/enki\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:26:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:26:24","slug":"enki","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/enki\/","title":{"rendered":"Enki"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4352\" class=\"elementor elementor-4352 elementor-1968 elementor-bc-flex-widget\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10fdade e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"10fdade\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herohlft0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herohlft0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3ceb64 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c3ceb64\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96ae5e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96ae5e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki, God of the Mesopotamian Tradition<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e45238a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e45238a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>God of fresh waters, creator of wisdom, lord of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span>.<\/strong> Enki (Akkadian Ea) is one of the most powerful Mesopotamian gods, ruler of the life-giving waters, and at the same time a bearer of knowledge and cosmic craftsman.<\/p><p>In Eridu, the oldest Sumerian city, he is venerated as father of the later king Marduk and as originator of all arts, skills, and secret knowledge. His wildness and cunning make him unpredictable, yet he always acts for the good of humankind.<\/p><p>Enki (Akkadian Ea) is the chief god of Eridu and one of the central gods of the Sumerian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">pantheon<\/span>. His sphere of activity encompasses the fresh-water Apsu, wisdom, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span>, and the arts of civilization (writing, architecture, sorcery).<\/p><p>In Mesopotamian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly study of God and of the beliefs of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span>, Enki is the creator of humans and teacher of the ME (divine ordering principles). His <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> function in Eridu remained central into late Babylonian times; in the Atrahasis <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> he warns humans of the flood ordered by Enlil.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klsbdg01 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"klsbdg01\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-klshtm01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"klshtm01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"iwg-pill-row\"><span class=\"iwg-klasse-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"God \/ Goddess: Personified supreme power within the pantheon of a culture, with clear areas of responsibility, natural forces, fate, war, fertility. Venerated through cults, offerings, and temple institutions.\">God<\/span><a href=\"\/en\/mesopotamia\/\" class=\"iwg-kultur-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Cradle of documented religion, Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, Assyria (ca. 3500 BCE to 330 BCE).\">Mesopotamia<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f74855 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3f74855\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30362 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"1c30362\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;Es wurden keine \\u00dcberschriften auf dieser Seite gefunden.&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-circle\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M256 8C119 8 8 119 8 256s111 248 248 248 248-111 248-248S393 8 256 8z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__1c30362\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-herorght0 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"herorght0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-heroimg00 iwg-hero-image elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"heroimg00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_enki-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4353\" alt=\"Enki - Gods from the Mesopotamian tradition, historical-illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_enki-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_enki-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_enki-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_enki.webp 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32917199 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32917199\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26e916cb e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"26e916cb\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-253a40d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"253a40d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1200c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1200c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-159dcf9a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"159dcf9a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48cee66f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"48cee66f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Overview: Enki<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f50d82c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f50d82c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Type:<\/strong> Mesopotamian chief <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>, god of fresh water, wisdom, and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span><br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: Sumer (Enki), Akkad\/Babylon\/Assur (as Ea)<br>Function: Lord of the Apsu (fresh-water deep), creator of humans, patron of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span> and the healing arts<br>Main attributes: Streams of water from the shoulders, fish-goat <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being that unites the features of various living creatures.\" tabindex=\"0\">hybrid creature<\/span>, tall horned diadem<br>Main <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of veneration for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> sites: Eridu (Sumerian original seat), Babylon, Susa<br>Akkadian counterpart: Ea<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18613602 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"18613602\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262b8a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"262b8a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Context<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46dcb7d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"46dcb7d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61d3ab3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"61d3ab3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-117c166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"117c166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the Texts<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73997a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73997a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Enki is attested from the early Sumerian period (3rd millennium BCE); in Eridu, the oldest documented city of Sumer, he was the chief deity. In the Akkadian-Babylonian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">pantheon<\/span> he appears as <em>Ea<\/em>, with nearly identical functions.