Meskilak

Last updated
Meskilak
Goddess of Dilmun
Personal information
Spouse Inzak

Meskilak or Mesikila [1] was one of the two main deities worshiped in Dilmun. The other well attested member of the pantheon of this area was Inzak, commonly assumed to be her spouse. The origin of her name is a subject of scholarly dispute. She is also attested in texts from Mesopotamia, where her name was reinterpreted as Ninsikila. A different deity also named Ninsikila was the spouse of Lisin, and might have started to be viewed as a goddess rather than a god due to the similarity of the names. Under her Mesopotamian name Meskilak appears in the myths Enki and Ninhursag and Enki and the World Order, in which she is associated with Dilmun.

Contents

In Dilmun

It is assumed Meskilak was one of the two main deities of Dilmun, the second one being Inzak, [2] often interpreted as her spouse by researchers. [3] An alternative proposal is that he was her son. [4] An attested variant of Meskilak's name is Mesikila. [1] The origin of the theonym Meskilak is not certain, and various proposals have been made by researchers. [5] According to Gianni Marchesi, due to the fact that contacts between Mesopotamia and Dilmun go back to the Ubaid period it is plausible to assume that it was Sumerian in origin and can be translated as me-sikil-ak, "she of the pure me ." [6] Piotr Steinkeller also considers it possible that her name came from this language, and assumes that she might have developed in the Uruk period, during the "Uruk expansion." [7] Jean-Jacques Glassner instead argues that the attested Mesopotamian explanations of her name represent ancient examples of word play or reinterpretations meant to fit local theology, and do not necessarily represent their actual etymology. [8] According to Joan Goodnick Westenholz, the sign ak in Meskilak's name, while sometimes interpreted as a genitive ending, is more likely to be an indication of non-Sumerian origin, as in the cases of Tishpak, Inzak or Latarak. [9] Proposed Sumerian etymologies of her name were also rejected by Khaled al-Nashef  [ de ]. [10]

A temple dedicated to Meskilak and Inzak, the Ekarra (Sumerian: "house, exalted quay") existed somewhere in Dilmun according to Mesopotamian sources, including a list of temples and other texts. [11] It is mentioned in an inscription from Failaka Island attributed to the Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, according to which the Mesopotamian god Shamash (from Larsa), was worshiped there as well. [12]

Meskilak and dPA.NI.PA

According to Manfred Krebernik, the deity d PA.NI.PA, who is attested in texts from Failaka Island, might be analogous to Meskilak. [13] The reading of her name is not certain, [8] though possibilities such as dPa-li-ḫat [13] as well as a phonetic reading, Panipa, have been proposed. [14] Jean-Jacques Glassner assumes she and Meskilak were two separate goddesses who fulfilled the same role in relation to Inzak in two separate locations. [15] dPA.NI.PA is attested in a theophoric name inscribed on a lapis lazuli seal from Failaka, Lā'û-la-dPA.NI.PA, "truly a skillful one is dPA.NI.PA," which most likely belonged to a Dilmunite princess. [16] Another similar object refers to her as "she who knows the seed of Inzak of Agarum." [17] Meskilak herself (or under her primary name, if the identification with dPA.NI.PA is accepted) is present in sources from this island too. [13]

In Mesopotamia

Meskilak appears in sources from Mesopotamia as well. [4] In texts from this area, her name could be transcribed as Ninsikila, written dNin-sikil-a ("the lady of the pure" [18] ) on one of the Gudea cylinders and dNin-sikil-la in the myth Enki and Ninhursag . [19] A deity with a homophonous name, Ninsikila, was the spouse of the Mesopotamian goddess Lisin, and it is possible that the similarity of his name to Meskilak's was in part responsible for the fact he later came to be viewed as a goddess. [20]

An inscription on one of the cylinders of Gudea is the oldest known reference to Meskilak in a Mesopotamian source. [18] It states that at the orders of the Mesopotamian god Ningirsu she delivered three types of wood - ḫalub, ebony and "wood of the sea" (giš-ab-ba-bi) to the aforementioned ruler for the construction of Eninnu. [21]

The deities of Dilmun, Meskilak and Inzak, are referenced in greeting formulas in letters exchanged between Enlil-kidinnī (also known under the name Ili-liya), the governor of Nippur during the reigns of Kassite kings Burnaburiash II and Kurigalzu II, and Ilī-ippašra, [22] possibly a Mesopotamian who came to reside in Dilmun. [23] Both of the deities are asked to guard the life of the inhabitant of Nippur in these documents. [24]

Meskilak also appears in the incantation series Šurpu , where she is one of the deities invoked in a passage which begins with the invocation of the god Lugala'abba, the "lord of the sea," and ends with her. [25] The other three deities present in it are Lugalidda, Laguda and Inzak. [19]

