{"id":4358,"date":"2026-04-27T10:35:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/nergal\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:26:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:26:28","slug":"nergal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/nergal\/","title":{"rendered":"Nergal"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4358\" class=\"elementor elementor-4358 elementor-1962 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\">Nergal, 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>Nergal is a god of the Mesopotamian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The passing on of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>.<\/p><p><strong>War god, plague-bringer, co-ruler of the underworld.<\/strong> Nergal is the terrible double god of Mesopotamia: above, the face of war and pestilence; below, the dark rule over Irkalla at the side of Ereshkigal.<\/p><p>He begins as a solar, wild being, but through his marriage to the underworld queen becomes a feared yet necessary part of the cosmic order. Where Nergal breaks out, plague, war and the call of the dead follow.<\/p><p>As a war god, Nergal is at the same time underworld ruler beside Ereshkigal.<\/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: A personified supreme power in the pantheon of a culture, with clear responsibilities: forces of nature, fate, war, fertility. Worshipped through cults, sacrifices 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 BC to 330 BC).\">Mesopotamia<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/death-deities\/\" class=\"iwg-tradition-badge\" tabindex=\"0\" data-tooltip=\"Gods of the underworld and of death, rulers of the afterlife, judges of the dead, guides of souls.\">Death deity<\/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_nergal-683x1024.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4359\" alt=\"Nergal - gods from the Mesopotamian tradition, historical-illustrative\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_nergal-683x1024.webp 683w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_nergal-200x300.webp 200w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_nergal-768x1152.webp 768w, https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/goetter_mesopotamien_nergal.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\">Nergal<\/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<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Quick overview: Nergal<\/h2>\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 principal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being venerated as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>, god of plague, war and the underworld<br><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of the gods of a religion or culture.\" tabindex=\"0\">Pantheon<\/span>: Sumer, Akkad, Babylon (consistently present)<br>Function: plague and disease, war, underworld rule (consort of Ereshkigal)<br>Main attributes: lion-headed mace, double sword, seven plague-<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effects are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span> companions<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: Kuthu (principal cult site), Babylon, Ur<br>Astronomical identification: Mars (Salbatanu)<\/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<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Period of the texts<\/h3>\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>Nergal is attested from the Old Akkadian period (3rd millennium BC). His central <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span>, the marriage to the underworld queen <em>Ereshkigal<\/em>, is recounted in the <em>Nergal and Ereshkigal<\/em> epic (Middle Assyrian version, ca. 14th century BC).<\/p><p>In the Old Babylonian period he is further expanded through martial aspects; in the Neo-Babylonian Empire also as protector of kingship.<\/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<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Area of distribution<\/h3>\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>Kuthu<\/strong> (today Tell Ibrahim, north of Babylon), the \u201ecity of Nergal,\u201c entrance to the underworld according to Babylonian belief. Alongside it Babylon (<span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> in the Esagila complex), Ur, Susa (Elamite), Mari.<\/p><p>In the biblical tradition he is mentioned as <em>Nergal<\/em> (2 Kings 17:30), in the list of gods that the Assyrian deportees brought with them to Samaria.<\/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<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">State of the sources<\/h3>\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>Nergal and Ereshkigal<\/em> epic (Middle Assyrian and Late Babylonian versions), the <em>Erra epic<\/em> (Nergal as Erra\/plague-bringer), various <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A linguistic ritual intended to summon or bind a power.\" tabindex=\"0\">incantation<\/span> texts (<em><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Akkadian incantation series from the 1st millennium BC; the most extensive surviving Mesopotamian collection of anti-witchcraft rituals.\" tabindex=\"0\">Maqlu<\/span><\/em>, <em>Shurpu<\/em>), inscriptions from Kuthu and Babylon. Secondary literature: Lambert, <em>Babylonian Wisdom Literature<\/em>; Cagni, <em>L\u2019epopea di Erra<\/em> (standard edition); 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><\/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 and variants<\/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>Nergal is depicted in two aspects: above, as a muscular, bearded warrior with helmet, lance and weapons, surrounded by flames or plague symbols. Below, in Irkalla, he occupies a gloomy throne beside Ereshkigal.