<\/p><p>The main flowering of the Enki\/Ea <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>: 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. In the 1st millennium BCE he is increasingly overlaid by Marduk (Babylon) as imperial god; yet Ea remains \u201efather of Marduk\u201c and retains his key cosmological role.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d47b156 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d47b156\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff38c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff38c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of Distribution<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e49fcc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e49fcc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The main cult site was <strong>Eridu<\/strong> (Sumerian Eridug, today Tell Abu Shahrein in southern Iraq), one of the oldest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> complexes of Mesopotamia, settled from about 5400 BCE. Alongside this, Babylon (Ea <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> in the Esagila complex), Ur, Susa (Elamite). In the Elamite tradition, Enki\/Ea bears the name <em>Inshushinak<\/em>, with partly overlapping functions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db03c39 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"db03c39\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229a87b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"229a87b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f471fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f471fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Source Situation<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36b1201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"36b1201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Central sources: the <em>Enuma Elish<\/em> (Babylonian creation epic), the Sumerian <em>Inanna and Enki<\/em> narrative, the <em>Atrahasis<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> (flood), <em>Enki and the World Order<\/em>, the <em>Adapa<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>. Secondary literature: Lambert\/Millard, <em>Atra-Hasis<\/em>; Black\/Cunningham, <em>Literature of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BC to 600 AD.\" tabindex=\"0\">Ancient<\/span> Sumer<\/em>; Bott\u00e9ro, <em>La plus vieille <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religion<\/span>. En M\u00e9sopotamie<\/em>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ae0637c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ae0637c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31d07739 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31d07739\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Name<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7642947 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b7642947\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a086266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a086266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Enki is mostly depicted as a wise, bearded man, often with a horned crown or diadem. His name is borne by water: he is accompanied by two water serpents or fish that spring from his shoulders (the <em>Abzu<\/em> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span>).<\/p><p>On seals he sits on a throne above springs, rivers, and sea waves. His <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A vivid image that stands for an abstract idea.\" tabindex=\"0\">emblem<\/span> is the goat-fish <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effect is ascribed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span> (<em>Kulull\u00fb<\/em>), a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being that unites the features of various living creatures.\" tabindex=\"0\">hybrid being<\/span> of mountain and water forces. As a magician he bears the insignia of cleverness: writing stylus, measuring rod, scroll of knowledge.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-709a44a8 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"709a44a8\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f585873 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2f585873\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Characteristics<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70621c12 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"70621c12\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4296eb49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4296eb49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Enki (Sumerian <em>en-ki<\/em>, \u201elord of the earth\u201c; Akkadian Ea) is the Sumerian-Akkadian water god of Eridu, the city regarded in the Sumerian King List as the first city of creation.<\/p><p>He is the god of the fresh-water deeps (<em>abzu<\/em>), of wisdom, and of the craft and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of events through special actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magical<\/span> arts. In the Mesopotamian hierarchy of gods he stands third, after An (heaven) and Enlil (wind).<\/p><p>His <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> E-abzu in Eridu was regarded as the oldest <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuary<\/span> of Mesopotamia. In the Atrahasis <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> and in the Sumerian flood <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, Enki warns the human hero of the flood, a model for the biblical Noah <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> (cf. Bott\u00e9ro, <em>Mesopotamia<\/em>; Black\/Green, <em>Gods, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Demons<\/span> and Symbols<\/em>; Jacobsen, <em>The Treasures of Darkness<\/em>).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44e71476 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"44e71476\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c1fc3f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c1fc3f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Profile: Enki<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84f33b8e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"84f33b8e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-hqkdc67p elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"hqkdc67p\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The most important aspects of Enki\/Ea at a glance. The following fields summarize origin, function, appearance, veneration, symbols, and parallels.