Associations with other deities

Manfred Krebernik argues that the equation between Inzak and Nabu in the late god list An = Anu ša amēli might indicate an analogous equation between their wives, Meskilak and Tashmetum. [19] A bilingual hymn treats Meskilak as a male deity identical with Inzak, and identifies him as the counterpart of Nabu and spouse of a goddess named Šuluḫḫītum. [26] It has been proposed that she might have originated as an Akkadian counterpart of Meskilak based on the reinterpretation of her name as Ninsikila, to be understood as "the one related to purification rites," [27] though this view is not universally accepted. [28] The name Nintilmun, "lady of Dilmun," mentioned in the Inanna section of the god list An = Anum , might also plausibly refer to Meskilak. [29] A connection between her and Laḫamun is even more uncertain. [30] The latter deity occurs in god lists as an alternate name of Zarpanit explained as originating in Dilmun. [31]

It is possible that Dilmunites themselves associated Meskilak with Damgalnunna, analogously to the connection between their respective spouses Enki and Inzak. [28]

Mythology

Meskilak appears in the myth Enki and Ninhursag under the name Ninsikila. [19] She is introduced in the beginning of the narrative as the goddess of Dilmun, and asks Enki for help, as the land she rules over, which he assigned to her, is a desert. [32] While it is sometimes assumed that she is synonymous with Ninhursag in this passage, this interpretation is not universally accepted. [33] Enki promises to provide Dilmun with clear water, and subsequently does so, [34] which is most likely meant to highlight his role as a deity associated with water. [35] The early proposal that Dilmun is presented as a paradise in this section of the myth, initially suggested by Samuel Noah Kramer in the 1940s, is no longer considered plausible. [4] [36] Gianni Marchesi notes that a variant of the text known from Ur and dated to the period of Rim-Sîn I's reign emphasizes Dilmun's character as a trade hub through an additional passage in which Enki blesses Meskilak and states that her land will be the destination for precious resources from various distant locations, including Tukriš, Magan, Meluhha, Elam and Marhasi. [37] It has been argued that the toponyms listed reflect the "contemporary commercial horizons of Babylonia." [38] The entire section of the myth focused on Meskilak might have originally been a separate narrative. [39]

A goddess also named Ninsikila subsequently reappears as one of the eight deities who are meant to relive Enki from the pains he was experiencing. [40] According to Dina Katz, it is possible that a different deity than Meskilak was meant in this case, perhaps Ninsiki, who was associated with wool who appears alongside Lahar in god lists, though the copy of Enki and Ninhursag from Nippur according to her "does create the impression that the two [Ninsikilas] are the same goddess." [40] Manfred Krebernik also assumes that the latter Ninsikila is Meskilak. [19] The other seven deities mentioned in the same passage are Abu, Ningirida, Ninkasi, Nanshe, Azimua, Ninti and Inzak. [41] The name Ninsikila is reinterpreted as "lady bearing hair" to reflect the problem she was meant to deal with. [40] After Enki is healed, all the deities are assigned new roles, and she is put in charge of Magan. [42] This toponym referred to the area corresponding to modern Oman in the third and second millennium BCE, though in the first millennium BCE it instead came to designate Egypt, with Qadû becoming the new name for the former place. [43]

Meskilak also appears as Ninsikila in the myth Enki and the World Order, in which the eponymous god entrusts her with maintaining Dilmun. [44] According to Dina Katz, this passage might have influenced the role she plays in the beginning of the myth Enki and Ninhursag. [45]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ninhursag</span> Sumerian goddess

Ninḫursaĝ sometimes transcribed Ninursag, Ninḫarsag, or Ninḫursaĝa, also known as Damgalnuna or Ninmah, was the ancient Sumerian mother goddess of the mountains, and one of the seven great deities of Sumer. She is known earliest as a nurturing or fertility goddess. Temple hymn sources identify her as the "true and great lady of heaven" and kings of Lagash were "nourished by Ninhursag's milk". She is the tutelary deity to several Sumerian leaders.

Ninšar was a Mesopotamian goddess commonly associated with the preparation of meat. The reading of her name remains uncertain, and its possible etymology appears to be unrelated to her role in the Mesopotamian pantheon. She was chiefly worshiped in Nippur, though her original cult center was the settlement AB.NAGAR.

