Our Pantheon

Divine Aspects

The following defines how the Order of Elder Light sees and celebrates the Gods. The information here has been gathered from many sources, mainly from the works of Samuel Noah Kramer.

The Sumerian gods, as illustrated graphically by the Sumerian myths, were entirely anthropomorphic; even the most powerful and most knowing among them were conceived as human in form, thought, and deed. Like man, they plan and act, eat and drink, marry and raise families, support large households, and are addicted to human passions and weaknesses. By and large they prefer truth and justice to falsehood and oppression, but their motives are by no means clear, and man is often at a loss to understand them.

Samuel Noah Kramer - THE SUMERIANS: Their History, Culture and Character. P. 1171

     The Gods are separated into major groups, The creative, Non-creative, Nether World and the Anunnaki.
     The creative Gods are Anu, Enlil, Enki and Ninhursag, these are the Gods which all creation is attributed to. Older and more influential then any other group or single God, save that of Nammu the Fertile Womb, the Great Mother.
     The Non-creative Gods are Nanna, Utu and Inanna. These Gods deal more with the way things happen, effect nature, the spirit of man, fertility of both animals and plants and the seasons.
     The Nether World Gods which are, Ereshkigal, Nergal, Namtar, Hubishag and Ningishzida along with two Demi Gods, Dumuzi and Gilgamesh.
     The Anunnaki, who's numbers total fifty and are mostly comprised of what is called the "personal deities" or "guardian angels". Also amongst the Anunnaki and in high standing or importance to man are, Ninlil, Wind and Air Goddess and the spouse of Enlil, Ningal, Lady Moon, spouse of Nanna and Gibil, Fire God.
     Another group that is important are the Demi Gods, these are humans that were deified because of their exceptional lives or sacrifice. The first and foremost of these is Adapa, called the first man, he sought immortality for mankind and through trickery of Enki, Adapa and the human race were deprived of immortality. Dumuzi, a man that sought the hand and affections of a Goddess, Inanna, and won her heart and hand in marriage thus being deified. Geshtinanna, sister of Dumuzi, she sacrificed herself so her brother would only have to spend 6 months of the year in the Nether World. Their passing and rebirth marks the change of the seasons. Gilgamesh, the greatest of the hero kings of all the lands.

Although the gods were believed to be immortal, they nevertheless had to have their sustenance; they could become sick to the point of death; they fought, wounded, and killed, and presumably could themselves be wounded and killed.

Samuel Noah Kramer - THE SUMERIANS: Their History, Culture and Character. P. 1171

Creative Gods

Anu
The Sky God, Lord of Heaven, first born of Nammu the Great Mother.
Ninhursag
Sky Goddess, Lady of Heaven, the Mother Goddess, she who gives life.
Enlil
God of Wind and Air, Lord of the Earth and Atmosphere, Lord of all the Lands.
Enki
God of creation, wisdom, and medicine, who could restore the dead to life, for he is the source of all secret and magical knowledge of life and immortality.

Non-creative Gods

Nanna
Moon God, Lord of Judgment and Judge of the Dead.
Utu
Sun God, Lord of Justice, also a Judge of the Dead.
Inanna
Queen of Heaven, Goddess of Passions, love and war, present at the birth of a child and at the death of a warrior.

Nether World Gods

Ereshkigal
Queen of the Nether World, She who Wails.
Nergal
Consort of Ereshkigal, Lord of the Nether World.
Namtar
Due gifts upon death.
Hubishag
Due gifts upon death.
Ningishzida
Due gifts upon death.

Anunnaki

Ninlil
Air Goddess
Ningal
Moon Goddess, Lady of Omens.
Nanshe
Goddess of Dreams(dream interpreters), Goddess of Morals and Ethics.
Ninmah
The exalted lady
Nintu
The lady who gave birth
Ninurta
God of the South Wind, Warrior of Enlil
Gibil
Fire God

Demi-Gods

Adapa
The first man
Gilgamesh
Great hero and upright man
Dumuzi
Lord Summer
Geshtinanna
Lady Winter

1 Presented here for educational purposes