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c5 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-qh9oavvu iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"qh9oavvu\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-awzx8k2k elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"awzx8k2k\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tradition<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-x6rowhv0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"x6rowhv0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Enki is the son of the primeval goddess Nammu (in one tradition) or of An (heaven) and Ki (earth). Brother of Enlil.<\/p><p>In the Sumerian creation myth he forms humans from the clay of the Apsu in order to relieve the gods of their labor (central in <em>Atrahasis<\/em>). Father of Marduk (in the Babylonian tradition). Consort of <em>Damkina<\/em> (Damgalnuna), and in some myths associated with Ninhursanga (Ninmah).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8e3o4kxs iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"8e3o4kxs\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08rkdgov elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"08rkdgov\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki's Target Group<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-uwjelx8s elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"uwjelx8s\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Lord of the <em>Apsu<\/em>, the cosmic fresh-water deep from which all fertile life springs. Patron of wisdom, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span>, and the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A linguistic ritual intended to summon or bind a power.\" tabindex=\"0\">incantation<\/span> priests (<em>asipu<\/em>).<\/p><p>Inventor of the healing arts, of canal irrigation, of the arts of civilization (in the Sumerian <em>me<\/em> system). In the flood <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> the one who warns Atrahasis, Enki is the human-friendly god who acts against Enlil&#8217;s decree of annihilation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-jm2n74ec iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"jm2n74ec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8vufse4c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8vufse4c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki's Appearance<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-mwb9u015 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"mwb9u015\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Anthropomorphic as a bearded male figure with a tall horned diadem and long robe. Characteristic: two streams of water (with small fish) flow from his shoulders, the water of the Tigris and Euphrates.<\/p><p>Frequently accompanied by the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being that unites the features of various living creatures.\" tabindex=\"0\">hybrid creature<\/span> <em>Suhurmashu<\/em> (goat-fish, later in the zodiac as Capricorn). In glyptic art he is frequently depicted on cylinder seals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-pemmx7c2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"pemmx7c2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37ss2yr6 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"37ss2yr6\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3v0wp3wx elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3v0wp3wx\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Function<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-w3247g2m elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"w3247g2m\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Sphere of effect:<\/strong> Enki\/Ea was the god of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span> priests par excellence; the <em>asipu<\/em> (incantation priests) were regarded as his servants. He was <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invoked<\/span> before every healing or protective <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An ordered sequence of symbolic actions with religious or cultural significance.\" tabindex=\"0\">ritual<\/span>.<\/p><p>In Eridu stood thousands of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Relating to a religious vow; a votive offering is consecrated to a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">votive<\/span> images. Babylonian kings often built their palaces over underground fresh-water tank systems that symbolically represented the Apsu. Among the people he was also patron of farmers (irrigation) and craftsmen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0qpjal9w iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0qpjal9w\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ndoih0o elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6ndoih0o\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Means of Protection<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6684tyh9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6684tyh9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Streams of water from the shoulders (with small fish), tall horned diadem, long robe, goat-fish (Suhurmashu), serpent (cosmic wisdom), brick form (as giver of measure). <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">Sacred<\/span> plant: tamarisk (central in incantation rites). Sacred number: 40.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3lfi7x32 iwg-steckbrief-card e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3lfi7x32\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0kg99ga1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0kg99ga1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Related Beings<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-n0fum6kp elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"n0fum6kp\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Inshushinak<\/em> (Elam, related function), <em>Poseidon<\/em> (Greece, mastery of water, though also salt water), <em>Hermes<\/em> (patron of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span> and wisdom), <em>Thoth<\/em> (Egypt, patron of scribes and <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span>), <em>Varuna<\/em> (Hinduism, cosmic waters), <em>Mimir<\/em> (Germanic, well of wisdom), <em>Yu<\/em> (China, tamer of the flood, patron of irrigation).