United States or Cabo Verde ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
If Ashur is the king of Igigi and Anunnaki, Nin-ib is the hero of the heavenly and earthly spirits. To him the rulers fly for help. Of all the kings, Ashurnasirbal seems to have been especially devoted to the service of Nin-ib.
At least this appears to be the case in Assyria, and the conclusion may be drawn, from the somewhat vague use of the terms, that the names belong to a very early period of the religion, when the distinction between gods and spirits was not yet clearly marked. However that may be, in Babylonian hymns and incantations the Igigi and Anunnaki play a very prominent part.
All the gods, together with the Igigi and Anunnaki, are gathered around Dibbarra, who addresses them: Listen all of you to my words. Because of sin did I formerly plan evil, My heart was enraged and I swept peoples away. He tells how he destroyed the flocks and devastated the fruits in the fields, how he swept over the lands, punishing the just and the wicked alike, and sparing no one.
The 'Igigi' are at times designated as the seven gods, but this number is simply an indication of their constituting a large group. Seven is a round number which marked a large quantity. At an earlier period five represented a numerical magnitude, and hence the Anunnaki are at times regarded as a group of five.
Because he created the heavens and formed the earth 'Lord of Lands' father Bel called his name. When he heard of all the names that the Igigi bestowed Ea's liver rejoiced That they had bestowed exalted names upon his son. "He as I Ea be his name. The control of my commands be entrusted to him. To him my orders shall be transmitted."
Besides the Igigi and Anunnaki there is still a third group of seven spirits, generally designated as the 'evil demons, who represent the embodiment of all physical suffering to which man is subject. They appear, however, only in the incantation texts, and we may, therefore, postpone their consideration until that subject is reached.
Following Delitzsch, Babylonische Weltschöpfungsepos, pp. 20, 21. I pass over two fragments which Delitzsch adds to our 'epic. They are not sufficiently clear to be utilized for our purposes. Delitzsch may be right with regard to no. 20, but if so, it forms part or another version of the Marduk-Tiâmat episode. A standing phrase for "favor" in general. To prayer. The gods or the Igigi.
Father, begetter of everything, ... Lord, proclaiming the decisions of heaven and earth, Whose command is not set aside, ... and granting water for all that has life. No god reaches to thy fullness. In heaven who is exalted? Thou alone art exalted. On earth who is exalted? Thou alone art exalted. Thy strong command is proclaimed in heaven, and the Igigi prostrate themselves.
This scene is described in a tablet which for the present we may regard as the close of the series. No less than fifty names are bestowed upon him by the gods, the number fifty corresponding according to some traditions to the number of the Igigi. Marduk accordingly absorbs the qualities of all the gods. Such is the purpose of this tablet. The diction is at times exceedingly impressive.
The latter were aware only of the intended destruction of a single place, Shurippak. At this moment Bel approaches. He does not deny his deed, but is enraged that the planned destruction should not have been complete, since Parnapishtim and his household have escaped. As Bel approached And saw the ship, he was enraged, Filled with anger against the gods the Igigi.
Word Of The Day