How Enlil and Ninlil Gave Birth to the Gods of the Underworld

The myth of Enlil and Ninlil explains the birth of some of the most important deities in Sumerian religion, including the moon god Nanna and several gods associated with the underworld. Set against the sacred city of Nippur, the story follows the relationship between Enlil and Ninlil, their journey toward the land of the dead, and a series of divine transformations that result in the creation of new gods. More than a family story, the myth explores kingship, fertility, destiny, and the connection between the heavens and the underworld.

Ninlil and spouse Enlil, artifact discovered in Nippur, their patron city

How the Myth of Enlil and Ninlil Begins

The poem begins with an introductory passage descriptive of the city of Nippur, a Nippur that seems to be conceived as having existed before the creation of man.

Myth Overview

Aspect	Details
Myth	Enlil and Ninlil
Main Deities	Enlil and Ninlil
Sacred City	Nippur
Most Important Child	Nanna (Sin), the Moon God
Other Children	Nergal, Ninazu, and other underworld deities
Major Themes	Fertility, destiny, divine transformation, and the underworld
Primary Source	Enlil and Ninlil

Which Gods Were Born from the Union of Enlil and Ninlil?

is almost complete. It seems to have been evolved to explain the begetting of the moon-God Nanna as well as that of the three underworld deities, Nergal, Ninazu, and a third whose name is illegible.

How Does the Myth Explain the Metamorphosis of Gods?

If rightly interpreted this poem furnishes us with the first known example of the metamorphosis of a god; Enlil assumes the form of three different individuals in impregnating his wife Ninlil with the three nether world deities.

The City of Nippur: Its Role and Significance

Behold the "bond of heaven and earth," the city,

Behold Nippur, the city,

Behold the "kindly wall," the city,

Behold the Idsalla, its pure river,

Behold the Karkurunna, its quay,

Behold the Karasarra, its quay where the boats stand,

Behold the Pulal, its well of good water,

Behold the Idnunbirdu, its pure canal,

Behold Enlil, its young man,

Behold Ninlil, its young maid,

Behold Nunbarshegunu, its old woman.

E-kur residence of Enlil and Ninlil

The Role of Ninlil in the Myth: Motherhood and Guidance

After this brief background sketch the actual story begins.

Nunbarshegunu, the "old woman" of Nippur, Ninlil's mother, instructs her daughter how to obtain the love of Enlil:

In those days the mother, her begetter, gave advice to the maid,

Nunbarshegunu gave advice to Ninlil:

"At the pure river, O maid, at the pure river wash thyself,

O Ninlil, walk along the bank of the Idnunbirdu,

The bright-eyed, the lord, the bright-eyed,

The 'great mountain, Father Enlil, the bright-eyed, will see thee,

The shepherd . . . who decrees the fates, the bright-eyed, will see thee, He will . . .. he will kiss thee."

How Does the Water Symbolize Power in the Myth?

Ninlil follows her mother's instructions and as a consequence is impregnated by "the water" of Enlil and conceives the moon-God Nanna.

nanna moon god

Enlil and Ninlil at a Glance

The myth of Enlil and Ninlil explains the birth of the moon god Nanna and several important underworld deities. Set in the sacred city of Nippur, the story combines divine romance, exile, transformation, and the origins of cosmic order. It is also one of the earliest Mesopotamian texts to describe a god assuming multiple identities to achieve a divine purpose.

The Transformation of Enlil: Impersonating Different Forms

Enlil then departs from Nippur in the direction of the nether world, but

is followed by Ninlil. As he leaves the gate he instructs the "man of the

gate" to give the inquisitive Ninlil no information of his whereabouts.

Ninlil comes up to the "man of the gate" and demands to know whither

Enlil has gone. Enlil then seems to take the form of the "man of the gate"

and answers for him.

The passage involved is as yet unintelligible; it seems to contain a refusal to divulge Enlil's whereabouts.

Ninlil thereupon reminds him that while, true enough, Enlil is his king, she is his queen.

Thereupon Enlil, still impersonating "the man of the gate," cohabits with her and impregnates her.

The Underworld Deities: Nergal, Ninazu, and Others

As a result, Ninlil conceives Meslamtaea, more commonly known as Nergal, the king of the nether world.

Nergal Son To Enlil and Ninlil

In spite of the unintelligible parts, the flavor of this remarkable passage will be readily apparent from the following quotations:

Enlil . . . departed from the city,

Nunamnir (a name of Enlil) . . . departed from the city.

Enlil walked, Ninlil followed,

Nunamnir walked, the maid followed,

Enlil says to the man of the gate:

"O man of the gate, man of the lock,

O man of the bolt, man of the pure lock,

Thy queen Ninlil is coming;

If she asks thee about me,

Tell her not where I am."