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7533bc7a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7533bc7a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2447d18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2447d18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Protective Practice<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d0260c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d5d0260c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-341be2ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"341be2ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Veneration Rituals<\/strong><\/p><p>Enki\/Ea was venerated in the E-abzu <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> at Eridu, whose purification rites served as a central model for Mesopotamian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"A fixed religious order of worship with texts, chants, and ritual performances.\">liturgy<\/span>. Daily purification <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express gratitude, petition, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">offerings<\/span> with water from the sacred well (<em>apsu<\/em>), bread, and beer.<\/p><p>At the New Year festival <em>ak\u012btu<\/em>, Enki played a central role as wisdom advisor of cosmic kingship. The Asaluhi incantations (Asaluhi = son of Enki\/Marduk) of the Maql\u00fb series operate with Enki&#8217;s water-purifying power (cf. Foster, <em>Before the Muses<\/em>).<\/p><p><strong>Incantations and Hymns<\/strong><\/p><p>The \u201eHymn to Enki and his <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A structure that serves the veneration of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> E-abzu\u201c (BWL 100-105, Lambert) as well as the longer \u201eEnki&#8217;s Journey to Nippur\u201c narrative are central hymnic texts.<\/p><p>In the incantation repertoire he is invoked as \u201eB\u0113l n\u0113meqi\u201c (Lord of Wisdom). The <em>asipu<\/em> priests (healing incanters) were regarded as the earthly representatives of Enki\/Marduk; their healing rituals rested on Enki&#8217;s secret knowledge.<\/p><p><strong><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A worn object to which a protective, misfortune-averting effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">Amulets<\/span> and Protective Symbols<\/strong><\/p><p><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">Symbol<\/span> of Enki: goat-fish (<em>suhurma\u0161u<\/em>) and the sacred water jar (<em>apsu<\/em> vase), on boundary stones (kudurrus) and cylinder seals.<\/p><p>Apsu basins in temple courtyards (Eridu, later Babylon, Nippur) as an earthly manifestation of his water domain. <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Warding off evil: of signs and objects intended to keep harmful influences away.\" tabindex=\"0\">Apotropaic<\/span> clay pegs with rolled-up Enki incantations beneath house entrances, above all to ward off fever illnesses.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a584676 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5a584676\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d0757bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6d0757bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki, Parallels in Other Cultures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60563f68 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"60563f68\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a93fdd6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a93fdd6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\"><p>Enki\/Ea recalls the Egyptian Ptah; both are creators through word and craft. With Neptune (Rome) and Poseidon (Greece) he shares dominion over the waters, but differs in his emphasis on wisdom.<\/p><p>In Indian traditions he resembles Varuna, the guardian of cosmic order. His role as mediator and benevolent helper finds parallels in various cultural spheres, the god who brings knowledge to humankind, yet not without cunning.<\/p><div data-nosnippet=\"true\" class=\"iwg-litliste\"><\/div><\/footer>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp5ec5c45 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp5ec5c45\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp7d203f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp7d203f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki and Ea: Name, Nature, and Sphere of Responsibility<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpd905f27 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpd905f27\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp495a789 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp495a789\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Enki is the Sumerian name of one of the most important gods of Mesopotamia; in the Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian sources the same <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> is called <em>Ea<\/em>. The Sumerian name is traditionally interpreted as lord of the earth, yet this translation is not undisputed, for Enki&#8217;s actual domain is not the solid earth but the fresh water that, according to Mesopotamian conception, lies beneath the earth, the <em>Abzu<\/em> or <em>Apsu<\/em>.<\/p><p>From this sphere of activity Enki&#8217;s responsibilities follow. He is the god of fresh water, of springs, and of irrigation, without which no agriculture was possible in Mesopotamia.<\/p><p>He is at the same time the god of wisdom, cleverness, and cunning, the god of the craft and magical arts and of incantations. His <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sacred place dedicated to the veneration of a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">sanctuary<\/span> <em>E-abzu<\/em> stood in the ancient city of Eridu, which in Mesopotamian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span> was regarded as one of the oldest cities of all.<\/p><p>In the hierarchy of gods, Enki stands in the front rank, together with the sky god An and the air god Enlil. While Enlil often appears as the distant, sometimes stern director, Enki is the approachable, resourceful god who takes the side of humans and solves problems through cleverness.<\/p><p>This division of roles shapes numerous myths and makes Enki one of the most appealing figures of the Mesopotamian pantheon. <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">Religious studies<\/span> see in him a typical representative of the divine culture-founder who possesses the knowledge that first makes civilization possible.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp86b9d61 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp86b9d61\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp97d5bbd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp97d5bbd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki as Creator and Bringer of Culture<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpb83006c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpb83006c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp42d5fb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp42d5fb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In several Mesopotamian myths, Enki is involved in the creation and ordering of the world.