<\/p><p>His heraldic animal is the lion or a hybrid demonic figure. His colour is red, the red of war and disease. The <em>Namtar<\/em> (plague <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effects are attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demon<\/span>) accompanies him, as do pestilence <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A bodiless being to which agency in the world is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">spirits<\/span> that mark his path.<\/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>Nergal regulates the balance between life and death through war and pestilence. In cases of illness he was <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or invoking address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invoked<\/span>, not for healing, but for appeasement, so that he would withdraw the plague. In war, warriors prayed to him for victorious strength, yet also feared his unpredictability.<\/p><p>His main festival took place in Kutha, where priests offered <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity, to express thanks, a request or worship.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacrifices<\/span> to moderate his wrath. Through his marriage to Ereshkigal, Nergal also becomes guarantor of order in the underworld; he is not simply a destroyer, but a necessary force in the cosmic structure.<\/p><h3>Appearance and symbolism<\/h3><p><em>Nergal<\/em> is depicted as a muscular man with a lion\u2019s mane or lion face, often surrounded by fire. His skin may be red or dark brown, and he carries weapons, sword, axe or bow, which show his martial nature.<\/p><p>A serpent often coils around his body or arm. His head may be double-faced, with one face turned to the upper world (war god) and one to the underworld (underworld king). The lion and the scorpion are his <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Belonging to the divine and thereby withdrawn from everyday use.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacred<\/span> animals. Fire and blood are his <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands representatively for a concept or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbolic<\/span> colours.<\/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: Nergal<\/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 Nergal at a glance. The following fields summarise origin, function, appearance, worship, 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\">Cultural context<\/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>Nergal is the son of Enlil and Ninlil, brother of Ninurta. In the central <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> <em>Nergal and Ereshkigal<\/em> he travels into the underworld; after several conflicts and negotiations he becomes the consort of the underworld queen and shares rule with her, but only half the year (seasonal aspect: during the summer heat, when plague spreads).<\/p><p>In the <em>Erra<\/em> epic he acts on his own initiative as an uncontrolled plague power.<\/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\">Nergal\u2019s sphere<\/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>Plague-bringer and plague-averter (a double function like Apollo and Sekhmet). Patron of the high-summer heat fever (Akkadian <em>idi\u0161a<\/em>). God of war and battle. As the identification with Mars, also of high astronomical importance; his star (Mars) is interpreted in the Babylonian omen texts as bringing misfortune. Protective god of kingship in the Babylonian-Assyrian tradition.<\/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\">Form<\/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 martial man with a high hat-diadem and long robe. Characteristic: <em>lion-headed mace<\/em> and double sword. Frequently accompanied by the <em>Sebitti<\/em>, seven plague <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A spiritual being to which harmful or ambivalent effect is attributed.\" tabindex=\"0\">demons<\/span>.<\/p><p>On some seals in lion form or as a human-lion <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being that unites features of different creatures in itself.\" tabindex=\"0\">hybrid being<\/span>. Skin colour red or dark red (plague fever, the planet Mars). In the Neo-Babylonian period also depicted with a bull-drawn chariot.<\/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 influence:<\/strong> Nergal was invoked in times of plague and before battles; his summer high festival coincided with the annual plague season. Kings erected stelae before battles.<\/p><p>In incantation rituals he was invoked and feared in equal measure (double function). Kuthu was a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A religiously motivated journey to a sacred site.\" tabindex=\"0\">pilgrimage<\/span> destination for death and healing rites. In personal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of worship for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> he also offered protection against criminals and highwaymen.<\/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>Lion-headed mace, double sword, high crown, seven companion demons (Sebitti), lion <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being that unites features of different creatures in itself.\" tabindex=\"0\">hybrid being<\/span>, red star (Mars), high-summer heat. Plants: bitter melon, holly plants. Sacred number: 7 (the Sebitti).