Ninlil approached the man of the gate:

"O man of the gate, man of the lock,

O man of the bolt, man of the pure lock,

Enlil, thy king, where is he going?"

Enlil answers her for the man of the gate:

"Enlil, the king of all the lands, has commanded me":

Four lines follow containing the substance of this command but their

meaning is obscure. Then comes the following dialogue between Ninlil and Enlil, the latter impersonating the "man of the gate":

Ninlil: "True, Enlil is thy king, but I am thy queen."

Enlil: "If now thou art my queen, let my hand touch thy . . ."

Ninlil: "The 'water' of thy king, the bright 'water' is in my heart,

The 'water' of Nanna, the bright 'water' is in my heart."

Enlil: "The 'water' of my king, let it go toward heaven, let it go toward earth, Let my 'water,' like the 'water' of my king, go toward earth."

Enlil, as the man of the gate, lay down in the

He kissed her, be cohabited with her,

Having kissed her, having cohabited with her,

The "water" of . . . Meslamtaea he caused to flow over (her) heart.

The poem then continues with the begetting of the nether world deity Ninazu; this time it is the "man of the river of the nether world, the man-devouring river" whom Enlil impersonates.

In all other respects, the passage is a repetition of that describing the begetting of Meslamtaea; thus:

Enlil walked, Ninlil followed,

Nunamnir walked, the maid followed,

Enlil says to the man of the river of the nether world, the man-devouring

river:

"O man of the river of the nether world, the man-devouring river,

Thy queen Ninlil is coming;

If she asks thee about me,

Tell her not where I am."

Ninlil approached the man of the river of the nether world, the man devouring river:

"O man of the river of the nether world, the man-devouring river,

Enlil, thy king, where is he going?"

Enlil answers her for the man of the river of the nether world, the man devouring river:

"Enlil, the king of all the lands, has commanded me."

The substance of the command is unintelligible. Follows the dialogue

between Ninlil and Enlil, the latter impersonating the "man of the river

of the nether world, the man-devouring river":

Ninlil: "True, Enlil is thy king, but I am thy queen."

Enlil: "If now thou art my queen, let my hand touch thy . . ."

Ninlil: "The 'water' of thy king, the bright 'water' is in my heart,

The 'water' of Nanna, the bright 'water' is in my heart."

Enlil: "The 'water' of my king, let it go toward heaven, let it go toward earth,

Let my 'water,' like the 'water' of my king, go toward earth."

Enlil, as the man of the river of the nether world, the man-devouring

river, lay down in the . . . .

He kissed her, he cohabited with her,

Having kissed her, having cohabited with her,

The "water" of Ninazu, the king of . . ., he caused to flow over (her) heart.

The poem then continues with the begetting of the third underworld

deity whose name is illegible; this time it is the "man of the boat" whom Enlil impersonates.

The Conclusion of the Myth: Enlil as Lord of Abundance

Our myth then comes to a close with a brief hymnal

passage in which Enlil is exalted as the lord of abundance and the king whose decrees are unalterable.

Key Takeaways

The myth explains the birth of Nanna, the Sumerian moon god.
The story is centered on Enlil, Ninlil, and the sacred city of Nippur.
Ninlil follows Enlil on his journey toward the underworld.
Enlil assumes multiple identities during the course of the myth.
The union of Enlil and Ninlil produces several underworld deities.
Nergal and Ninazu are among the gods connected to the story.
The myth links fertility, kingship, destiny, and the structure of the cosmos.

Frequently Asked Questions About Enlil and Ninlil

What is the myth of Enlil and Ninlil?

It is a Sumerian myth that explains the birth of Nanna and several underworld gods through the relationship between Enlil and Ninlil.

Who were Enlil and Ninlil?

Enlil was one of the chief gods of Sumer, while Ninlil was his divine consort and the mother of several important deities.

Which god was born from Enlil and Ninlil?

Their most famous child was Nanna, the moon god, although other deities such as Nergal and Ninazu are also associated with the myth.

Why is Nippur important in the story?

Nippur was the sacred city of Enlil and served as the setting for the opening of the myth.

Why does Enlil change his form?

The text describes Enlil assuming different identities while traveling toward the underworld, making it one of the earliest examples of divine transformation in Mesopotamian literature.

What role does Ninlil play in the myth?

Ninlil is both the central female figure and the mother through whom several major gods are born.

What themes appear in the story?

The myth explores fertility, divine authority, transformation, destiny, and the relationship between heaven and the underworld.

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