<\/p><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> <em>Enki and the World Order<\/em> describes how Enki assigns their destinies to the various lands, rivers, animals, and human activities, and transfers their areas of responsibility to individual deities. Here he appears as the establisher of order who gives the created cosmos its functions.<\/p><p>Enki is especially closely connected with the creation of humans. In the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> <em>Enki and Ninmah<\/em> the gods form humans from clay so that they may relieve them of their labor; it is Enki who gives the decisive counsel.<\/p><p>In other texts, such as the <em>Atrahasis Epic<\/em>, it is likewise Enki who plays the authoritative role in the creation of humans. The notion that humans were created to serve the gods and provide for them belongs to the core of Mesopotamian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The scholarly study of God and of the beliefs of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theology<\/span>, and Enki is the god who carries out this plan.<\/p><p>Connected with Enki is also the concept of the <em>me<\/em>, a collection of divinely conferred foundations of civilization that encompass everything, from kingship and priestly offices through crafts to forms of conduct.<\/p><p>In the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> <em>Inanna and Enki<\/em>, the goddess <a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/ishtar\/\">Inanna<\/a> coaxes these <em>me<\/em> from Enki and brings them to her city of Uruk.<\/p><p>Enki appears here as the original keeper of cultural knowledge. Scholarship interprets such myths as attempts by the Mesopotamians to explain the origin of their own highly developed urban culture and to anchor it religiously.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp71f4b03 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp71f4b03\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cped5d749 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cped5d749\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Enki and the Great Flood<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf6ec973 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpf6ec973\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpcc8f11d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cpcc8f11d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the Mesopotamian flood narratives, Enki plays the rescuing role. The basic structure is preserved in several texts, most extensively in the <em>Atrahasis Epic<\/em> and in the flood episode of the eleventh tablet of the <em>Epic of Gilgamesh<\/em>; a fragmentary Sumerian version is also known.<\/p><p>In all versions the gods decide to annihilate humankind, in some versions because humans have become too numerous and too loud and disturb the gods in their sleep.<\/p><p>Enki does not abide by the decision of the divine assembly. He warns a single pious human, who depending on the text is called Atrahasis, Ziusudra, or Utnapishtim, and instructs him to build a great ship in order to save himself, his family, and animals.<\/p><p>In a subtle episode, Enki circumvents an oath by not addressing the warning directly to the human, but seemingly speaking it to the reed wall of the house behind which the human is listening.<\/p><p>After the flood it is again Enki who argues before the divine assembly for the survival of humankind and proposes milder means of population regulation.<\/p><p>These narratives are of great significance in the history of religion, because they belong to the oldest known flood narratives of world literature and because they evidently stand in a tradition-historical connection with the biblical flood narrative.<\/p><p>Scholarship has discussed this relationship since the decipherment of the Epic of Gilgamesh in the 19th century. It should be noted that in the Mesopotamian version Enki plays the role of the wise god turned toward humankind, who averts annihilation through an act of cunning and intercession.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp06603d2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp06603d2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpf755097 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpf755097\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Iconography and Afterlife<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp8685b07 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp8685b07\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp26e0ff2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp26e0ff2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In Mesopotamian pictorial art, Enki can be recognized by a characteristic feature: from his shoulders or from a vessel held in his hand flow two streams of water, in which fish are often visible.<\/p><p>These streams stand for the Tigris and Euphrates, or generally for the life-giving fresh water over which he rules. He frequently appears on cylinder seals, the small engraved stone cylinders used for sealing documents and containers, which are an important pictorial source for the Mesopotamian world of gods.<\/p><p>Connected with Enki is also a peculiar figure, the <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Wise hybrid beings of the Mesopotamian tradition, placed on buildings as protective figures.\" tabindex=\"0\">apkallu<\/span><\/em>, a wise <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being that unites the features of various living creatures.\" tabindex=\"0\">hybrid creature<\/span> helper, sometimes depicted in a fish garment, who conveys the knowledge emanating from Enki to humans.<\/p><p>Later <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span> knows a figure named Oannes, a fish-shaped being said to have brought the arts of civilization to humans; this figure, described in Greek by the Babylonian priest Berossos, stands in the tradition of this circle of ideas around Enki and the <em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Wise hybrid beings of the Mesopotamian tradition, placed on buildings as protective figures.\" tabindex=\"0\">apkallu<\/span><\/em>.<\/p><p>After the end of Mesopotamian culture, Enki, unlike Ishtar for example, fell largely into oblivion; a continuous line of reception such as exists for the Greek gods is lacking. His rediscovery is owed to Assyriology, which has opened up the cuneiform texts since the 19th century.