<\/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\">Nergal\u2019s parallels<\/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>Erra<\/em> (Akkadian, identical plague-bringer aspects, his own epic), <em>Resheph<\/em> (Phoenicia\/Ugarit, plague and war), <em>Apollo<\/em> (Greece, double aspect of plague-bringer and healer), <em>Mars<\/em> (Rome, identified astronomically and martially), <em>Sekhmet<\/em> (Egypt, plague-bringer and healer), <em>Indra<\/em> (Hinduism, war and cosmic battle), <em>Tyr<\/em> (Germanic, war god).<\/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\">Practical defence<\/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<div><h3><span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Warding off evil: of signs and objects intended to keep harmful influences away.\" tabindex=\"0\">Apotropaic<\/span> rituals against Nergal<\/h3><p>Nergal\u2019s destructive power (plague, losses in war, underworld doom) was bound in the Mesopotamian <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of worship for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> above all in the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> E-meslam at Kuthu through regulated monthly <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity, to express thanks, a request or worship.\" tabindex=\"0\">sacrifices<\/span>: beer, sheep, incense of erin (cedar).<\/p><p>The \u0160urpu and Maql\u00fb incantation series (Lambert, <em>Babylonian Wisdom Literature<\/em>) attest purification-fire rituals against Nergal-induced illness: the sick person was anointed with flax oil, and a clay figure (Nergal-bin) was burned.<\/p><h3>Incantation formulas<\/h3><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The petitioning or conjuring address to a deity or power.\" tabindex=\"0\">invocation<\/span> \u201eNergal pi-im-\u0161u-bal-li-ta\u201c (Nergal, let the word turn back!) is found in the Akkadian anti-witchcraft series (Maql\u00fb VII, 32-46). In the Akkadian Erra epic (Tablet I, 100-150) the assembly of the gods calls upon Nergal himself for self-restraint. The temple hymn \u201eE-meslam \u0161u\u02bcgar-ra\u201c was recited at the new moon to temper his activity.<\/p><h3><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<\/h3><p>Apotropaic clay figures with a lion\u2019s head (Nergal\u2019s animal) were buried at door thresholds (cf. Wiggermann, <em>Mesopotamian Protective Spirits<\/em>).<\/p><p>Cylinder seals show the \u201eNergal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A sign that stands in place of an idea or meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">symbol<\/span>,\u201c a double-lion standard and a knob sceptre; Akkadian plague-defence stelae from Ur (3rd millennium BC, today in the British Museum) bear inscriptions to Nergal as a guarantor of protection.<\/p><\/div>\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\">Nergal, 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<p>Nergal resembles Ares (Greece) in his war aspect, and shares with Hades or Pluto the rule over the underworld. With Apollo he is linked by solar, radiant ferocity.<\/p><p>In Indian cultures one might see parallels to Rudra or Yama, wild gods who preserve order through destruction. His double role as destroyer above and ruler below makes him one of the psychologically most complex deities of <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Epoch of Greek and Roman culture, roughly 800 BCE to 600 CE.\" tabindex=\"0\">antiquity<\/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-cpb75b108 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpb75b108\" 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-cp53527b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp53527b5\" 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\">Nergal as lord of the underworld<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp314942d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp314942d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp086173b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp086173b\" 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>Nergal is one of the most important deities of the Mesopotamian pantheon and, over a long period, closely connected with the underworld.<\/p><p>His main cult site was the city of Kutha in southern Mesopotamia, of which he was the city god. The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span> of Kutha bore the name E-meslam, and Nergal himself was frequently invoked with the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A fixed epithet that characterizes a deity or figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">epithet<\/span> referring to this <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A building that serves the worship of one or more deities.\" tabindex=\"0\">temple<\/span>.<\/p><p>The most important mythological source for Nergal\u2019s rule over the underworld is the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> of Nergal and Ereshkigal, transmitted in several versions, including a shorter one from Amarna and a more detailed one from a later period.<\/p><p>The <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/span> recounts how Nergal descends into the underworld, the realm of the goddess Ereshkigal. After complications that differ across the versions, Nergal becomes the consort of Ereshkigal and thus co-ruler or ruler of the underworld.<\/p><p>This story explains how Nergal, who originally had other aspects as well, became permanently connected with the realm of the dead. Scholarship debates whether Nergal was an underworld god from the beginning or whether this function only consolidated over the course of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The transmission of knowledge and narratives across generations.