Ninkasi was the Mesopotamian goddess of beer and brewing. It is possible that in the first millennium BCE she was known under the variant name Kurunnītu, derived from a term referring to a type of high quality beer. She was associated with both positive and negative consequences of the consumption of beer. In god lists, such as the An = Anum list and the Weidner god list, she usually appears among the courtiers of the god Enlil, alongside deities such as Ninimma and Ninmada. She could also be paired with Siraš, a goddess of similar character, who sometimes was regarded as her sister. A possible association between her and the underworld deities Nungal and Laṣ is also attested, possibly in reference to the possible negative effects of alcohol consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damgalnuna</span> Mesopotamian goddess

Damgalnuna, also known as Damkina, was a Mesopotamian goddess regarded as the wife of the god Enki. Her character is poorly defined in known sources, though it is known that like her husband she was associated with ritual purification and that she was believed to intercede with him on behalf of supplicants. Among the deities regarded as their children were Nanshe and Asalluhi. While the myth Enki and Ninhursag treats her as interchangeable with the goddess mentioned in its title, they were usually separate from each other. The cities of Eridu and Malgium were regarded as Damgalnuna's cult center. She was also worshiped in other settlements, such as Nippur, Sippar and Kalhu, and possibly as early as in the third millennium BCE was incorporated into the Hurrian pantheon. She appears in a number of myths, including the Enūma Eliš, though only a single composition, Damkina's Bond, is focused on her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanshe</span>

Nanshe was a Mesopotamian goddess in various contexts associated with the sea, marshlands, the animals inhabiting these biomes, namely bird and fish, as well as divination, dream interpretation, justice, social welfare, and certain administrative tasks. She was regarded as a daughter of Enki and sister of Ningirsu, while her husband was Nindara, who is otherwise little known. Other deities who belonged to her circle included her daughter Nin-MAR.KI, as well as Hendursaga, Dumuzi-abzu and Shul-utula. In Ur she was incorporated into the circle of Ningal, while in incantations she appears alongside Ningirima or Nammu.

Ninti was a Mesopotamian goddess worshiped in Lagash. She was regarded as the mother of Ninkasi. She also appears in the myth Enki and Ninhursag as one of the deities meant to soothe the eponymous god's pain. In this text, her name is reinterpreted first as "lady rib" and then as "lady of the month" through scribal word play.

Pabilsaĝ or Pabilsag was a Mesopotamian god who was the tutelary deity of the Sumerian city Larak. He is best known as the husband of the medicine goddess Ninisina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abu (god)</span> Mesopotamian god

Abu was a Mesopotamian god. His character is poorly understood, though it is assumed he might have been associated with vegetation and with snakes. He was often paired with the deity Gu2-la2, initially regarded as distinct from Gula, but later conflated with her.

Ningirida was a Mesopotamian goddess regarded as the wife of Ninazu and mother of Ningishzida. Little is known about her character beyond her relation to these two gods.

Lisin was a Mesopotamian deity initially regarded as a goddess and addressed as ama, "mother," who later came to be regarded as a god and developed an association with fire. The name was also applied to a star associated with Nabu. Lisin's spouse was Ninsikila, whose gender also changed between periods. It was believed that they had eight children. The initial cult center of Lisin is uncertain, with locations such as Adab and Kesh being often proposed. She is attested in texts from various cities, including Umma, Lagash, Nippur and Meturan. Only a single literary text focused on Lisin is known, a lament in which she mourns the death of one of her sons, for which she blames her mother Ninhursag. Both female and male version of Lisin also appears in other similar texts.

Ninmena was a Mesopotamian goddess who represented the deified crown. She was closely associated with the deified scepter, Ninĝidru, and with various goddesses of birth, such as Ninhursag.

Ninimma was a Mesopotamian goddess best known as a courtier of Enlil. She is well attested as a deity associated with scribal arts, described in modern publications as a divine scholar, scribe or librarian by modern researchers. She could also serve as an assistant of the birth goddess Ninmah, and a hymn describes her partaking in cutting of umbilical cords and determination of fates. It has also been suggested that she was associated with vegetation. In the Middle Babylonian period she additionally came to be viewed as a healing deity.

Šulpae was a Mesopotamian god. Much about his role in Mesopotamian religion remains uncertain, though it is agreed he was an astral deity associated with the planet Jupiter and that he could be linked to specific diseases, especially bennu. He was regarded as the husband of Ninhursag. Among the deities considered to be their children were Ashgi, Panigingarra and Lisin. The oldest texts which mention him come from the Early Dynastic period, when he was worshiped in Kesh. He is also attested in documents from other cities, for example Nippur, Adab and Girsu. Multiple temples dedicated to him are mentioned in known sources, but their respective locations are unknown.

Ashgi was a Mesopotamian god associated with Adab and Kesh. While he was originally the tutelary deity of the former of these two cities, he was eventually replaced in this role by his mother Ninhursag, locally known under the name Digirmah. He is mostly attested in sources from before the Old Babylonian period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inzak</span> God of Dilmun

Inzak was the main god of the pantheon of Dilmun. The precise origin of his name remains a matter of scholarly debate. He might have been associated with date palms. His cult center was Agarum, and he is invoked as the god of this location in inscriptions of Dilmunite kings. His spouse was the goddess Meskilak. A further deity who might have fulfilled this role was dPA.NI.PA, known from texts from Failaka Island.