<\/p><p>For today&#8217;s <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religious studies<\/span>, Enki is of interest above all as a type: as an example of the god of wisdom and culture who mediates between humans and the higher world of the gods, and as a central figure of the oldest creation and flood narratives of humankind that can be grasped in writing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36dd7469 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"36dd7469\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13760ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13760ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further Links<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-28c87796 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"28c87796\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d6538df elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d6538df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/marduk\/\">Marduk, son (Babylonian tradition)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/anu\/\">An\/Anu, father (heaven)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/mesopotamia\/\">Mesopotamia, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/high-deities\/\">High deities, sub-category<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/gods\/\">Gods, class overview<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-grl4kl40 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"grl4kl40\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bzsbfrmh elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bzsbfrmh\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Literature (Selection)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c13224a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"2c13224a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0eymh9ub elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0eymh9ub\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"iwg-literatur\" data-nosnippet=\"true\"><ul><li><span data-nosnippet>Lambert, Wilfred G. \/ Millard, Alan R.: <em>Atra-Hasis. The Babylonian Story of the Flood<\/em>. Oxford 1969.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Black, Jeremy \/ Cunningham, Graham et al.: <em>The Literature of Ancient Sumer<\/em>. Oxford 2004.<\/span><\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (entry \u201eEnki\u201c \u201eEa\u201c).<\/li><\/ul><\/footer>\n<p class=\"iwg-bib-more\"><span data-nosnippet>Further standard works in the <a href=\"\/en\/literature\/\">literature index<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-614e5fa e-con-boxed e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"614e5fa\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6096080 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6096080\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Frequently Asked Questions about Enki<\/h2><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>Who was Enki in Sumerian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the handed-down god-narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>?<\/h3><p>Enki (Akkadian Ea) was the Sumerian god of wisdom, fresh water, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span>, and the craft arts. He is one of the oldest and most significant deities of Mesopotamia, with his main cult site in Eridu (one of the first cities in human history).<\/p><p>Unlike the often stern Enlil, Enki is a cunning and human-friendly god: it was he who formed humans from clay, who gave Inanna the divine powers (Me), and who warned of the flood by secretly instructing Utnapishtim to build an ark.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"iwg-faq-q\"><h3>What role does Enki play in the flood <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>?<\/h3><p>In the Atrahasis Epic (around the 18th century BCE) and in the Epic of Gilgamesh (tablet 11), Enki is the god who prevents the flood annihilation of humankind. Enlil has condemned humans to destruction because of their noisiness.<\/p><p>Enki may not warn directly, but he speaks through a reed wall behind which Utnapishtim (Atrahasis in the older <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>) happens to stand. Thus the hero builds an ark, saves himself, his family, and some animals. This Mesopotamian flood <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> is the literary precursor of the biblical Noah story (Genesis 6-9).<\/p><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who was Enki in Sumerian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the handed-down god-narratives of a culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">mythology<\/span>?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Enki (Akkadian Ea) was the Sumerian god of wisdom, fresh water, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Practices that seek to intervene in the course of things through particular actions or formulas.\" tabindex=\"0\">magic<\/span>, and the craft arts. He is one of the oldest and most significant deities of Mesopotamia, with his main cult site in Eridu (one of the first cities in human history). Unlike the often stern Enlil, Enki is a cunning and human-friendly god: it was he who formed humans from clay, who gave Inanna the divine powers (Me), and who warned of the flood by secretly instructing Utnapishtim to build an ark.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What role does Enki play in the flood <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"In the Atrahasis Epic (around the 18th century BCE) and in the Epic of Gilgamesh (tablet 11), Enki is the god who prevents the flood annihilation of humankind. Enlil has condemned humans to destruction because of their noisiness. Enki may not warn directly: but he speaks through a reed wall behind which Utnapishtim (Atrahasis in the older <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>) happens to stand. Thus the hero builds an ark, saves himself, his family, and some animals. This Mesopotamian flood <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A handed-down narrative about gods, origins, and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> is the literary precursor of the biblical Noah story (Genesis 6-9).\"}}]}<\/script>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enki, God of the Mesopotamian Tradition God of fresh waters, creator of wisdom, lord of magic. Enki (Akkadian Ea) is one of the most powerful Mesopotamian gods, ruler of the life-giving waters, and at the same time a bearer of knowledge and cosmic craftsman. In Eridu, the oldest Sumerian city, he is venerated as father [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4353,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Enki","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Enki: God of Fresh Waters and Wisdom in Mesopotamia","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"His temple in Eridu, the laws of the Me, his role as father of Marduk and creator of humankind.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[79,86,85],"class_list":["post-4352","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultures","category-gods","category-mesopotamia"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Enki: God 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