Ninsun

Ninsumun, the woman of all the destinies. ~ Strong Copper

In Sumerian mythology, Ninsun (also called Ninsumun, cuneiform: 𒀭𒊩𒌆𒄢 ^dNIN.SUMUN_2; Sumerian: Nin-sumun(ak) "lady of the wild cows") is a goddess, best known as the mother of the legendary hero Gilgamesh, and as the tutelary goddess of Gudea of Lagash. Her parents are the deities Anu and Uras. Ninsun was originally called Gula until her name was later changed to Ninisi. Later, Gula became identified with the Babylonian goddess Nintinugga.

Quotes about Ninsun

• Ninisina, first-born child of holy An, eminent among ladies. [...] Wife of the great hero, lord Pabilsaj, youth who has no rival; holy Ninisina, you reapply a dressing to soothe the dark place of sores which no one can understand; mother of the Land, great physician of the black-headed, incantation priestess of the widespread people.
  • Letter by Nanna-manshum, 3rd millennium BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

• Holy Nininsina, who brought youthful power from the womb, who was brought up sitting on the holy knees of Urac; who was copiously given divine powers of ladyship, and who is girded with fearsomeness and awesome radiance: Nininsina. [...] The lord wise in all matters, the Great Mountain, father Enlil, the foremost among the Anuna gods, looked favourably on her who offered him salutations in all humility.
  • A tablet (𒁾) to Nininsina (Nininsina E), 3rd millennium BCE, text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

• The holy and pure divine powers befit Nininsina, lady of the great divine powers. Her divine powers are divine powers bestowed on her by An. The Great Mountain, Enlil, determined a fate for her. Having left the temple of Enlil, she entered Eridug, the pleasant place, and took her seat in the abzu shrine. Her father, Enki, seated her upon his knees. He truly cherished Nininsina -- as soon as [she] took a fancy to jewels of cuba stone, they were hung around the neck of Nininsina; as soon as she took a fancy to a white linen garment, he dressed the daughter of holy An in it. Lord Nudimmud determined a fate for her.
  • Nininsina and the gods (Nininsina F), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

• She lay down with him [...] and spent time joyously with him. [...] With your beloved spouse, lord Pabilsaj.
  • Nininsina and the gods (Nininsina F), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

• Ninsumun, the woman of all the destinies.
  • Strong Copper in Debate between Silver and Copper (middle to late 3rd millennium BCE). Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

External links

• Encyclopedic article on Ninsun on Wikipedia
• Media related to Ninsuna on Wikimedia Commons
• Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses: Ninsumun (Ninsun) (goddess)