Ninmug or Ninmuga was a Mesopotamian goddess. She was associated with artisanship, especially with metalworking, as evidenced by her epithet tibira kalamma, "metalworker of the land." She could also be regarded as a goddess of birth and assistant of Ninmah, most likely because the fashioning of statues of deities and the birth of children could be described with the same terms in Sumerian texts. Her main cult centers were Kisiga, whose location remains uncertain, and Adab.

Ninmada was a name applied to two separate Mesopotamian deities, a god and a goddess. The female Ninmada was a divine snake charmer, and in the myth Enki and Ninmah she appears as an assistant of the eponymous goddess. The male Ninmada was called the "worshiper of An" and was regarded as a brother of the snake god Ninazu. It is assumed that these deities could be partially conflated with each other or shared a similar origin, though proposals that there was only one Ninmada are also present in modern scholarship.

Ninsikila was a Mesopotamian deity regarded as the spouse of Lisin. Early sources refer to him as male, but later on the name came to refer to a goddess instead. The change in gender might have been influenced by an association with the Dilmunite goddess Meskilak, also called Ninsikila in Mesopotamia, or by Lisin's placement before her spouse in god lists. Texts attesting the worship of Ninsikila include an inscription from Larsa and a magical formula from Meturan.

Lugala'abba or Lugalabba was a Mesopotamian god associated with the sea, as well as with the underworld. It has been proposed that he was worshiped in Nippur. He is also attested in various god lists, in a seal inscription, and in the incantation series Šurpu.

Aruru was a Mesopotamian goddess. The origin of her name is presently uncertain. While initially considered an independent deity associated with vegetation and portrayed in hymns as violent, she eventually came to be viewed as analogous Ninhursag. Her name could also function as an epithet of goddesses such as Nisaba and Ezina-Kusu. She was often called the older sister of Enlil. Her cult centers most likely were the cities of Kesh, Adab and Irisaĝrig. She appears in a number of literary texts, some of which preserve information about her original character. She is also present in the Epic of Gilgamesh, which her portrays her as the creator of Enkidu.

References

  1. 1 2 Krebernik 1997, p. 93.
  2. ↑ Potts 1993, p. 162.
  3. ↑ Krebernik 1997, pp. 93–94.
  4. 1 2 3 Black & Green 1992, p. 66.
  5. ↑ Al-Nashef 2012, pp. 343–344.
  6. ↑ Marchesi 2014, p. 51.
  7. ↑ Steinkeller 2018, p. 198.
  8. 1 2 Glassner 2009, p. 241.
  9. ↑ Westenholz 2010, p. 381.
  10. ↑ Al-Nashef 2012, p. 344.
  11. ↑ George 1993, p. 107.
  12. ↑ George 1993, pp. 107–108.
  13. 1 2 3 Krebernik 2005, p. 294.
  14. ↑ Marchesi 2017, p. 429.
  15. ↑ Glassner 2009, p. 240.
  16. ↑ Marchesi 2017, pp. 429–430.
  17. ↑ Marchesi 2017, pp. 431–432.
  18. 1 2 Al-Nashef 2012, p. 343.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Krebernik 1997, p. 94.
  20. ↑ Asher-Greve & Westenholz 2013, p. 103.
  21. ↑ Edzard 1997, p. 78.
  22. ↑ Potts 1986, p. 169.
  23. ↑ Howard-Carter 1987, p. 62.
  24. ↑ Olijdam 1997, p. 200.
  25. ↑ Dalley 2013, p. 181.
  26. ↑ Krebernik 2013, p. 288.
  27. ↑ Al-Nashef 2012, p. 365.
  28. 1 2 Al-Nashef 2012, p. 348.
  29. ↑ Cavigneaux & Krebernik 1998, p. 505.
  30. ↑ Al-Nashef 2012, p. 347.
  31. ↑ Lambert 1983, p. 431.
  32. ↑ Katz 2007, pp. 570–571.
  33. ↑ Postgate 2010, p. 242.
  34. ↑ Katz 2007, p. 586.
  35. ↑ Katz 2007, p. 588.
  36. ↑ Katz 2007, pp. 577–578.
  37. ↑ Marchesi 2014a, p. 52.
  38. ↑ Katz 2007, p. 587.
  39. ↑ Al-Nashef 2012, p. 345.
  40. 1 2 3 Katz 2008, p. 336.
  41. ↑ Katz 2008, pp. 336–337.
  42. ↑ Katz 2008, p. 338.
  43. ↑ Glassner 2009, p. 237.
  44. ↑ Postgate 2010, p. 238.
  45. ↑ Katz 2007, p. 571.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.