\" tabindex=\"0\">tradition<\/span>.<\/p><p>It is notable that, despite his connection with death, Nergal was no mere god of terror. He received regular <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of worship for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span>, was invoked and stood in a fixed relationship to other gods.<\/p><p>Mesopotamian religion knew no strict separation between revered and feared powers. Those who wish to follow the underworld ruler herself will find at <a href=\"https:\/\/iwell-guard.com\/en\/ereshkigal\/\">Ereshkigal<\/a> the other side of the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A transmitted narrative about gods, origins and the order of the world.\" tabindex=\"0\">myth<\/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-cp23c6516 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp23c6516\" 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-cp2d79aec elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cp2d79aec\" 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\">Nergal as god of war and pestilence<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cpa91f230 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cpa91f230\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp95d778c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp95d778c\" 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 addition to his role as underworld ruler, Nergal carried a second, closely related profile: he was a god of violent death, of war, of pestilence and of the destructive summer heat. These aspects are logically connected, since all bring death on a large scale, and death leads into Nergal\u2019s realm.<\/p><p>In hymns and incantations Nergal appears as a terrifying power that sends plague and fever. The Mesopotamian conception linked certain diseases with divine action, and Nergal was one of the deities to whom epidemics were attributed.<\/p><p>At the same time he could be invoked to ward off precisely these dangers, which is a typical pattern of Mesopotamian religion: the same power that brings disaster can also keep it away.<\/p><p>As a war god, Nergal was invoked by kings who placed their campaigns under his protection. Royal inscriptions name him among the gods who grant the ruler victory and cast down his enemies.<\/p><p>In this function he stood in part alongside or in competition with other war gods such as Ninurta, with whom he shares traits in some texts.<\/p><p>Astronomically, Nergal was identified with the planet Mars, whose reddish colour was associated in the Mesopotamian interpretation with blood, war and disaster.<\/p><p>This equation was so stable that it continued, through Greek and Roman mediation, into later astrological traditions. Scholarship sees in the Mars assignment a good example of how Mesopotamian sky observation took up and systematised mythological content.<\/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-cpc32216d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cpc32216d\" 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-cpee082c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpee082c7\" 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 material evidence<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp592a0ef e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp592a0ef\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp728b57d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp728b57d\" 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 pictorial depiction of Nergal cannot in every case be determined unambiguously, because Mesopotamian divine <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The study of pictorial content and its meaning.\" tabindex=\"0\">iconography<\/span> often relies on attributes rather than on individual facial features. In scholarship, Nergal is identified above all through certain symbols and accompanying animals.<\/p><p>A characteristic attribute of Nergal is a mace or a curved staff, partly decorated with double lion heads. The lion belongs to his most important symbolic animals and underlines his violent, predatory character. On seals and reliefs he occasionally appears as an armed, striding <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being revered as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>.<\/p><p>A special position is held by a famous clay sculpture that is often, though not without dispute, connected with Nergal\u2019s circle: the so-called Burney <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A representation worked in raised relief out of a surface.\" tabindex=\"0\">relief<\/span>, or Queen of the Night, an Old Babylonian terracotta plaque showing a winged goddess with bird feet between two lions and two owls.<\/p><p>The identification of this figure is disputed in scholarship; among others, Ereshkigal and Ishtar have been proposed. In any case, the <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A representation worked in raised relief out of a surface.\" tabindex=\"0\">relief<\/span> points to the imagery of the underworld and nocturnal power to which Nergal also belongs.<\/p><p>Materially, Nergal\u2019s <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The totality of religious acts of worship for a deity or sacred figure.\" tabindex=\"0\">cult<\/span> is attested by temple inscriptions, <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Relating to a religious vow; a votive offering is consecrated to a deity.\" tabindex=\"0\">votive<\/span> <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"An offering to a deity to express gratitude, petition, or veneration.\" tabindex=\"0\">offerings<\/span>, incantation texts and royal inscriptions from several centuries.<\/p><p>The long history of his temple in Kutha and the spread of his name in personal names show that Nergal was not a marginal <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The academic study of God and the doctrines of a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">theological<\/span> figure, but a <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being revered as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span> present in everyday life, credited with power over life and death.<\/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-cp3f3c96f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cp3f3c96f\" 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-cpf6a3842 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cpf6a3842\" 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\">Nergal in biblical tradition and the history of scholarship<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp7cbb0dc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"cp7cbb0dc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cp92b609a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cp92b609a\" 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>Nergal made his way into the Hebrew Bible. In the second book of Kings it is reported, in connection with the peoples resettled to Samaria after the fall of the Northern Kingdom, that the people of Kutha brought Nergal as their god and continued to worship him.<\/p><p>This brief note is instructive for the history of religion, because it shows how closely the god remained tied to his city and how cults migrated together with populations.<\/p><p>In modern scholarship Nergal has been studied since the decipherment of cuneiform in the 19th century. The earlier Assyriologists quickly classified him as an underworld god and a Mars <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being revered as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/span>.<\/p><p>More recent scholarship has refined the picture and emphasises the multilayered nature of the figure. Nergal cannot be reduced to a single function, but combines underworld, war, pestilence and solar heat into a coherent profile.<\/p><p>A debated point is Nergal\u2019s relationship to other gods with whom he is partly equated or linked in the sources, for instance Erra, the god of plague and devastation, to whom a separate literary work, the Erra epic, is <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"Handed over to the sacred through a religious act and thereby set apart from the everyday.\" tabindex=\"0\">dedicated<\/span>.<\/p><p>Whether Erra and Nergal were originally separate or are two names of the same power has not been conclusively settled in scholarship.<\/p><p>The significance of Nergal for <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"The discipline that studies religions comparatively and without confessional commitment.\" tabindex=\"0\">religious studies<\/span> lies in the fact that through him the Mesopotamian conception becomes tangible, according to which death, violence and the force of nature do not stand outside the divine order, but are administered by a nameable, invocable <span class=\"iwg-fachbegriff\" data-tooltip=\"A being revered as divine within a religion.\" tabindex=\"0\">deity<\/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-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\/ereshkigal\/\">Ereshkigal, consort in the underworld<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/mesopotamia\/\">Mesopotamia, pantheon overview<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"\/en\/death-deities\/\">Death deities, subcategory<\/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\">Sources and literature<\/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>Cagni, Luigi: <em>L\u2019epopea di Erra<\/em>. Rome 1969 (standard edition).<\/span><\/li><li><span data-nosnippet>Lambert, Wilfred G.: <em>Babylonian Wisdom Literature<\/em>. Oxford 1960.<\/span><\/li><li>Walde, Christine (ed.): <em>Der Neue Pauly<\/em> (entry \u201eNergal\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\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nergal, god of the Mesopotamian tradition Nergal is a god of the Mesopotamian tradition. War god, plague-bringer, co-ruler of the underworld. Nergal is the terrible double god of Mesopotamia: above, the face of war and pestilence; below, the dark rule over Irkalla at the side of Ereshkigal. He begins as a solar, wild being, but [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4359,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Nergal","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Nergal: War God and Underworld Ruler in Mesopotamia","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Nergal, war god and underworld ruler of Mesopotamia. Temple in Kutha, marriage to Ereshkigal, co-ruler over Irkalla and the order of death.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_angie_page":false,"gefaehrdungsstufe":"","wesen_kultur":"","wesen_klasse":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[79,86,85],"class_list":["post-4358","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>Nergal: War God and Underworld Ruler in Mesopotamia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nergal, war god and underworld ruler of Mesopotamia. 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